The Church Club of New York

121st Annual Dinner

On April 30, the Church Club celebrated its 121st annual dinner by honoring the Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, Canon for Global Justice and Reconciliation at the Washington National Cathedral.  The event was held at the Harvard Club.

See more pictures here.

Listen to Canon Peterson's remarks here.

The Rev. William Danaher on "Money Matters"

The Rev. William Danaher of General Theological Seminary concluded the Church Club's 2008 lecture series with a talk called, “Money Matters: On Anglican Economics & Millennium Development Goals."

He spoke about the role of the Anglican Communion in providing the leadership necessary to fulfill the goals outlined by the United Nations in reducing global poverty.

You can listen to his talk here (40 minutes), and follow the discussion afterwards here (15 minutes).

Fr. Danaher's lecture concludes this year's series titled, "Anglicanism and the Moral Challenges of the Day."

You can listen to the first two lectures here (Prof. Gary Dorrien) and here (the Rev. Victor Austin).

Victor Austin, Moral Authority & Anglican Cohesion

The Rev. Victor Austin, theologian in residence at St. Thomas Church in Manhattan, gave the second lecture in the Church Club's annual series. He spoke about moral authority, the power from which it derives, its relationship to truth, and its capacity to bind disparate groups within the Anglican Communion.

Despite centuries of reliance of scripture, tradition, and reason, the global Anglican Communion is under increasing strain, as questions of authority abound.  Fr. Austin noted the "characteristic Anglican willingness to muddle through imperfect structures." 

Listen to his talk (about 45 minutes) by clicking here.

Gary Dorrien Talks Theology, Liberalism & Love

Prof. Gary Dorrien, the Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, kicked off the Church Club's 2008 Lecture Series with a talk about liberal theology and the need for a clear intellectual and moral purpose, with love at its core.

His talk "The Liberal Vision" is the first installment in the series titled, "Anglicanism and the Moral Challenges of the Day." The event was held at Church of the Incarnation on Madison Avenue.  Information about the rest of the series may be found here.

You can listen to Prof. Dorrien's talk, about 40 minutes, by clicking here.

(The tropical decor comes from Incarnation's annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper.)

Presiding Bishop Addresses the 120th Annual Dinner

The Church Club celebrated its 120th annual dinner by honoring Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori at a black-tie event at the Union League Club in Manhattan. During her speech, she noted that many of the guests at the reception before dinner had said, "You have such a challenging job."  "I don't think that's bad thing," she told the audience.   "I think we are meant to be challenged in the varieties of work and ministry in which we are engaged and that if we are not challenged we are likely bored, and that's not healthy for anybody."

Speaking about the various high-profile news stories about the conflicts between the American Episcopal Church and other provinces in the Anglican Communion, notably in Africa, she said, "I think this is probably one of the most exciting times in history to be an Episcopalian and an Anglican.  The Communion is moving.  It's not a dead and dormant thing."

Church Club President Grace Allen introduced the presiding bishop, calling attention to her varied background as an oceanographer and licensed pilot. "Perhaps her studies of the marvelous creatures of the deep, along with her flights among the heavens, will guide her in her global ministry," she said.

Bishop Jefferts Schori spoke to  nearly 300 Church Club members and guests, including many clergy from New York, Washington, London, Paris, and other places.  "I was tickled when somebody told me that clergy could not be members of this club," she said to laughter from the audience.  "This in a real sense is the strength of the Episcopal Church--the baptized who know their place.  It is at the table, and it is leading the conversation, so I give thanks for your ministry and your witness."

She spoke for about twenty minutes and then took questions from the audience.

Noting that even though the headlines in the New York Times about the Episcopal Church often seem dire, Grace Allen agreed with the Presiding Bishop's positive message: "As Bishop Katharine has said tonight, the hope of reconciliation, the promise of communion, and the desire to move forward together are goals shared by our partners around the world."

Other highlights of the evening included an invocation by the Rev. Canon J. Robert Wright, which touched on the Church Club's history as an intellectual and theological organization, the benediction by the Rev. Kurt von Roeschlaub of St. Stephen's Church in Port Washington, and the singing of "The Church's One Foundation," led by Dr. Anton Armstrong, conductor of the St. Olaf College choir.

Listen to Bishop Jefferts Schori's remarks here (an MP3 file, about 30 mins).

Watch the video here.

See all the pictures of the event here.

See some photo highlights by clicking below:

Lecture Series Explores Mission & the Anglican Communion

The Church Club's annual lecture series began on February 6 with a talk by the Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam, bishop suffragan of New York (pictured below). On the eve of the primates meeting, held in mid-February in Tanzania, she said, "One of the great gifts of the Anglican Communion is that we have been bound together by affection. "  She was hopeful about the prospects for continued dialogue among the leaders of the Anglican Church around the world, saying, "We set our hope in Christ."

On February 20, the series continued with a talk by Janette O'Neill, senior director for African programs at Episcopal Relief and Development.  She filled in for the Rev. Brian Grieves, who was recovering from dental surgery.  She gave a preview of the upcoming conference, Towards Effective Anglican Mission (TEAM 2007), to be held the first week of March in Boksburg, South Africa.  The conference will draw clergy and lay Anglican leaders of all levels, government officials, and others to focus on "Prophetic Witness, Social Development and HIV and AIDS. The consultation aims to enhance current initiatives in social outreach work that seeks to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."

