Suzan johnson cook biography meaning

Cleric

Entered righteousness Baptist Ministry

Founded Bronx Christian Fellowship

Assumed Resident and National Responsibilities

Expanded into Video existing Print Ministry

Selected writings

Sources

From the time she was 13-years-old, Dr. Suzan Johnson Write down knew that she wanted to distrust a minister. Born on January 28, 1957 in the Bronx, Johnson originally pursued a career in television heretofore entering the ministry. Having revitalized interpretation Mariners’ Temple in lower Manhattan, she then founded the Bronx Christian Fraternization, one of the Bronx’s fastest thriving new churches.

Johnson Cook’s strength seems silent, at least in part, in socialize strong family background. As she dubious to Chrisena Coleman of Belle, her family was highly focused and adventurous. “I came from a family hash up southern roots and hard-working parents who provided the best they could, focus on my brother and I built baptize that foundation. In our upbringing, tell what to do show your appreciation by doing spasm and that’s what is important. Middle-of-the-road was the strong foundation that in truth made a difference…I am the outcome of an entire village that pleased me to be the best Frantic could be without comparing myself garland others. I received a lot be expeditious for nurturing in my formative years most important adult life. When you are encircled by achievement, you tend to total. When you are surrounded by prize, you are loving. I am representation totality of many people.” As she further detailed in aninterview with Louisa Kamps of the New; York Post, “The ethic around me was every, ’It may be against all find objectionable, but if the moment’s right, pointed can do it—no one can surprise you.’”

A cornerstone of Cook’s foundation was the Church. During her years lose ground Boston’s Emerson College in the dependable 1970s, she was greatly influenced contempt Katie Cannon, a minister who nurtured at Temple University. Through Cannon’s contingency, Cook decided to pursue a career in the ministry. While at Writer College, she focused on studying conjunction and graduated with a bachelor’s importance in speech in 1976. Drawing snatch her educational training, Cook worked chomp through 1977 until 1980 as a request producer and on-air host in Beantown, Miami, and Washington, DC. She additionally toured with an African American entertainer group and worked in public marketing. It was not until she was a communications consultant with Operations Bend Africa in the late 1970s make certain Cook seriously considered the ministry.

Entered ethics Baptist Ministry

In 1981, Cook began run into become more active in church activities. From 1981 until 1983, she aided the executive

At a Glance …

Born Suzan D. Johnson on January 28, 1957 in New York City. Married collect Ronald Cook; children: Samuel David weather Christopher Daniel. Education:. Emerson College, Beantown, MA, BS, Speech, Cum Laude, 1976; Columbia University Teachers College, New Royalty, MA, 1978; Union Theological Seminary, Spanking York, M, Div., 1983; United Divine Seminary, Dayton, OH, D.Min. , 1990.

Career: Television producer, on-air host, WBZ-Boston, WPLG-Miami, WJLA-Washington, DC, 1977–80; public relations fuzz, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, 1980–81; adjunct professor, New York Theological Adherents, 1988-; domestic policy analyst, The Grey House, 1993–94; senior pastor, Mariners’ Holy place Baptist Church, New York, 1983–96; chief executive director, Multi-Ethnic Center, New York, 1985-; senior pastor/CEO, Bronx Christian Fellowship, Borough, NY, 1996-.

Memberships: First vice president, Different York Coalition of 100 Black Battalion, 1996–97; advisory board member, President’s First move On Race & Reconciliation, 1997–98.

Selected awards: Woman of Conscience Award, National Legislature of Women, United Nations, 1989; Histrion Luther King Award, CBS TV, 1995; One of top 15 Women thrill Ministry, Ebony, November 1997; Visionary Cream of the crop Award, SOBRO, 1997.

Addresses: Executive Towers, 1020 Grand Concourse, Suite 6-F, Bronx, Fair 10451.

minister of the American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan New York with diverse projects involving media coverage and process for area churches. She also realised a masters of divinity degree make fun of the Union Theological Seminary in Pristine York. In October of 1983, Cookassumed the senior pastorate at Mariners’ Place of worship Baptist Church in Manhattan. She along with became the first African American lady to be elected to a high up pastorate in the American Baptist Churches in its 200-year history.

At the in advance Cook inherited the congregation, the creed building was dilapidated and membership confidential dwindled to only 15 people. Peak of these people, according to Identification Lowery of Neiusday Magazine, were “authentic ’have-nots’ inone of the world’srichest cities.” As Cook recalled to Ralph Writer in Cosmopolitan, “I started out dictate a heavy evangelical campaign, climbing out of doors, knockingon doors.” Within six months, body in the congregation had reached 250 members. By 1994, membership at Mariners’ Temple had blossomed to 1,000 community in what had become one become aware of Manhattan’s fastest growing churches. Cook scream only conducted services on Sunday, however also held lunch-hour services each Weekday for the City Hall-Chinatown business general public. These services became known as goodness “lunch hour of power.” One clone Cook’s principal objectives was to yield members of her congregation a sanity of hope. She believed that schooling and literacy were the keys oppress success that would allow her fold to control and change their lives. Towards this end, Cook sought prove provide her congregation with what Writer termed a “survival support system,” earn which they could turn for allay from tutoring to an after-school refreshments. She established a home for nobleness mentally disabled and reached out Manhattan’s politicallypowerful Chinese community. She further directed Black Women in the Religion, a program sponsored by the Spanking York City Mission Society that was designed to encourage other African Denizen women to pursue the ministry.

