Calvin O. Butts
Encyclopedia
Calvin O. Butts, III is the Pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church
in the City of New York
, President of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury
, and Chairman and founder of the Abyssinian Development Corporation
, an engine for $500 million in housing and commercial development in Harlem.
where he was elected President of the Senior Class of 1967. During the summers, his parents sent him to his grandmothers' homes in rural Georgia.
Butts attended undergraduate college in the South, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Morehouse College
in Atlanta, Georgia
. While a student at Morehouse, a historically black college (HBCU), Butts was initiated into the Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi
fraternity.
He returned to New York, where he earned a Master of Divinity Degree in Church History from Union Theological Seminary
, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Church and Public Policy from Drew University
in New Jersey
.
In the late 1980s, Dr. Butts was one of the early supporters of the Harlem Week of Prayer, organized by Pernessa C. Seele
with the help of many congregations. His support, along with that of other leaders, helped to mobilize the religious community in support of programs for AIDS patients and their families. Within a few years, Seele founded the Balm in Gilead, Inc., a non-profit devoted to mobilizing religious communities for education, support and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Responding to community need, in 1986 Butts asked his congregation to come together to rebuild Harlem. In 1989 they founded the non-profit Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC). Over the years, Butts has built pragmatic relationships across party lines in the city and state, including with former Governor George Pataki
, to turn ADC into an economic engine. In 1995 Pataki appointed Butts to two state economic development boards: Empire State Development Corporation, formerly the Urban Development Corporation, and the New York State Science and Technology Foundation. Both boards controlled loans and grants to businesses, increasing Butts' network. In 1997 ADC was a joint partner in receiving a contract to develop a major retail center in Harlem.
ADC has created $500 million in housing and commercial development in the neighborhood. "Its projects have included the first high school built in Harlem in 50 years [see below], some of the neighborhood’s first national retail chain stores, one of its first new full-service supermarkets, a department store and a shopping center. Abyssinian also owns more than 1,100 rental units, nearly all of them for low-income residents."
As founder and current chairman, Butts was instrumental in bringing ADC to collaborate with the New York City Board of Education
and New Visions for Public Schools and establish the Thurgood Marshall
Academy for Learning and Social Change. In 2004 the school moved into a new facility. The Abyssinian Development Corporation also supports a local Head Start and the Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School, to ensure that students could get prepared for higher level work, which opened in September 2005.
Since 1999 Dr. Butts has served as the President of the State University of New York at Old Westbury
, . He has gained funding for five new residence halls, a Student Union, and new academic center, as well as technology enhancement for the classrooms and dorms.
Reverend Butts delivers a weekly sermon each Sunday at 7:00 AM on 98.7 FM (KISS-FM)
Radio.
in the African-American church and favors more liberal interpretations of Biblical Scripture and history.
He has gone on record as supporting homosexuals and same-sex unions, based on his understanding that the "Apostle Paul was not Jesus". He suggested that Christians were not bound to specific teachings by apostles. Much of this view is shared by other mainstream religious leaders who have supported the civil rights of homosexuals and their commitments.
In a bootleg copy of a 1995 freestyle battle with Jay-Z, Big L raps "And every time a mack eleven bucks/I'm killing at least seven ducks/I never was a follower of Reverend Butts."
On the title track, "Station Identification" from Channel Live
's debut album, Hakim states "I'm rollin on 'em, like Calvin Butts up in Harlem
".
Ice cube in the scarface song hand on the dead body,"But i bust two times to the gut To the Reverend Calvin Butts Gotta pair of nuts?"
Abyssinian Baptist Church
The Abyssinian Baptist Church is among the most famous of the many prominent and activist churches in the Harlem section of New York City.- History :...
in the City of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, President of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury
State University of New York at Old Westbury
The State University of New York College at Old Westbury is a university college that is part of the State University of New York system. The college is in Old Westbury, New York, with portions in the neighboring town of Jericho, New York...
, and Chairman and founder of the Abyssinian Development Corporation
Abyssinian Development Corporation
Founded in 1989 by Calvin O. Butts, III of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, Abyssinian Development Corporation is a not-for-profit comprehensive community and economic development corporation dedicated to building the human, social, and physical capital in Harlem. The organization is considered to...
, an engine for $500 million in housing and commercial development in Harlem.
Early life and education
Calvin Butts was born in New York in 1949; his father Calvin O. Butts II was a cook and his mother worked in the welfare department. When Calvin was young, the family moved to Queens where he attended public schools through high school. He graduated from Flushing High SchoolFlushing High School
Flushing High School is a four-year public high school in Flushing, in the New York City borough of Queens. The school is operated by the New York City Department of Education....
where he was elected President of the Senior Class of 1967. During the summers, his parents sent him to his grandmothers' homes in rural Georgia.
Butts attended undergraduate college in the South, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. While a student at Morehouse, a historically black college (HBCU), Butts was initiated into the Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
fraternity.
