He is Pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City and President of The State University of New York College at Old Westbury.
Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III. is the Pastor of The Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York. His commitment to the enhancement of God's kingdom on earth has manifested itself in his loyal attention to the daily activities and services of the congregation as well as the pervasive impact of the church on community development initiatives: homelessness, senior citizen and youth empowerment, cultural awareness and ecumenical outreach.
Abyssinian Baptist Church, led by Dr. Butts, is committed to move forward in faith for the maintenance and expansion of its continuing Christian mission. The following projects are among those that have been completed, under his direction: the acquisition and renovation of apartment units for the homeless across the street from the church; construction of senior citizens housing on West 131st Street; moderate income condominiums for purchase on 131st Street; acquisition of the Renaissance Ballroom and Smalls Paradise: two major historic landmark facilities in Central Harlem. He has also been instrumental in the establishment of the Thurgood Marshall Academy for learning and Social Change, a public intermediate and high school, under the direction of Abyssinian Development Corporation.
Dr. Butts is a native New Yorker. He spent a few years in the South where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Morehouse College. He returned to New York and earned a Master of Divinity Degree in Church History from Union Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in Church and Public Policy from Drew University.
Rev. Dr. Butts is President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York; Chairman of the Board of Managers for the C.T. Walker Housing Corporation; Vice-chair of The Board of Directors of United Way of New York City; member of The Central Park Conservancy Board, and many other committees. He is the Chairman of the National Affiliate Development Initiative of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (BLCA) and a founding member of the organization's Board of Commissioners. He has served as President of Africare, an independent organization dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life in rural Africa. He also served as Chairman of the Board for the Harlem Branch YMCA. He has taught Urban Affairs and served as an Adjunct Professor in the African Studies Department at City College, New York. He has also taught Black History at Fordham University.
Dr. Butts is a leader in the fight against Police Brutality in the City of New York and has spearheaded boycotts against other New York institutions for their racist policies and employment discrimination against African American people. He also led a nationally acclaimed and most effective campaign in elimination negative billboard advertising in the Central Harlem communities around New York City. He was joined in this effort by prominent individuals in other areas of the country who carried out similar campaigns with equal success. Rev. Butts billboard whitewashing has helped to further sensitize our country to the evils of drug abuse and exploitive advertising. Dr. Butts was also at the vanguard of the issue of negative rap lyrics specially targeted to women and violence and is on a mission to uplift the moral and ethical standards of the human community.
Calvin Butts is active in the total life of African American people in New York City, and has received numerous awards and commendations for his efforts, including Man of the Year, Morehouse College Alumni Association; The Morehouse College Candle Award; The William M. Moss Distinguished Brotherhood Award; The Louise Fisher Morris Humanitarian Award; and more than 300 other awards and commendations. Dr. Butts is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Prince Hall Masons and has received the 33rd and final degree in Masonry. He has been listed twice as a New York Power Broker, and has been recognized as a Living Treasure by the New York City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Dr. Butts continues to be invited to preach in distinguished pulpits throughout New York City and vicinity, as well as nationally and internationally. Dr. Butts has traveled to Africa, Europe, The Middle East, South America, Cuba and throughout the Caribbean Islands.
Dr. Butts currently delivers a weekly sermon each Sunday, on 98.7 FM (KISS) Radio at 7:00 a.m. Through this medium he is able to spread his ministry throughout New York City and vicinity.
He is married and has three children.
http://www.upenn.edu/chaplain/pucfsn/buttsbio.html
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