Pastor K. Todd Stout (Seventh Day Adventist) is the lead pastor of Church of the Advent Hope in Manhattan.  He moved into this role in 2010, after being an associate pastor at the church.  Before coming to New York, he was in a pastorate in Indianapolis for five years.  He holds an M.Div. degree from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Lay Leader: Joanne Downes, Reception Host: Jennifer Lynch, Usher: Gloria Schofner

Revd Dr. José Miguel Román was born and raised in New York City.  His mother and father originally came from Puerto Rico.  He is a graduate of the City University of New York where he attained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics; he then went on to New York University School of Law and received his Juris Doctor. In May of 2016 he received his Doctorate in Ministry at the New York Theological Seminary.  He was also ordained an Interfaith/Interspiritual Minister in 2014.

Dr. Román’s professional life has been dedicated to public service around the world.  In the past 30 years he has worked around the world on issues as varied as youth development, LGBT civil rights, HIV/ AIDS, vaccine research, and international emergency relief and development.  Dr. Román has visited or worked in nearly twenty countries (and has helped manage programs in another 50-to-60).

Dr. Román has worked in research administration for nearly fifteen years, which has included serving in leadership roles at Columbia University and New York University.  Presently he is the Vice President of Research Administration at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, where he serves as one of the institution’s most senior research administrators.

Lay Leader: David Williams, Reception Host: Gloria Schofner, Usher: Joanne Downes

Revd Joseph J. Nicholson (Non-denominational Protestant) spent the first 30 years of his career as an entrepreneur.  He founded a dozen companies, mostly related to software and the financial services industry.

Following the sale of his operating businesses and a brief retirement, he was called to seminary.  He received a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in 2016 and a Masters degree of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in 2020.  He was ordained in 2017 by the Non-Denominational Protestant American Fellowship Church.

From September 2014 to January 2021, he served as chaplain to the uniformed personnel of the EMS division of the New York City Fire Department.  Since April 2019, he has served as pastoral counselor at Chelsea Community Church.

Lay Leader: Mary Sheeran, Reception Host: Edie Diane Nichols, Usher: TBA

Gary Ryan ThM (Episcopalian) Gary studied basic Clinical Pastoral Education while a chaplain at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and did his advanced psychotherapeutic training and supervision at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in NYC where he was the Chief Resident Chaplain during the height of the AIDS crisis.  More recently he also worked at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC as a chaplain during the height of the Covid crisis. 

Gary studied philosophy at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and theology at Harvard Divinity School.  He has written for the Associated Press, represented the Archbishop of Canterbury at the United Nations, and taught chess in NYC’s inner city, where the present World Rank No. 2 player was one of his early students. 

From Mississippi, Gary presently lives in Brooklyn, writes poetry and short stories.   He loves art, travel, and flyfishing; and he claims New Orleans as his second city.

Lay Leader: Wayne Kammerer, Reception Host: TBA, Usher: Sandra Almeida

Revd Dr. Valerie H. Holly (American Baptist/United Church of Christ) currently works as Pulpit Supply at Judson Memorial Church.  Dr. Holly was on staff as a minister at Judson Memorial Church from 2013 to 2023.  Previously Dr. Holly was Senior Pastor at Unity Fellowship of Christ Church, NYC, for eight years.  From 2018 to 2020, Dr. Holly taught onsite theology classes to incarcerated women at Danbury Federal prison.  Dr. Holly also has worked as a clinical social worker.  She has been an adjunct professor at the College of New Rochelle, and at Empire State College.   Dr. Holly has a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree, both from New York Theological Seminary.   She has a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work.

Lay Leader: Jeff Cubeta, Reception Host: Wayne Kammerer, Usher: Mary Sheeran

Lay Leader: Wayne Kammerer, Reception Host: Gloria Schofner, Usher: Edie Diane Nichols

Mel Lehman (Mennonite) grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  He received a Master of Arts in theology from Union Theological Seminary and an Master of Arts in literature from Columbia University.  He worked for the first 20 years of his career at the National Council of Churches as an editor in international humanitarian issues.

In 2009 he founded a non-profit organization called Common Humanity which works to build understanding, respect, and friendship between Americans and the Middle East and Arab world.  Common Humanity organizes exhibits of paintings by Middle East artists to help Americans better understand the humanity and rich culture of the people there.

He is a long-time deacon at his home congregation, Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship, and a lay preacher.

Lay Leader: Jeff Cubeta, Reception Host: Edie Diane Nichols, Usher: Sandra Almeida

Rabbi Jill Hausman has been the Rabbi and Cantor of the historic Actors’ Temple, Congregation Ezrath Israel, in Manhattan since 2006, and is the Assistant Dean of the Rabbinical Seminary International (RSI).  She previously served as Cantor/Assistant Rabbi at Boro Park Progressive Synagogue in Brooklyn, and has been an aquatic biologist, a singer, and actor.  Her commentaries on the weekly Torah portion have been published by The Jewish Week in New York City, now online at the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, by Tikkun Magazine, and her poems and prayers can be found at www.ritualwell.org.

