LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Reverend David Dyson upon the occasion
of celebrating 18 years of service to Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian
Church on Sunday, October 2, 2011

WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life in
this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the faithful
concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their energies
and purpose to the ministry of others; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to bring full recog-
nition and just tribute to those individuals who distinguish themselves
and the ministry through their unremitting commitment and preeminence of
service; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Reverend David
Dyson upon the occasion of celebrating 18 years of service to Lafayette
Avenue Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 2, 2011, at the Irondale
Center in Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, Reverend David Dyson has brought to his ministry an over-
whelming spirit of charity and compassion, acting from vision and
enlightenment in conducting his administrative and spiritual duties,
while always displaying the highest standards of personal and profes-
sional integrity and dedication; and
WHEREAS, David Dyson was named Pastor of the landmark Lafayette Avenue
Presbyterian Church in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, in November of 1992; he is
the seventh Pastor in a line beginning with Theodore Ledyard Cuyler who
was a noted preacher and abolitionist during the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church has long been identified
with civil rights, human rights, women's rights, labor rights, afforda-
ble housing and community service; ordained by the Presbyterian Church,
David Dyson attended the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, graduating in
1972 with a joint master's degree in public administration from the
University of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, In 1968, David Dyson received his baccalaureate degree in
religion and history from Bethany College in West Virginia; after gradu-
ating from seminary, he worked as a psychiatric social worker in the
juvenile justice system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, From that point, David Dyson initiated a similar youth
project as the assistant minister of Middletown Presbyterian Church
Ministry, and began three years of work with Cesar Chavez in California;
in addition, he supported the great United Farm Workers boycotts of the
1970s on the East Coast; and
WHEREAS, Later, David Dyson joined the staff of the Amalgamated Cloth-
ing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) which was involved in a four year
campaign and boycott with the J.P. Stevens textile giant; David Dyson
eventually became the Director of the Union Label Department at ACTWU,
directing political action and special campaigns; and
WHEREAS, While working for the ACTWU, David Dyson co-founded the
National Labor Committee in Support of Democracy and Human Rights in
Central America, a group of 20 national unions working for peace and
trade union rights in a war-torn Central America; he visited the region
on 25 different occasions, and was successful in gaining the release of
numerous imprisoned union leaders; and
WHEREAS, A recipient of numerous awards and accolades, Reverend David
Dyson has served as the interim pastor of both the Tremont Avenue Pres-
byterian Church in the Bronx, and the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church
in Brooklyn; he is the Executive Minister of the Riverside Church in New
York City and also serves on the boards of the Riverside Adult Learning
Center and the Workers Defense League; and

WHEREAS, This distinguished man of God has always given enlightenment,
guidance and wisdom to the many entrusted to his care and has adminis-
tered abundantly and unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of
all; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is
appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that indi-
vidual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Reverend David Dyson upon the occasion of celebrating 18 years of
service to Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 2,
2011, noting his unremitting and compassionate faith and his exemplary
service to God, man, and his community, and extending to him the heart-
felt best wishes of this Legislative Body for a future of purposeful
success and well-being; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Reverend David Dyson.