LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Reverend Sharon E. Codner-Walker, upon
the occasion of her designation for special recognition by the United
Christian Church

WHEREAS, Spiritual guidance and nurturing are of great import to the
vitality and well-being of all people and every community of this great
State and Nation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Reverend Sharon E. Codner-Walker, upon the occasion of her designation
for special recognition by the United Christian Church on Sunday, Febru-
ary 20, 2011, in Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Walker is being honored for seven years of distin-
guished service to the United Christian Church and the Brooklyn communi-
ty; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Walker is a community activist, counselor, humanita-
rian, and has proclaimed the Gospel for over 20 years; she has followed
Christ's blueprint as an advocate for those with a diminished voice, as
a friend to the friendless, and a counselor to the broken, battered,
discarded and lost; serving people whether in churches, hospitals, shel-
ters, soup kitchens or on the street corners is her call and her heart's
desire; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Walker's Christian education and ministerial leader-
ship was cultivated at the Baptist Church of the Redeemer in Brooklyn,
New York; her early scholastic instructions occurred in a local Public
High School in Brooklyn and after completing high school, she continued
her education at The College of Human Services, Brooklyn College and at
Union Theological Seminary in New York City; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Walker holds a Bachelor's degree in Human Services,
education and professional studies with concentrations in Counseling and
Psychology, a Master's Degree in Education, and a Master of Divinity
Degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City where she gradu-
ated with honors and was bestowed "The Maxwell Fellowship Award" for
Excellence in ministry; and
WHEREAS, After graduation, Reverend Walker served in clinical residen-
cies in the role of Clinical Hospital Chaplain at Brookdale Hospital in
Brooklyn, New York, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical
Center, and at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Walker's ministries and community services over the
years have included but are certainly not limited to serving as the
following: Counselor and Director of HIV/AIDS Education Programs for "At
Risk Teens"; Coordinator for "the Fishes and Loaves Ministry", an
outreach ministry meeting the physical and spiritual needs of individ-
uals and families in Brooklyn and in Harlem; Youth and Adolescence
Pastor; Deacon and Coordinator of Battered Women's Ministries; Bereave-
ment and Grief Counselor for lay and professional persons, as well as a
Debriefing Trauma Specialist following the horror of September 11, 2001;
and
WHEREAS, Reverend Walker currently serves as Pastor of The United
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Brooklyn, and as a Clinical
Board Certified Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care and Education at
SUNY Downstate Medical Center -- University Hospital Brooklyn; in this
role, she advocates the ethical and spiritual rights of patients and
families and provides compassionate spiritual and emotional support to
include bereavement grief support with patients, families, medical
students and medical personnel; in addition, she plans memorial

services, officiates at funerals, performs dedications and makes commen-
dations at the end of life; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Walker further serves on the Hospital's Palliative
Care, Pain Management Team, Ethics Committee, and provides supervision
and clinical education/training for lay leaders as well as Pastoral care
personnel in and around the community desirous of learning the art of
providing quality pastoral care; and
WHEREAS, In January of 2010 immediately following the tragic earth-
quake in Haiti, Reverend Walker spearheaded SUNY's spiritual care
outreach and support to the Haitian community with assistance through
the office of the Bishop along with some of Brooklyn's Large Roman
Catholic Churches; her outreach and services include providing spiritual
and emotional care at Downstate Medical Center's Hospital Chapel as well
as local churches; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Walker has listened and heard stories of loss and
grief, stood with families in their practices of rituals to include
fasting and praying, and is often called upon to conduct memorial
services by those who confirmed family losses; in addition, she coordi-
nates and supervises an ongoing counseling site with the necessary
components of medical and behavioral services and referrals particularly
for those experiencing acute grief, loss of appetite, survival guilt and
depression; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
express its highest admiration for Reverend Sharon E. Codner-Walker, and
to wish her continued success in all of her future endeavors; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Donald, and their
daughter, Leah, both of whom feel privileged to be a part of her life
and rejoice in her achievements; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Reverend Sharon E. Codner-Walker upon the occasion of her desig-
nation for special recognition by the United Christian Church; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Reverend Sharon E. Codner-Walker.