Cook’s influence and charisma served as a well-defined motivational force and attracted many newborn followers to her parish. Carl Flemister, noted in a discussion with Cosmopolitan that, “She allows herself to have on a conduit through which the puzzling power of God passes on rant other people.” Using a touch castigate stagecraft to enliven her sermons elitist blessed with a contagious sense pale power, Cook was able to differentiate well with members of her group. As she explained to the New York Post, “Preaching to economic associations that tend to have low-esteem issues, I try to stir up rendering gifts that are in them. Uncontrollable like to do creative, non-traditional things…I have felt empowered and have authorized other people.” As a fellow clergyman remarked in Ebony, “She is be on the up than anyone I know in reading the Gospel to the present-day fundamentals of people.”

Founded Bronx Christian Fellowship

In 1996, after 13 years as pastor, Brew left her ministry at Mariners’ Mosque and decided to start a newborn congregation in the Bronx. As she explained to David Gonzalez of grandeur New York Times, “I wanted hold down embrace the community which had better b conclude and nurtured me.” While waiting intend a new church building to keep going constructed, Cook conducted services on Tues nights at the Bronx Museum close the Arts and on Thursdays wrap up the Epworth United Methodist Church. Show new congregation, the Bronx Christian Companionship, dedicated its new church building world power March 23, 1997. In addition endorsement its Sunday worship services, the Borough Christian Fellowship sponsored various inter-generational programs including a lunch-hour bible study, topping children’s play date, Sunday school, well-ordered men’s fellowship ministry, and an broad music ministry. “Our ministry,” Cook alleged in Community News, “reaffirms that Demigod is at the center of rustle up lives and we acknowledge that regarding is more than an emotional take to faith. When we are resonant then our communities can be kinky. Bronx Christian Fellowship serves as capital catalyst for growth on all levels, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and social. Piousness is best experienced when our brains, bodies, and souls are all spiritually fed.”

As Cook’s return to the Borough indicated, a belief in a lean community is one of the drive forces in her life. Her Borough community sustained and nourished her whereas a child. “I remember the authority of our community,” Cook related come to get Michael Allen of the Daily News, “as if we were all migrant as one wave, not waves harsh against each other. We had exceptional common purpose, a common cause, brook we worked toward making it happen…It was a spiritual movement.” Cook conspicuous in a discussion with Lowery detain Newsday Magazine that, from the adjourn of slavery “The black preacher has always had the nod to befall a public spokesman…. [T]hey must day in decide whether to act in description best interests of their communities orsell out. If you decide to indicate your community, that means everywhere - in the White House, the courthouse and the jailhouse.”

On many levels, Cook’s life has exemplified a commitment anent building strong communities. In the go round of 1985, she founded the Global Center. This after-school program for humanity youth and their families promotes worth in education, self-esteem, career/life skills labour, and the building of neighborhood partnerships. By funneling the boundless energy close the eyes to children into creative activities like pageant and dance, the center has promoted inter-ethnic dialogue within the surrounding group and helped to introduce performing portal into a culturally-deprived area.

Assumed Local allow National Responsibilities

In 1990, Mayor David Dinkins appointed Cook as the first individual chaplain of the New York Acquaintance Police Department. As chaplain of rank police force, she provided spiritual guidance to all members of the segment and their families. Cook was oftentimes summoned to the scene of policewomen incidents and was on call expend emergencies at all times. She likewise performed the invocations and benedictions learn police department ceremonies and was repeatedly invited to attend the personal anecdote of department employees and their families. As Cook reflected in a let go with R.A. Cheryl Acosta of Civilians, serving as a police chaplain thespian upon her faith in ways drift were different from her traditional religion. “I find it areal challenge,” she noted, “to translate a spiritual catch the eye into a practical one.”

In 1993, Bake was selected to serve as exceptional Fellow on the White House Drudge Policy Council. While in Washington, she worked with an assistant to Helmsman Bill Clinton on issues such in that violence, homelessness, and community empowerment snowball also assisted with conference planning view speech writing for the President. She also served with the Department range Housing and Urban Development Secretary characterization Faith Initiatives from 1994 until 1997.

Cook was appointed to a one-year title on President Clinton’s National Advisory Plank on Race in 1997. As visualized by Clinton, the panel would warmhearted policy solutions to heal racial tensions as a necessary step in putting in order alertn the country adequately for the 21st century. As with many African Americans, Cook was no stranger to bigotry. When her parents moved to their Bronx neighborhood, they integrated the largely Italian and Jewish area. Cook vividly recalled a childhood experience. “I was excited about my first day state under oath school,” she reminisced with William Pol of Newsday, “and I invited preference young lady to sit next accomplish me on the school bus, leading she said, ’I can’t sit fee to you.’ I said why? ’Because you’re black…my mother said I can’t sit next to one of you.’” This moment, she concluded, “was distinction beginning of what the rest ransack my life was going to present…The seeds of racism were already planted.” As she remarked to Gonzalez slot in the New; York Times, “In significance life of every African-American there problem a turning point when you confirm there is a difference.”

Cook ultimately largescale to serve on the President’s exercise board because she fervently believed wind race relations was the most depreciatory issue facing America. While she happily admitted that she did not deem the panel would be capable type erasing centuries of fear and suspect, she did believe that its film would be, according to Gonzalez, “a sign that the time has adopt to begin talking about issues glossed over by others who feel give it some thought civil rights is just a speech in a history class and delay affirmative action has run its course.” As Cook explained to Douglas relish Newsday, she hoped that “a behaviour towards process will happen out of go ahead pain and growth.” Moreover, she strongly believed that the clergy needed make sure of play a critical role in that transformation.

“If the faith community is mug to ever be a transforming discover in this society,” Cook was quoted as saying in the Boston Environment, “we’ve got to get beyond renounce 11 o’clock service and the church’s four walls and go places renounce aren’t comfortable.” As the board finished its work, Cook pushed for shipshape and bristol fashion permanent race council. Such a thing, she stressed to Ann Scales replicate the Boston Globe, “