Lay Leader: Wayne Kammerer, Reception Host: Jennifer Lynch, Usher: TBA

Revd Joseph J. Nicholson (Non-denominational Protestant) spent the first 30 years of his career as an entrepreneur.  He founded a dozen companies, mostly related to software and the financial services industry.

Following the sale of his operating businesses and a brief retirement, he was called to seminary.  He received a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in 2016 and a Masters degree of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in 2020.  He was ordained in 2017 by the Non-Denominational Protestant American Fellowship Church.

From September 2014 to January 2021, he served as chaplain to the uniformed personnel of the EMS division of the New York City Fire Department.  Since April 2019, he has served as pastoral counselor at Chelsea Community Church.

Lay Leader: Mary Sheeran, Reception Host: TBA, Usher: TBA

Nathalie Esther Amazan is a Muslim, poet, and law student from New York. She has been writing and performing her poetry since she was 17. She was a Wednesday Night Slam Winner at the acclaimed Nuyorican Poets Café, a nominee for the Black Fox Literary Magazine 2024 Pushcart Prize, and released her first poetry collection, Still, with Finishing Line Press in 2023. For the past two years she has created space for queer Muslims and their co-conspirators to come together to pray and grow in the faith of Islam. This community has turned into the Al-Wāsi’ Collective which holds weekly Jummah (Friday) prayers in the Bronx and events throughout the city that center prayer and spiritual growth. You can connect with her @natamazan on all online platforms.

Lay Leader: David Williams, Reception Host: Wayne Kammerer, Usher: Sandra Almeida

Revd Robert Yarnall (Interfaith) has been the featured speaker at Unity of Montclair since 2019 and speaks regularly at Unity of New York and the New Thought Spiritual Center on Long Island.  He is an ordained interfaith minister (from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary) and longtime member of Unity of New York, where he’s served on the board and as a prayer chaplain.  He’s also an actor and writer now living in the Hudson Valley. www.RevRobert.net

Lay Leader: Edie Diane Nichols, Reception Host: Gloria Schofner, Usher: Mary Sheeran

Mary Sheeran (Episcopalian/Chelsea Community Church) has been a member of Chelsea Community Church since 1987.

After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Humanistic Studies, and Theater at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, she taught at the Foxhollow School in Lenox, Massachusetts. She performed leading roles in regional theater productions, off-Broadway plays, and in operas in New York City. She also was a theater critic for the trade papers Show Business and Backstage. 

Mary also has had a career as a medical editor, which was how she met Hilda Regier, who invited her to join an Easter choir for Chelsea Community Church. Mary became a member shortly thereafter and served on the church's board for several years.

As board Chair, she was invited to audit a class at Union Theological Seminary; and inspired,she enrolled at nondenominational New York Theological Seminary, earning her Master of Divinity degree. She did field service at St. Peter's Chelsea, where she was active in their liturgy and education committees and served on the vestry, the altar, and in the choir. 

In 2006, her first novel, Who Have the Power, was published about the effects of silver mining in the west on the Native peoples. She has since had three other novels published, two of which have won awards; and she is working on number five.

Lay Leader: Jeff Cubeta, Reception Host: TBA, Usher: Edie Diane Nichols

Revd Gloria Jean Skeete (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches) is on the ministerial staff of the Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church in Brooklyn, where she has served since 2015.  She occasionally fills in as Pastor while Flatbush-Tompkins conducts their current pastor search.  She was previously a pastor at the New York Congregational Nursing Center in Brooklyn.  She graduated from New York Theological Seminary in 2012 with an Masters of Divinity degree.  Her seminary education included internships at Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn and Jan Hus Presbyterian Church in Manhattan.  Before going to seminary she worked in the fashion industry.

Lay Leader: Wayne Kammerer, Reception Host: Gloria Schofner, Usher: TBA

Revd John Magisano (Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches)  served as Chelsea Community Church's Pastoral Counselor for 11 years (2004 - 2015). He has served various churches and currently serves All Souls Bethlehem Church in Brooklyn as their interim pastoral counselor.  He earned his Master of Divinity Degree at New York Theological Seminary in 1999.  John recently retired from NYC Office of Technology & Innovation (OTI) as Senior Coordinator for Learning & Organizational Development.  He lives in Brooklyn with his husband Xris and their feline overlord, Wolverina.  

