Faith in Action @ 50 Minutes: Paul Levy, President and CEO of Center City District

This Sunday, October 2, Paul Levy, President and CEO of the Center City District, will be speaking at 50 Minutes. He'll also lead a discussion at 12:30.

As a champion of urban renewal and the redevelopment of Center City, Mr. Levy will reflect on what has been achieved in this neighborhood and throughout downtown in the last 50 years and what challenges and opportunities are before us in the coming decade.

Mr. Levy is the founding chief executive of Philadelphia’s Center City District, serving in this capacity since January 1991. He directs the $18.7 million downtown management district, which provides security, hospitality, cleaning, place marketing, promotion, and planning services for the central business district of Philadelphia.

Visit the CCD website here; you'll find reports on residential life, employment, and infrastructure. You can also visit the 250th anniversary speakers page on the St. Peter's website for more information.

+ How might we think about Mr. Levy's comments in the context of Gary Dorrien's words last week?

+ What role do you envision St. Peter's playing in Center City as the neighborhood continues to grow and change?  What's our mission in Center City, if any?

+  What challenges does the city face, and how might we meet those challenges?

Please share your comments on Paul Levy's talk, or any other aspect of the 250th anniversary speakers series.

Welcome to the St. Peter's 250 Speakers Series Blog: Faith in Action

St. Peter's Church has an exciting lineup of 50 Minutes speakers this fall to celebrate our 250th anniversary:  "Faith in Action."  This blog has been created to give everyone in the congregation an opportunity to share thoughts, questions, and feedback about the topics raised.


Over the next few months we'll be thinking about the challenges posed by the speakers, the connections between their words and our work at St. Peter's, and how we might respond in the future to their calls to action.


Everyone who attends the 50 Minutes lectures is invited to post comments here!  Each week we'll pose a few guiding questions and provide information about the speakers, and we encourage you to leave comments, questions, challenges, and feedback at any time after the talks.


Our first speaker on Sunday, 9/25, will be the Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien; he will focus on economic globalization, the economic crisis and the opening for initiatives in economic democracy (worker ownership, infrastructure banks, et al) that exist today–all in the context of Christian social ethics and ecumenical Christianity.  His books will be on sale during 50 Minutes.

+ What was a highlight of Gary Dorrien's talk for you?

+  What was something you found challenging or something you'd like to question?

+ If we at St. Peters were to put some of his ideas into action, what would that look like?

Please share your thoughts in the comments, and we look forward to some exciting conversations this fall!

Visit the St. Peter's Church website for more information about the 250th anniversary speakers and events.


Edited to add: Check out more from Gary Dorrien in an interview with Bill Moyers here.