Talk Celebrates Black History Month

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University Park, Pa. -- Rev. James Forbes of Riverside Baptist Church in New York City will present the lecture "Emancipation From Poverty" in celebration of Black History Month on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. A public reception will follow the talk.

Rev. Forbes is the first African American to serve as senior minister at Riverside Church, a 2,400-member church affiliated with the American Baptist Churches and the United Church of Christ. It is one of the largest multicultural congregations in the nation. He is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches and the Original United Holy Church of America.

A former associate professor of preaching at Union Theological Seminary and member of the teaching staff at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York, Newsweek magazine recently recognized Rev. Forbes as one of the 12 most effective preachers in the English-speaking world. Noted for his charismatic style, he has also been designated as one of America's greatest Black preachers by Ebony magazine in 1984 and 1993. A number of his lectures have been published, and his sermons are aired weekly on WLTM-FM in New York City.

He holds a doctor of ministry degree from Colgate-Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, New York; a master of divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Howard University. He also has been awarded 10 honorary degrees.

**kiw**

Contact: Karen Wagner (814) 863-4512 (office) kiw1@psu.edu
Christy Rambeau (814) 865-7517 (office) cmr7@psu.edu