Rochester, New York

CELEBRATE THE VISION
OF WELCOME AND AFFIRMATION

Presbyterians in the five counties surrounding Rochester, will join together for worship, song and refreshment, Sunday, October 27, 7pm, at Calvary St Andrews Parish, 68 Ashland Street at the corner of Averill Avenue in the South Wedge neighborhood of Rochester, to offer support and recognition to individuals and congregations who heed God’s call to fully welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.  And all members of the community are encouraged to attend!  Come prepared to hear words from an inspiring African-American theologian from Chicago and to be uplifted by the spirit-filled music of Rochester’s very own Rainbow Gospel Choir.

The message for the evening, “Faith that is Seen”, will be brought by visiting theologian, Rev Deborah Mullen, Dean of Masters Programs at McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago Illinois.  Rev Mullen  

Rev Deborah F. Mullen

Much of Mullen’s waking moments are currently spent completing her doctoral candidate thesis: an examination of the life of Angela Davis as a test case in the struggle for racial justice.  Therefore, Rochester is very grateful for Rev Mullen’s return at this time to Rochester, her home for many years.   While in Rochester, Rev Mullen received degrees at the University of Rochester and Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School.  She served as seminary assistant at Calvary St Andrews Parish, was ordained to serve in 1983 as pastor of Trinity Emmanuel Presbyterian Church and subsequently served as parish associate at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church.  At the University of Rochester, Rev Mullen was Associate Director of Minority Student Affairs and helped develop an innovative program, “Educate Now, or Pay Later”, collaborating with good friend, Bill Johnson, mayor of Rochester, then Director of the Urban League, and Dr Eugene Bay, then pastor of Third Presbyterian Church.

Special observances similar to this one in Rochester will be held simultaneously throughout the country during this special time, called Reformation Sunday, which celebrates the vision of a just and inclusive world, reformed and ever reforming.  In recent years, anti-gay forces in the Presbyterian denomination have pushed to codify restrictive policies that would limit the freedom of LGBT persons in church.  In spite of these negative forces, the denomination has formally called on its members to work for LGBT civil rights, allows its ministers to celebrate Holy Union services, and has recognized the ordained service of several openly gay and lesbian persons around the country.

Please help Rochester continue to press forward for justice so that all persons, regardless of race or sexual orientation, may freely serve in church and community.  Mark your calendars for this important community gathering: October 27, 7pm, Calvary St Andrews Parish, 68 Ashland St, corner of Averill Avenue, Rochester.  For more information, contact Rev Judy Lee Hay at 585-325-4950, judyleehay@unidial.com or Ralph Carter at 585-271-7649, rcarter@rpa.net.

From the east: 
Take Interstate 490 W downtown to Goodman St, exit 17.
Cross Goodman St and merge onto Broadway Ave.
Proceed on Broadway, past Meigs St.
Turn left onto Averill Ave.
Proceed on Averill, past S Clinton St, and South Ave.
Calvary St Andrews Parish is on the left at 95 Averill St, corner of Ashland Ave.

From the west:
Take Interstate 490 E through downtown to Goodman St, exit 17.
Turn left onto Goodman St, cross over 490 and turn left onto Broadway Ave.
Proceed on Broadway, past Meigs St.
Turn left onto Averill Ave.
Proceed on Averill, past S Clinton St, and South Ave.
Calvary St Andrews Parish is on the left at 95 Averill St, corner of Ashland Ave.