He returned to New York, where he earned a Master of Divinity Degree in Church History from Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Church and Public Policy from Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Career
Dr. Butts is one of a generation of highly educated, activist ministers in the Black church who have been active in civil rights, social justice and economic development in New York. He was recruited as a youth minister to Abyssinian Baptist Church in 1972, after which he rose within the church. Since being called as senior pastor, he has led a large and influential congregation in Harlem with a history of community leadership. There he founded the Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC) in 1989, an arm of the church that has contributed to community development of schools and commercial facilities, as well as housing.In the late 1980s, Dr. Butts was one of the early supporters of the Harlem Week of Prayer, organized by Pernessa C. Seele
Pernessa C. Seele
Pernessa C. Seele is an immunologist and the CEO and founder of Balm in Gilead, Inc., a religious-based organization that provides support to people with AIDS and their families, as well as working for prevention of HIV and AIDS. In 1989 she initiated the Harlem Week of Prayer, with 50 churches,...
with the help of many congregations. His support, along with that of other leaders, helped to mobilize the religious community in support of programs for AIDS patients and their families. Within a few years, Seele founded the Balm in Gilead, Inc., a non-profit devoted to mobilizing religious communities for education, support and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Responding to community need, in 1986 Butts asked his congregation to come together to rebuild Harlem. In 1989 they founded the non-profit Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC). Over the years, Butts has built pragmatic relationships across party lines in the city and state, including with former Governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
, to turn ADC into an economic engine. In 1995 Pataki appointed Butts to two state economic development boards: Empire State Development Corporation, formerly the Urban Development Corporation, and the New York State Science and Technology Foundation. Both boards controlled loans and grants to businesses, increasing Butts' network. In 1997 ADC was a joint partner in receiving a contract to develop a major retail center in Harlem.
ADC has created $500 million in housing and commercial development in the neighborhood. "Its projects have included the first high school built in Harlem in 50 years [see below], some of the neighborhood’s first national retail chain stores, one of its first new full-service supermarkets, a department store and a shopping center. Abyssinian also owns more than 1,100 rental units, nearly all of them for low-income residents."
As founder and current chairman, Butts was instrumental in bringing ADC to collaborate with the New York City Board of Education
New York City Board of Education
The New York City Board of Education is the governing body of the New York City Department of Education. The members of the board are appointed by the mayor and by the five borough presidents.-Rise, fall and return of Mayoral Control:...
and New Visions for Public Schools and establish the Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
Academy for Learning and Social Change. In 2004 the school moved into a new facility. The Abyssinian Development Corporation also supports a local Head Start and the Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School, to ensure that students could get prepared for higher level work, which opened in September 2005.
Since 1999 Dr. Butts has served as the President of the State University of New York at Old Westbury
State University of New York at Old Westbury
The State University of New York College at Old Westbury is a university college that is part of the State University of New York system. The college is in Old Westbury, New York, with portions in the neighboring town of Jericho, New York...
, . He has gained funding for five new residence halls, a Student Union, and new academic center, as well as technology enhancement for the classrooms and dorms.
Reverend Butts delivers a weekly sermon each Sunday at 7:00 AM on 98.7 FM (KISS-FM)
WRKS-FM
WRKS , known by its on-air branding 98.7 Kiss FM, is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station in New York City, owned by Emmis Communications...
Radio.
Spiritual and political beliefs
He is a major proponent of liberation theologyLiberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
in the African-American church and favors more liberal interpretations of Biblical Scripture and history.
He has gone on record as supporting homosexuals and same-sex unions, based on his understanding that the "Apostle Paul was not Jesus". He suggested that Christians were not bound to specific teachings by apostles. Much of this view is shared by other mainstream religious leaders who have supported the civil rights of homosexuals and their commitments.
Popular media
Dr. Butts is featured in a small audio clip during the starting moments of famed rappers' Bone Thugs-N-Harmony song "Thuggish Ruggish Bone". In the clip Butts states, "We're not against rap. We're not against rappers. But we are against those thugs."In a bootleg copy of a 1995 freestyle battle with Jay-Z, Big L raps "And every time a mack eleven bucks/I'm killing at least seven ducks/I never was a follower of Reverend Butts."
On the title track, "Station Identification" from Channel Live
Channel Live
Channel Live is an American hip hop duo composed of Hakim Green and Vincent "Tuffy" Morgan, which recorded for Capitol Records and Flavor Unit Records....
's debut album, Hakim states "I'm rollin on 'em, like Calvin Butts up in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
".
Ice cube in the scarface song hand on the dead body,"But i bust two times to the gut To the Reverend Calvin Butts Gotta pair of nuts?"
Legacy and honors
- Honorary degrees - Dr. Butts has been awarded numerous honorary degrees, from universities including the City University of New YorkCity University of New YorkThe City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
/The City College of New York, New York City; Claflin College, Orangeburg, South Carolina; Dillard UniversityDillard UniversityDillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
, New Orleans, Louisiana; Hartwick CollegeHartwick CollegeHartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
, Oneonta, New York; Muhlenberg CollegeMuhlenberg CollegeMuhlenberg College is a private liberal arts college located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is named for Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America.- History...
, Allentown, Pennsylvania; Trinity CollegeTrinity College (Connecticut)Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
, Hartford, Connecticut; and Tuskegee UniversityTuskegee UniversityTuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
, Tuskegee, Alabama.