Amidst the frenzy of the election and the meltdown on Wall Street it can be hard to capture people’s attention when a new book comes out.
Indeed. There are book launches every day in New York City — the publishing capital of the world.  But there are few that feature a 50 member gospel choir singing and clapping in celebration of a bold effort to launch a national discussion of what it would take to have a powerful religious movement for social justice in America.  But that is just what the dramatic launch event for  Dispatches from the Religious Left: The Future of Faith and Politics in America  to be held in an historic New York church will be like.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Middle Collegiate Church
50 East 7th St.
New York, NY
212-477-0666
The historic Middle Collegiate Church, in the heart of NYC’s East Village dates back to 1628 — and today is as contemporary, dynamic, and progressive a congregation as there is in the country. The event will kick-off with the church’s famous gospel choir — followed by conversation with Dispatches contributors, including former New York Times war correspondent and best-selling author Chris Hedges; Rev. Debra Haffner, Director of the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing; Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, Associate Minister for Missions, Social Justice and Community Action at Middle Collegiate Church — and book editor Frederick Clarkson.  The event will be moderated by the Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church.
(There will be a video of the event posted later on the church web site.)