Movement Day Culminates in Unified Purpose, Initiates Global Expansion

NEW YORK - Nov. 3, 2015 - PRLog -- With a focus on bridging the spiritual, economic and racial divides existing in our cities, this year’s attendees sought constructive, impactful solutions and declared their commitment to change in a unified endorsement of the first Movement Day Declaration (http://www.movementday.com/about/endorse-declaration/) co-authored by Dr. Mac Pier, founder and CEO of The NYCLC and Bishop Claude Alexander Jr., senior pastor of The Park Church in Charlotte, NC and past president of the Hampton University Ministers Conference, the world’s largest gathering of interdenominational African-American clergy. The declaration signifies, among other things, the organization’s recognition of the increasing global diversity within the boundaries of our cities and its untethered commitment to unifying God’s people regardless of their ethnicity, denomination or social standing.

Bishop Alexander believes that such an action can play a vital role in facilitating unity in the Church. “I believe that the church is charged by God to be a prophetic presence in the world and to provide an alternative to the status quo in every area of life. If we ever hope to see the broken heart of our cities truly healed, the Church must lead the way. This Movement Day Declaration can stimulate change in the heart of the Church and set her on a course of unity and healing for the nations.”

The day consisted of plenary sessions featuring a variety of thought-leaders that included Dr. Tim Keller, Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, Rev. Peter Scazzero, Dr. Gabriel Salguero, Bob Doll, Dr. Noel Castellanos, Catherine Hoke, Rev. Jon Tyson, Rev. Drew Hyun, Grant Skeldon, Paris Lofaro and Dr. A.R. Bernard among others. Conference attendees then gathered in various learning tracks during the afternoon with a focus on current urban issues and population groups that were led by expert practitioners in that field.

Movement Day has successfully been replicated in Dallas in 2014 and in Pretoria, South Africa in April 2015 and is in various stages of implementation in more than 20 cities around the world. With increased global interest and participation Movement Day The NYCLC is not only incubating Movement Day efforts elsewhere, but is making plans to host some 5,000 international city leaders at Movement Day Global Cities 2016 – The Nations of New York Hosting the Nations of the World to be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, October 25-27 2016.

To announce the 2016 event, a press conference was held following the conclusion of this year’s conference. Panelists offered a brief overview of the movement and discussed current realities and anticipated outcomes followed by a Q&A with the audience. Dr. Craig Sider, president of The NYCLC; Dr. Tim Keller, senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Ram Gidoomal, chairman of the board of the Lausanne Movement; and Grant Skeldon, founder of the missional, millennial network, INITIATIVE led the discussion. INITIATIVE was organized and accelerated as a direct result of Movement Day Greater Dallas and is wielding an influence that is rapidly becoming noteworthy. Their leadership, along with other millennials will play a vital role in planning the global event.  Ebony Small highlighted a women’s leadership event also to be held in 2016.

The NYCLC, in partnership with the Lausanne Movement, expects the three-day event to be a world-historic gathering of diverse Christian leaders for this generation and will be led by an expert faculty and global city case studies that includes Letitia Shelton of City Women Toowoomba in Australia; Finny Philip of the Lausanne Movement in India; Alan Platt of Doxa Deo in South Africa; Rev. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago; Dr. Luis Palau of the Luis Palau Association in Portland, Oregon; Dr. Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and Dr. Gabriel Salguero of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, both from New York City.

“As a result of this effort, the Gospel will be accelerated in 100 cities and catalyze thousands of leaders worldwide,” states founder and CEO of the NYCLC, Mac Pier. “The result will be a more unified church reaching people for Christ and transforming society on a global scale.”

This year’s event also featured the launch of the Movement Day app for iPhone and Android making collaboration among leaders possible on a worldwide scale. The interactive app extends well beyond the simple offering of information, actually allowing users to engage with one another in real time without leaving the platform. Among its features, the new app allows users to message their colleagues directly; discover others who share the same interests; integrate their online profiles from Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn; and also publish quotes, photos and social media updates.

Movement Day is a leadership development initiative of The New York City Leadership Center (NYCLC) founded by Dr. Mac Pier, CEO; led by Dr. Craig Sider, President and Rev. Ebony Small, Director of Movement Day & Events. The vision of The NYCLC is to become a model of Christian leaders impacting the spiritual and social climate of an urban center. Their mission is to exponentially increase the leadership effectiveness of ministry and marketplace leaders. Visit their website at NYCLeadership.com

Join the Movement

Movement Day Global Cities 2016 (http://2016.movementday.com/)

October 25-27, 2016

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York

New York, NY 10018