The Church Club of New York

Church Club at Diocesan Convention

The Church Club was well represented at the annual convention of the Diocese of New York, meeting delegates and handing out information about the Club.  Membership committee members Dana Cole (chair), Steve Storen, Bettina Nelson, and Brad Agry manned the booth and worked the crowd.

Annual Report of the President, by Robert Bruce Mullin

During the year 2007-2008, the Church Club has attempted to live out its mission to inform, to enrich, and to provide fellowship.

We began our year with a tour of the just recently opened Desmond Tutu Education Center at the General Theological Seminary.  This was also a meeting to which prospective members were invited to attend.  The Seminary as usual graciously hosted us, and the long standing connection of the Club to the Seminary was renewed.

In October we sailed on the Hudson, thanks to Grace Allen, on the Mariner III.  The weather was beautiful as were the vistas and the company.

In early November we met at Church of the Ascension and there Bishop Mark Sisk, fresh back from a meeting of the House of Bishops with Archbishop Rowan Williams, both spoke and answered questions about the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

In December we had a Visit with St. Nicholas.  The Rev. Canon James Rosenthal, decked in all of his regalia, engaged us of the importance of St. Nicholas for the spirit of Christmas. St. James hosted us, and their children’s choir sang, making it a truly joyful evening.

Membership in the Church Club

The Membership

Church Club members, numbering some 500, are drawn from the Episcopal parishes of the five boroughs of New York, from New Jersey, Connecticut, and Long Island, as well as from parishes around the country. Residents of the metropolitan area who have moved away maintain their memberships as a way of staying abreast of the Club’s activities. Church Club members are actively involved in their parishes and seek ways to further the work of the Episcopal Church in the world.

Becoming a Member

A baptized lay member of a parish church of the Episcopal Church in the United States, or a member of a parish church in communion with both the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Anglican Communion, is eligible for membership in the Church Club of New York. Club members will be delighted to discuss membership and will help with the proposal form and process.

Our annual dues are:

Individuals $170
Couples $290
Junior (35 and under) $85
Life $3,400

As the Church Club enters its second century, it remains committed to the work of the Episcopal Church and worldwide Anglican Communion through spirited inquiry and fellowship.

The Church Club of New York welcomes inquiries from prospective members. We hope to become much better acquainted with you.

Church Club Activities

The Church Club is a forum to discuss important issues facing the Episcopal Church and to exchange valuable ideas among those who are active in their parishes and who serve on vestries and diocesan committees. The Church Club also supports theological education and keeps members informed by sponsoring opportunities to hear experts on topics of vital interest to Episcopalians.

Fellowship is also central to the Church Club's mission. Members enjoy events that are convivial as well as informative.

A Popular Lecture Series

Continuing a tradition begun in 1888, the Church Club of New York sponsors an annual lecture series. Prominent experts, including theologians, primates, and political leaders, speak to issues affecting the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Recent discussions have included:

· The history of the Anglican tradition
· The Episcopal Church confronting the 21st century (a review of the 2000 General Convention)
· The development of the Book of Common Prayer on its 450th anniversary
· The financial future of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
· Christian ethics & the terminally ill
· Homosexuality & the Episcopal Church

Speakers have included:

· The Most Rev. George Leonard Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury
· The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
· Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy
· Terry Waite, former hostage
· The Rt. Rev. Paul Moore
· The Rev. Martin Marty
· Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan
· The Rev. Canon Prof. J. Robert Wright
· The Most Rev. Robert Eames, Archbishop of Ireland

Open Houses, Pilgrimages & Social Events

Church Club members enjoy a full season of special events, including trips to historic churches and holy sites abroad, along with art exhibits and perfomances.

Recent outings of special interest include:

· The Berkeley Divinity School at Yale
· Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate
· Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay
· The Seamen’s Church Institute
· Annual cabaret performances from such performers as Francis Thorne, Kitty Carlisle Hart, the Yale University Whiffenpoofs, Camilla Cloney, and the Blue Hill Troupe
· Christmas at the New York Public Library
· General Theological Seminary
· Pilgrimages to Canterbury Cathedral (2002) and York Minster (2004)
· Unwavering Spirit: Hope & Healing at Ground Zero, a special exhibit at St. Paul’s Chapel