Some of Our Past Guest Speakers Every week we have a different guest speaker. Each brings their unique perspective on how we best can face the challenges in our lives.
			Imam Shamsi Ali (Sunni Muslim) is the acting imam at The Islamic Cultural Center of New York and director of the Jamaica Muslim Center in Queens. Also chairman of Masjid Al-Hikmah in Queens, he leads the city’s annual Muslim Day Parade. He was appointed “Ambassador for Peace” by the International Religious Federation in 2002 and chosen one of the seven most influential religious leaders in New York City by New York Magazine in 2006. He participated in the International Conference of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in Seville in 2006 and in an interfaith dialogue at the White House that same year. In cooperation with the Foundation of Ethnic Understanding, he organized an Imams and Rabbis National Summit in New York last year and recently took part in a transatlantic dialogue in Frankfurt, Germany. He is the author of several second books, including Young Preacher in New York City (2007) and The True Love in America (2009). The Reverend Brent Backofen (Reformed Church in America) held pastorates in various churches of his denomination on the East Coast before his retirement. He also served on the staff of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic Reformed Church in America as an associate for church planning, development and missions. He received an M.Div. degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Before attending seminary, he was involved in child care work. James Baggett (New Life Tabernacle) has held management positions in various social service agencies since his release from prison in 2001 and is currently a consultant for Network Support Services in Queens. He holds a master of professional services degree from the New York Theological Seminary program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Marist College during his 15 years in prison. He is the proud father of four wonderful children. The Reverend Mariah Britton (American Baptist), an associate minister at Memorial Baptist Church in Harlem, is the founder and chief executive of the Moriah Institute, which provides comprehensive sexuality training for seminarians as well as working with adolescents. An associate minister for youth and young adults at Riverside Church for 17 years, she earned a Ph.D. in family, marriage and human sexuality from New York University.  Emily Brown (United Church of Christ) is a pastoral associate at Broadway United Church of Christ and community minister at Judson Memorial Church. She earned her M.Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary in 2010. While at Union she received the David H.C. Read Memorial Preacher/Scholar Award, a national honor that is enabling her to travel in Israel in May. She also received Union’s Kneeland Award for Preaching. The Reverend James Campbell (United Church of Christ) is pastor of Broadway United Church of Christ. He earned his M.Div. degree at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio and was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1991. He served congregations in that denomination in Ohio and New Jersey for eight years before working in the private sector for several years and transferring to the United Church of Christ. Dr. Mary Ann Cejka (Roman Catholic) is a writer, grants professional and passionate activist for peace and justice issues as well as for reform within the Catholic Church. She serves on the board of the Federation of Christian Ministries, a national organization of ministers that engages in interfaith dialogue, provides pastoral and spiritual care and offers training and certification for ministry. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Yale and a Ph.D. in psychology from Purdue. Rev. Sylvia Shirk Charles (Mennonite) is pastor of Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship. Previously campus minister at Goshen College in Indiana for 10 years, she earned a master of theology degree at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. The Reverend Vincent Corso (Roman Catholic) is manager of spiritual care and bereavement services at Hospice Care of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. A member of Celibacy Is the Issue, a consortium of married Roman Catholic clergy, he received an M.Div. degree from St. Anthony on Hudson and an M.S.W. from Syracuse University. Kathleen Epp (United Methodist) is a candidate for ministry in her denomination. She is a hospice social worker and also has a private practice in spiritual direction. She received an M.S.W. degree from the University of Denver and has completed a graduate program in spiritual direction at Fordham University. The Reverend Jerry Fargo (United Church of Christ) is a graduate of Chicago Theological Seminary. He has worked in youth and campus ministry, with performing artists and as a journalist and art director. He was formerly Chelsea Community Church's pastoral counselor. Fr. Tom Franks (Roman Catholic) is pastor of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church on West 31st Street, where our choir is rehearsing for the Candlelight Carol Service. He was ordained to the priesthood at Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers in 2008. A graduate of Fordham University, he earned his M.Div. degree at Weston Jesuit Seminary in Cambridge, MA. He is now working toward a licenciate degree at Boston College. Rev. Dana Fenton (American