Boston interfaith leader giving Small-Thomas Lecture
Cornell College will welcome the Rev. Burns Stanfield to present this year’s Small-Thomas Lecture, “The Spirituality of Organizing,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, in the Hall-Perrine Room of the Thomas Commons.
Since 2000, the Small-Thomas Lectures have explored the intersection of faith and social justice thanks to a generous gift from Richard Small ’50 and Norma Thomas Small. The presentation is free and open to the public.
As the chair of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO), Rev. Stanfield will share stories about the challenges and surprises of organizing with GBIO and the importance of relationships. GBIO has achieved significant victories for Massachusettes, including improving the access and coverage of health care, increasing the safety of neighborhood communities, and securing financial assistance for low-to-medium-income first-time homebuyers.
“Our hope is that students and other audience members will come away inspired by Rev. Stanfield’s stories and imagine how they too might see themselves involved in local organizations that promote the common good and that advocate for the needs of others. Rev. Stanfield’s stories illustrate democracy at its best,” said Assistant Professor of Classics Chris Hoklotubbe, who helped to organize the lecture series.
Rev. Stanfield, originally from Iowa, will also hold meetings and discussions with several Cornell classes about citizenship while on campus. During the lecture, two Iowa legislators, Rep. Lindsay James and Sen. Sarah Garriott, will briefly speak about how their own organizing strategies have been influenced by their relationships with Burns and GBIO.
Rev. Stanfield was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1991. Since then, he has provided ministry to Fourth Presbyterian Church in a low-income neighborhood of South Boston. While it was close to shutting its doors in the ’90s, it has grown and is now a vital community presence, running a community arts ministry, a large free summer day program, tutoring ministries, and recovery efforts. Before becoming a minister, Stanfield worked as a professional musician and continues to write, record, and perform music.
He also has ties with Cornell. Cornell Young Trustee Sunny Khan interned with Stanfield at the GBIO in 2021 and has been a guest speaker for Assistant Professor of American Politics Megan Goldberg and Hoklotubbe’s course, “Religion in American Politics.”
Stanfield has taught at Harvard Divinity School and Andover-Newton Theological Seminary. He enjoys presenting at churches, schools, and conferences around the country.
