PARLIAMENT CHAIR INTRODUCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
News from the Chair of the Parliament, Dr. Robert Sellers
It gives me great pleasure to introduce the new Executive Director of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Dr. Larry Greenfield, former Trustee and Vice Chair of the Parliament, who previously served as Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago. Dr. Greenfield, who has served the Parliament as Interim Executive Director since September 2015, was elected by the Trustees of the Board of the Parliament in its spring meeting this past weekend.
Greenfield is an exceptional person in many ways. He is brilliant and deeply philosophical, but at the same time a bit surprising in his stylish suits, David Letterman-esque ties, and silk pocket handkerchiefs. He’s a good listener who maintains strong eye contact and clear focus, yet whose thoughtful ideas and carefully chosen words cause his conversation partners to pay close attention to what he says. He is a man of principle and courage, who’s written and spoken publicly on topics as wildly diverse as the family, health care, the wealth gap, environmentalism, politics, love, marriage equality, the Middle East, democracy, religious abuse of power, community renewal, adoration, humility, charitable acts, and forgiveness of enemies.
Dr. Kusumita Pedersen, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at St. Francis College and Co-Chair of The Interfaith Center of New York, an adherent of Sanatana Dharma and Vice Chair of the Parliament, says that “Larry brings a wealth of leadership experience in different institutions and a broad range of abilities to this position, as well as a deep thoughtfulness about our mission and how to achieve it.†This leadership experience is exemplified by Larry’s prior responsibilities as Professor and Dean of Students, and later as Senior Fellow of the Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago, as well as by his tenure as President of Colgate Rochester/Bexley Hall/Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York. These experiences have enabled Larry to establish profound friendships in academia and also helped to mold him into a wise and collaborative administrator who will guide the Parliament office staff with skill and kindness.
Similarly, his previous leadership roles as Theologian-in-Residence/Editor of Protestants for the Common Good, Co-Director/Co-Founder of The Religion Institute, Director of the Faith and Healthy Sexuality Project, and Vice President/Senior Research Scholar of the Park Ridge Center have given Greenfield a breadth of knowledge about the non-profit sector of society.