O'Neill's was introduced by Church Club member Margaret Larom, Director of Anglican and Global Relations & Provincial Secretary for the Episcopal Church.

These events were held at Church of the Incarnation on Madison Avenue.  Club members also enjoyed a bag supper.  Some took part in Incarnation's Shrove Tuesday pancake supper.

Margaret Larom (left) and Janette O'Neill (right)

Click here to listen to Janette O'Neill's talk (about 40 minutes, with additional comments by Margaret Larom and a Q&A at the end).  My recorder ran out of space during Bishop Roskam's talk, so I don't have it.  Apologies.

Click below to see more pictures.

Bishop Griswold Caps Lovely Evening at the Union League Club

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold and  one hundred seventy members and guests turned out in style at the Union League Club to celebrate the Church Club's 119th annual dinner.  The Club had planned to honor Bishop and Mrs. Griswold for their joint ministry, but Mrs. Griswold was called away at the last minute on a family matter. 

The evening began with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner.  Church Club President Grace Allen recognized the Club's past presidents--J. Truman Bidwell, A. Walker Bingham III, G. William Haas, and Chauncey G. Olinger, Jr. --and the bishops in attendance--Bishop and Mrs. Harry Shipps, Bishop and Mrs. Mark Sisk, and Bishop Catherine Roskam and her husband Philip.

The Rev. Canon J. Robert Wright, historiographer of the Episcopal Church and professor of ecclesiastical history at General Seminary, gave the blessing. The Rev. Kurt von Roeschlaub, rector of St. Stephen's Church in Port Washington, offered the benediction. To conclude the evening, Bishop Roskam led the singing of "The Church's One Foundation."

Frank Griswold became the 25th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church in 1998.  He is especially known for his spiritual wisdom, his leadership in the fields of liturgy and ecumenism, and his initiatives in the reconciliation of differing viewpoints within the church at home and abroad. 

Phoebe Griswold has been an active laywoman within the church, particularly in the creation of a global women’s network for the Anglican Communion of which the Episcopal Church USA is a member, and also in such organizations as the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts, and the campaign for schools, hospitals, and churches in Jerusalem. 

The Church Club of New York is happy to salute the Griswolds and to recognize their outstanding contributions to the good of the church and the betterment of human society.

Bishop Griswold spoke about his tenure as presiding bishop, as he approaches retirement.  After nearly nine years in office, worldwide travel commitments, and his leadership of the Episcopal Church as issues pressing the Anglican Communion have come to the fore, he said he is looking forward to spending time with his five-month-old granddaughter.  He spoke about all he had learned in his travels, from lay people and clergy, with different cultural perspectives and expectations of the Church and concluded that he is most hopeful about the future.

Bishop Griswold accepted the Church Club's gold medal and, on her behalf, a plaque giving Mrs. Griswold an honorary membership in the Club.

To listen to Bishop Griswold's talk, click here.

For photos from the event, click here.

The Church Club is very grateful for the support of its members and guests at the dinner, especially the Patrons, Sponsors, and Friends, who helped the Club reach its fundraising goal for the evening.

General Convention Preview

The Rev. Dr. Gregory Straub, executive officer for General Convention, spoke to the Church Club about the 2006 gathering, to be held in Ohio in June.  In a talk at General Theological Seminary, he gave some sense of the history of General Convention with a nod to the challenges facing the upcoming forum as it prepares to elect a new presiding bishop.

Dr. Straub has written an overview of General Convention  (click here).

Listen to Dr. Straub's talk to the Church Club: part 1, part 2 (streams mp3 files).

The Club's event began with evensong, followed by a reception and dinner before Dr. Straub's talk.  Due to extensive renovations at the seminary, dinner was held not in the refectory but in the basement lounge of Seabury Hall, affectionately known as "Seabury's Bottom."

What They Are Saying about Henry VIII

Prof. Bruce Mullin concluded the Church Club's lecture series, talking about "What They Are Saying about Henry VIII."  He explored three positions concerning the events that became the Protestant Reformation--whether Henry unilaterally imposed a new religious order on England, whether Henry's actions (and those of subsequent monarchs) reflected a broader movement among the people, and whether it was a combination of several forces.

To listen to Prof. Mullin's lecture, click here (streams a 6 meg MP3 file, about 45 mins).

Click here to download the lecture overview, Prof. Mullin's handout (MS Word file).

Bruce Mullin is professor of History and World Mission and professor of Modern Anglican Studies at General Theological Seminary, where he is conducting another lecture series:

Christianity in America and the Episcopal Church Since 1945
Four lectures on the Church in America in the Post-War Era

Click here for more info.

What They Are Saying about David

The Church Club's annual lecture series continued at Church of the Ascension with a talk by Herbert Huffmon, professor of Old Testament at Drew University's School of Theology.  He explored material from the historical narratives and archaeological record pertaining to King David.  A divisive figure in later political narratives, David inspired tributes as well as attacks in the centuries following his 10th century BCE reign. 

Much of the material is subject to speculation and opinion, with little hard evidence, but new materials are being discovered every day -- in archaeological dig sites in Jerusalem as well as in dusty boxes in the bowels of old museums.

To listen to Prof. Huffmon's lecture, click here (streams an MP3 file, about an hour long).

The lecture series continues on February 14, 2006, at Church of the Ascension, as Bruce Mullin, professor at General Theological Seminary, asks, "What Are They Saying about Henry VIII?"