Thursday, September 29, 2016
12:15-2:00 pm
William K. Sanford Town Library (Colonie)
629 Albany Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211
An interfaith panel of nationally and locally prominent clergy members will explore how their ethical and religious beliefs relate to end-of-life options in the context of pending legislation in New York authorizing medical aid in dying. Leaders from three faith communities will share their personal approaches and ethical frameworks underlying these sensitive and sometimes controversial issues.
Panelists will include:
Dr. David M. Gordis served as President and Professor of Rabbinics at Hebrew College and is currently a Visiting Senior Scholar at the University at Albany. He is the founding Director of The National Center on Jewish Policy Studies and the Interreligious Center on Public Life. He holds bachelor and master degrees from Columbia University, as well as Master of Hebrew Literature and Doctor of Philosophy in Talmud degrees from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, where he was ordained in 1964. Dr. Gordis has written and lectured extensively on the pressing issues of contemporary Jewish life, the American Jewish community, Jewish education and interreligious pluralism.
Rev. Dr. Eric S. Shaw has served as Pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church in Troy NY since 2004. Rev. Shaw received his Bachelor’s Degree in computer science from Pace University in 1990, his Masters of Divinity from the Virginia University of Lynchburg in 2006, and his Doctorate of Ministry degree from Drew University in 2013. He is currently President of the Central Hudson Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education. Rev. Shaw also volunteers his time mentoring youth in the City of Troy, and has received awards from the Hamilton Hills Art Center and YMCA Black and Latino Achievers Program.
Dr. William Levering is the Senior Pastor of the First Reformed Church of Schenectady NY. His former pastorates have included Oxford PA, Binghamton NY, Haddonfield NJ, and Philadelphia PA. Dr. Levering’s leadership roles include numerous boards of trustees, including the Schenectady County Community College, the Schenectady County Public Library, the Albany Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (USA), and Habitat for Humanity, Schenectady. He has earned his BA at the University of Illinois, his Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and his PhD from Temple University. Dr. Levering is the founder of ProClergy.com, an ad hoc group of clergy from all over the country who are in favor of the role of religious leaders in changing the world.
The meeting is free and open to the public.
The program video is available at https://vimeo.com/188313601.