Lay Leader: Mary Sheeran, Reception Host: Edie Diane Nichols, Usher: TBA

Amanda Brasher

Revd Joseph J. Nicholson (Non-denominational Protestant) spent the first 30 years of his career as an entrepreneur.  He founded a dozen companies, mostly related to software and the financial services industry.

Following the sale of his operating businesses and a brief retirement, he was called to seminary.  He received a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in 2016 and a Masters degree of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in 2020.  He was ordained in 2017 by the Non-Denominational Protestant American Fellowship Church.

From September 2014 to January 2021, he served as chaplain to the uniformed personnel of the EMS division of the New York City Fire Department.  Since April 2019, he has served as pastoral counselor at Chelsea Community Church.

Lay Leader: Wayne Kammerer, Reception Host: Edie Diane Nichols, Usher: Joanne Downes

Lay Leader: Jeff Cubeta, Reception Host: TBA, Usher: Edie Diane Nichols

Rasheed Hart (Nondenominational) Following his release in 2017, Rasheed Hart graduated from both Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business and CUNY Urban School of Labor.  He held an internship in community organizing at The Black Institute, and in 2018 he established the renowned NYC Barbershop Museum, a center dedicated to preserving cultural heritage.  Rasheed has been deeply committed to addressing the pressing issue of gun violence, and he began working with the Center for Justice Innovation in 2020.   In 2021, he was recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Probation for his contributions to the Echoes Be Ready program, which addresses the ongoing challenges of employment and gun violence.  Rasheed has also served as a job developer, facilitating the placement of over 70 unemployed participants and providing hope and opportunities to those facing adversity.  He had a longtime friendship with the late CCC member Kathy Reid. Rasheed holds certifications in Ministry and Human Services from Rising Hope Inc.

Lay Leader: Pam Palmieri, Reception Host: Wayne Kammerer, Usher: Joanne Downes

Revd Nindyo Sasongko (Mennonite) is pursuing a Ph.D. in systematic theology at Fordham University. He is a teaching fellow at Fordham and a theologian in residence at Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship. He served as a pastor in his native Indonesia from 2005-2013, with time out as a youth minister in Ethiopia for nearly a year. After receiving an M.A. from Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry in 2015, he became the Elias Pohan visiting research fellow at Jakarta Theological Seminary in Indonesia. In 2019 he was selected to participate in a climate change task force sponsored by Mennonite World Conference.

Lay Leader: Joanne Downes, Reception Host: TBA, Usher: Gloria Schofner

Revd Dr. Valerie H. Holly (American Baptist/United Church of Christ) has worked in various ministerial positions at Judson Memorial Church in the West Village. Previously she was Senior Pastor at Unity Fellowship Church of Christ New York City in Brooklyn.  Dr. Holly has also held managerial social work positions in substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and Employee Assistance Programs.

Dr. Holly received both a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctorate in Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary. She also holds a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from Columbia University.

Lay Leader: Wayne Kammerer, Reception Host: Jennifer Lynch, Usher: Edie Diane Nichols

Revd Joseph J. Nicholson (Non-denominational Protestant) spent the first 30 years of his career as an entrepreneur.  He founded a dozen companies, mostly related to software and the financial services industry.

Following the sale of his operating businesses and a brief retirement, he was called to seminary.  He received a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in 2016 and a Masters degree of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in 2020.  He was ordained in 2017 by the Non-Denominational Protestant American Fellowship Church.

From September 2014 to January 2021, he served as chaplain to the uniformed personnel of the EMS division of the New York City Fire Department.  Since April 2019, he has served as pastoral counselor at Chelsea Community Church.

Lay Leader: Mary Sheeran, Reception Host: Edie Diane Nichols, Usher: TBA

Father Vince Corso is a member of Celibacy-Is-The-Issue, an organization of married and resigned Roman Catholic priests serving the spiritual needs of those under-served, overlooked or rejected by the institutional church. Rooted in the Roman Catholic Tradition, but embracing a wider community, CITI members provide pastoral and spiritual support, small-community worship, marriages, including second marriages, and other services. Vince entered the Franciscan Order in 1971 and received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from St. Hyacinth College/Seminary in 1976. After earning a Master of Divinity from the Franciscan School of Theology in Rensselaer, NY in 1980 Vince was ordained in May of that year. He served as a parish priest, vocation director and as spiritual director and volunteer coordinator for Covenant House in NYC and Central America.   Vince earned the Master of Social Work degree in 1996 from Syracuse University and worked in hospice and palliative care in NYC. His area of training and interest is bereavement, hospice spiritual care, self-care and community education. He supervised and trained hospice social workers, bereavement professionals, chaplains and volunteers.  Now retired, Vince ministers as a wedding officiant, helping prepare couples for marriage and celebrating their nuptials! By the end of 2023, Vince will have had the honor of witnessing 60 weddings. Vince, Christine, his wife of 32 years, and their children Julia and Peter live in Cedar Grove, NJ, and have been friends with CCC for over 20 years.

