Affiliation with Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School

The Center for the Congregation in Public Life has entered into an affiliation agreement with Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester , New York . Its purpose is to provide educational resources for congregations wanting to become "global disciples," communities whose faith propels them beyond institutional walls to embrace action for the whole world.
The Colgate Rochester-CCPL initiative has two parts:

• A series of one-day seminars will be held for lay and clergy leaders wanting to assess their congregation's current ministry and learn about "best practices" in social outreach.
• A multi-media adult curriculum will be developed that will help Christians to frame social problems (family, work, welfare, the environment) using church teachings on covenant, community and the common good.

Colgate Rochester is best known for its role in the Social Gospel movement of the late 19th century, which emphasized that the message of Christianity is more than a personal relationship with God and includes social transformation toward a just world. "The Christian faith ought to be engaged in trying to help the most vulnerable people," says Eugene Bay, President of CRCDS, "speaking up for those who don't have a voice."