Baptist) teaches sociology at Lehman College and at Yeshiva University. She earned M.Div. and M.Phil. degrees at Union Theological Seminary. She is working toward a Ph.D. in sociology at CUNY and has completed fieldwork research for her dissertation on the conservative movement in the Episcopal Church. She is a former pastor of churches Long Beach and Queens. The Reverend Clifford Frasier (United Church of Christ) is campaign coordinator of field sites for the Communications Center of the Service Employees International Union. He is also clergy liaison to the Ordination Committee at Riverside Church. He has been coordinator of Presbyterian Welcome, a program encouraging inclusivity, associate pastor of Jan Hus Presbyterian Church and a member of the social justice staff at Riverside Church. In 2003-04 he spent six months in prison for civil disobedience at Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly School of the Americas). He earned his M.Div. at Harvard Divinity School. Raymond Gombach (Presbyterian) is a member of the Network of Biblical Storytellers. He has taught master classes on telling and learning sacred stories at Yale Divinity School, Duke University and Drew University. Ronald Hall (Christian) was released from a halfway house in February after serving time at the Raybrook Federal Correctional Institute. He has availed himself of the services of Exodus Transitional Community and is currently studying air conditioning and refrigeration at the Apex Technical School. Rasheed Hart (Nondenominational) works with Back in Stride, a re-entry program for ex-offenders founded by Rev. Loren Russell. Released from prison in 2010, he is the author of Play Your Position, published by Author House in 2005. While in prison he earned a certificate in theology and human services from the Rising Hope program. He is starting a company, Pet Life Assurance, to offer life insurance policies for pets. Rabbi Jill Hausman (Jewish) is the spiritual leader of Congregation Ezrath Israel, also known as the Actors Temple. Before coming to the 47th Street shul in 2006, she was with the Boro Park Progressive Synagogue in Brooklyn, first as a cantor and then as assistant rabbi. She was ordained at the Rabbinical Seminary International in Manhattan. The Reverend Lisa Hill (Presbyterian) is director of special projects for the West Side Federation for Senior & Supportive Housing. She was previously the director of the Frederic Fleming House in Chelsea, which is operated by the same agency. She holds an M.Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary. The Reverend Darlene Holmes (Baptist) is an associate pastor of Hollywood Baptist Church in Amityville and a guidance counselor at Baldwin Middle School on Long Island. She earned an M.S. degree in education and counseling at Queens College and is working toward administrative certification at the College of St. Rose. The Reverend Dale T. Irvin (American Baptist) is president of New York Theological Seminary. A faculty member there since 1989, he is also professor of wold Christianity. He is the author of Hearing Many Voices (1993) and Christian Histories, Christian Traditioning: Rendering Accounts (1998) and a co-author of History of the World Christian Movement: Earliest Christianity to 1453 (2001). He earned his M.Div. degree at Princeton Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. at Union Theological Seminary. Dr. Katherine Kurs Episcopal/Jewish) compiled and edited the award-winning book Searching for Your Soul. She has a private practice in spiritual counseling and direction and is an ecumenical associate minister of West Park Presbyterian Church as well as teaching at General Theological Seminary and New School University. She holds a M.Div. from Harvard and a Ph.D. from the Royal College of Art, London. The Reverend Roy Lloyd (Lutheran) is senior manager of media relations for the American Bible Society. Dr. Lloyd was formerly director of broadcast news and producer of network TV shows for the National Council of Churches. A graduate of Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, He also earned a Ph.D. in communication in education from the University of Pittsburgh. The Reverend Mary McNamara (Presbyterian) is executive vice president of Union Theological Seminary. She previously served as president and executive director of the Interchurch Center. She earned a M.Div. degree at Harvard Divinity School		The Reverend John Magisano (Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches), Chelsea Community Church's pastoral counselor, is director of training and client services at Nonprofit Connection, a firm that provides capacity-building technical assistance to nonprofit organizations in New York City. He earned his M.Div. degree at New York Theological Seminary and has served as assistant pastor for development at the Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford Roger Manning Pentecostal) received a certificate in ministry and human services in a program co-sponsored by Rising Hope, Inc. and Boricua College at Woodbourne Correctional Facility, graduating in December 2006. Incarcerated for 25 years, he also earned an A.A. degree from Ulster Community College while in prison. He is employed as an interviewer for Universal Survey. Rev. Danielline Martinez (Apostolic Catholic Orthodox Church) is a spiritual care counselor at Hospice Care of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. She was previously a spiritual counselor at an AIDS service program. She