Lay Leader: Joanne Downes, Reception Host: TBA, Usher: Jennifer Lynch

David Williams is a non-denominational Christian and technology investor who currently manages a fund investing in blockchain and digital assets. He began his career on Wall Street in the late 1980s, and for the past 30 years has been involved in starting and investing in software and internet companies. He and his wife Courtney have been married 35 years and have three sons. David and his family lived in Beijing, China, from 2002 through 2007. As founder of non-profit GoodWork International, David assisted faith based organizations seeking to alleviate poverty in China through entrepreneurship and community development. David has a B.S. in Economics from Southern Methodist University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University. He has also taken course work at General Theological Seminary here in Chelsea and The Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Lay Leader: Jeff Cubeta, Reception Host: Gloria Schofner, Usher: TBA

Don’t forget to set your clocks back 1 hour before going to bed on Saturday night, November 2nd.

Paula Whitney Best, MA, JD (Nondenominational), is an author, attorney, career advisor, lyricist, notary public, and public speaker.  They gratefully joined Chelsea Community Church in July of 2017.  While nondenominational, they are deeply spiritual.  

Paula Whitney spent nearly 15 years as a disability career advisor at Medgar Evers College/CUNY.  They are a former large firm corporation lawyer and a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney under the late Robert M. Morgenthau. They are a published member of the Cardozo Law Review.   Paula Whitney holds a Master of Arts degree in applied psychology from NYU and a degree in economics from Oberlin.

Paula Whitney's current book, The Black Fantasy Markets, teaches young Black children and their families about the Capital Markets and Interest Rates. This book was released on June 27, 2024, 17 years to the date of the death of Paula Whitney’s wife Victoria.  They are also copyrighting a rap song on the financial markets.

Lay Leader: Joanne Downes, Reception Host: Wayne Kammerer, Usher: Edie Diane Nichols

Revd Gerardo Ramirez has served as a supply pastor at Good Shepherd Church on Roosevelt Island since 2013. Previously he was for 12 years Priest in Charge at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Carle Place, NY., and a protestant chaplain at Coler Memorial Hospital on Roosevelt Island and other hospitals in New York City.

He was a member of the New York City Commission on Human Rights from 1995-2001.  He holds an Masters of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary.

Lay Leader: Edie Diane Nichols, Reception Host: TBA, Usher: Wayne Kammerer

Revd Joseph J. Nicholson (Non-denominational Protestant) spent the first 30 years of his career as an entrepreneur.  He founded a dozen companies, mostly related to software and the financial services industry.

Following the sale of his operating businesses and a brief retirement, he was called to seminary.  He received a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in 2016 and a Masters degree of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in 2020.  He was ordained in 2017 by the Non-Denominational Protestant American Fellowship Church.

From September 2014 to January 2021, he served as chaplain to the uniformed personnel of the EMS division of the New York City Fire Department.  Since April 2019, he has served as pastoral counselor at Chelsea Community Church.

Lay Leader: David Williams, Reception Host: TBA, Usher: Gloria Schofner

Hello CCC! It’s time for our annual meeting!

Revd Raquel Irizarry (United Church of Christ/Unitarian Universalist) is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary and Columbia School of Social Work.  She is an activist, a writer, a guest minister, as well as lead facilitator of a Brain Training program for adults with early to mid-stage memory loss.  She is currently a member of both the UCC Metro Association Board of Directors and their Social Justice Committee, and is a member of the NYS/NYC Coordinating Committees for the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.  She is also a long-time member and the Council President of All Souls Bethlehem Church in Brooklyn.  Raquel loves/does photography, sings a little, and is a believer in the power of God's abundant Love.

Lay Leader: Joanne Downes, Reception Host: Edie Diane Nichols, Usher: Sandra Almeida

Gary Ryan ThM (Episcopalian) Gary studied basic Clinical Pastoral Education while a chaplain at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and did his advanced psychotherapeutic training and supervision at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in NYC where he was the Chief Resident Chaplain during the height of the AIDS crisis.  More recently he also worked at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC as a chaplain during the height of the Covid crisis. 

Gary studied philosophy at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and theology at Harvard Divinity School.  He has written for the Associated Press, represented the Archbishop of Canterbury at the United Nations, and taught chess in NYC’s inner city, where the present World Rank No. 2 player was one of his early students. 

From Mississippi, Gary presently lives in Brooklyn, writes poetry and short stories.   He loves art, travel, and flyfishing; and he claims New Orleans as his second city.

Lay Leader: Joanne Downes, Reception Host: Edie Diane Nichols, Usher: Gloria Schofner