Prominent (progressive) NYC Minister Will Step Down (James A. Forbes, Jr.)

[LTR]

The leader of one of the city's most prominent churches, who has gained national attention for his efforts to provide a progressive alternative to the religious right, said he is stepping down as senior minister.

The Rev. James A. Forbes Jr., the first black senior minister at Riverside Church, told his congregation Sunday that he would leave on a six-month sabbatical in January and then officially retire in June.

Forbes, 71, has hosted a weekly show on the liberal radio network Air America since July. In 2004, he toured the nation in an effort to make poverty a greater issue in the elections and spoke in support of John Kerry.

Forbes, who became a senior minister in 1989, said he will decide during his sabbatical whether to create a nonprofit organization or become affiliated with an institution that "affirms what I'm about," he said.

http://www.forbes.com/business/businesstech/feeds/ap/2006/09/18/ap3025086.html

[Acadia Blue]

1. I liked listening to him so much! I wish he would come back.

[JoFerret]

2. Good man. Smart man

.

[kainah]

3. He will be missed

Hopefully, the sabbatical will be used to make his voice even more widely heard.