grew up in East Harlem as a Roman Catholic. She learned of her present denomination, which is an independent Old Catholic Church, while studying at Union Theological Seminary and was ordained a deacon in 2001 and a priest in 2010. She holds an M.Div. degree from Union and is now studying in the psychoanalytic program at the Blanton-Peale Institute on a part-time basis. Kate McCormick (Episcopal) is parish administrator and an associate in ministry at All Saints Episcopal Church in Glen Rock, NJ. She earned an M.Div. degree at Union Theological Seminary. She was an editor at Newsday for 18 years and then served as an associate editor at the Episcopal News Service. The Venerable T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki (Buddhist), a Pure Land Buddhist priest, is a teacher of his faith and also a counselor. A native of Osaka, Japan, he is a graduate of Ryukoku University in Kyoto, an area with 3,000 Buddhist temples. He came to the United States in 1985, settling first in Seattle and later in California, where he earned a master’s degree in linguistics at California State University in Fresno. He has lived in New York since 1994 and is currently working toward a Doctor of Ministry degree at New York Theological Seminary in a program of interfaith study.  The Reverend John Nuessle (United Methodist) is assistant general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Dr. Nuessle has pastored a number of churches in Upstate New York and was district superintendent of his denomination’s North Central New York Conference. He holds M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Drew University. Diana Ortiz (Nondenominational) is the community liaison for Exodus Transitional Community, an organization helping ex-offenders adjust to life after prison. She was previously a job developer at the agency and before that was employed by Housing + Solutions working with women who have been addicted to drugs and at Osborne Association working with children of incarcerated parents. While incarcerated for 18 years at Bedford Hills and Beacon Correctional Facility, she worked with a prison ministry and earned an M.A. in English from Mercy College. For her path to parole see this story in the New York Times. The Reverend Jennifer L. Pader (Unitarian Universalist) is the affiliate minister for pastoral care of the Fourth Universalist Society in Manhattan. Also a pastoral counselor and psychotherapist in private practice, she is a graduate of McGill University, Union Theological Seminary, the William Alanson White Institute and the Hunter College School of Social Work. Sister Carol Perry (Roman Catholic) is resident Biblical scholar at Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan. A member of the Sisters of St. Ursula, she studied at Regina Mundi in Rome, where she earned the equivalent of a master's degree in theology. She also holds an M.A. in theology from St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind. She has retired from the faculty of John Coleman High School in Hurley, NY. Victoria Ramsey United Methodist) is a chaplain at Eger Lutheran Nursing Home in Staten Island. She received her M.Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary in 2007. Before enrolling at the seminary she worked full-time as a piano teacher in Denton, TX. Brother Jason Rodriguez (Muslim) was ordained by United Faith Ministries. Now pursuing an acting career, he appears in two scenes in the movie Pride and Glory, which was released in October.  While waiting for more roles, he works as a service advisor for a car dealer. Incarcerated at age 16, he spent 17 years in New York State prisons. Rev. Gary Ryan (United Church of Christ) is a member of the Vestry of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church who has served as a human rights advocate for the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Anglican Observer’s Office at the United Nations. He was pastor of several Methodist churches near Oxford, Miss., before becoming an Episcopalian. Currently a teacher at Brooklyn Friends School, he has worked as a journalist for Associated Press and as a chaplain at Massachusetts General Hospital and at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. A graduate of the University of Mississippi and Harvard Divinity School, he holds M.A., M.Div. and Th.M. degrees. Esther Sohn (Presbyterian) is on the ordination track of her denomination. She is working toward a D.Min. degree at New York Theological Seminary, where she earned her M.Div. She served as a youth pastor in her native Korea and now works with a nonprofit organization to improve the quality of life in her Queens neighborhood, particularly that of immigrants who do not have the support services of a church. Sheryl Sohn (Nondenominational) is a mentoring consultant for Exodus Transitional Community, matching life coaches with children of parents who are in prison. Incarcerated herself for 26 years, she became active in prison ministry, working with chaplains to conduct worship services and offer Bible study. While in prison she earned a B.S. degree from Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, and participated in the first clinical pastoral education program offered in a prison. She continues to work toward a M.Div. degree from Trinity Bible College and Seminary, Newburgh, Ind., in a course she began by correspondence while in prison. Rev. Gay Tompson Steele (Baptist) is co-pastor of Faith Mission in Yonkers, a church started by her godmother in 1997. She is also an associate pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon and has for some 20 years been an advertising copywriter. While working toward her M.Div. degree at New York Theological Seminary she held an internship at Memorial Baptist Church in Harlem. The Reverend Susan Switzer (United Church of Christ) is a consultant to New York Theological Seminary. She served as interim pastor of Emanuel United Church of Christ in Woodhaven, Queens and was formerly director of stewardship and fund development at Riverside Church. She received her M.Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary. The Reverend Linda Tarry-Chard (United Church of Christ) is associate minister for new members, ecumenical and interfaith relations at The Riverside Church. She was previously an associate minister for social justice at Broadway United Church of Christ. She holds an M.S. in education from Fordham University and an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary. Rev. Joanna Tipple (Reformed Church in America) is establishing Pearl Creek Farms and Sanctuary in Columbia County. It offers hospitality and healing to humans and animals as well as providing retreat facilities. She earned her M.Div. degree in 2005 from New Brunswick Theological Seminary and also has training in spiritual direction. Ordained in 2006, she served for two years as pastor of Livingston Memorial Church in Linlithgo, NY. Before attending seminary she served as a local pastor in Methodist churches Upstate. Elder Joseph W. Tolton (Progressive Pentecostal) is pastor of Rehoboth Temple Christ Conscious Church in Harlem. He is also managing director of Blur Advertising, LLC. He holds an M.B.A. degree from Columbia University Business School and studied religion at Vassar College. Yvette Vanterpool (American Baptist) is development assistant for a multifaith youth program, Face to Face/Faith to Faith, at Auburn Theological Seminary that brings together young people from troubled regions of the world such as the Middle East. Also an associate minister at Memorial Baptist Church in Harlem, she received her M.Div. degree summa cum laude from Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, NJ, last spring. A trained opera singer, she has sung with companies in Berlin, Delaware and Tulsa. Rev. Wilfried Wasserman (Lutheran) is pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Paul in Chelsea. Prior to coming to this pastorate in 2003, he served at two congregations in Germany for 20 years. He grew up in Beirut, Lebanon where his father was administrator of an orphanage. After majoring in biology and chemistry in college, he worked in the chemical industry in Germany for several years before studying theology at Tòbingen University and earning the equivalent of an M.Div. degree. Rabbi Nancy Weiner (Jewish) is professor of pastoral care and counseling at Hebrew Union College in Greenwich Village. She is also director of the Blaustein Center for Pastoral Counseling at the college. A rabbi in the Reformed Jewish tradition, she earned a D.Min. degree from Hebrew Union College. The Rev. Dr. William Weisenbach (Presbyterian) is the senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Katonah in Westchester County. Previously pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Philipstown in Cold Spring, NY, he earlier was vice president for academic affairs and professor of church management at New York Theological Seminary. He earned his D.Min. degree at the seminary and was awarded an honorary D.D. after his 24 years of service to the institution. Sharon White (Nondenominational), program manager at Exodus Transitional Commuity in Manhattan, spent 11 years in Bedford Hills Correctional Facility before being released in 2005. A trustee of New Jerusalem Church in the Bronx, she is also studying at Lehman College and expects to graduate in 2008 and then hopes to work toward a master's degree in social work. Ginena Dulley Wills (United Methodist) worked for her denomination’s General Board of Global Ministries for 10 years, serving in the United Methodist Committee on Relief and in Mission Education and as director of the Women’s Division. In 2004-06 she held the Sara Shingler Public Education Internship with the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries, doing grassroots organizing within United Methodist Women. She was president of United Methodist Women and dean of the School of Christian Mission in the former Northern New Jersey Annual Conference. She was also president of the Core Planning Group of the United Methodist Northeastern Jurisdiction and dean of the Upper Atlantic Regional School of Christian Mission. The Reverend Karen L. Ziegler (Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches) is a family nurse practitioner at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center in Durham, NC. Dr. Ziegler also teaches clinical skills and ethics to first- and second-year medical students at Duke University Medical School. She was the senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of New York from 1979-88 and pastoral consultant to Chelsea Community Church in 1992-93. She earned her M.Div. degree at Union Theological Seminary and her D.Min. at New York Theological Seminary. She later enrolled in the Columbia University School of Nursing and went on to earn an M.S.N. at Duke. She is a Bravewell Fellow and completed a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in 2008. She is also a Reiki teacher and mindfulness meditation teacher.