Historic Ft. Greene church calls native Brooklynite as new pastor
Rev. Telfort Is Also First African-American Permanent Pastor in Church’s 160 Years
This Sunday, Sept. 17, will be a true Brooklyn homecoming for both the Rev. David Telfort and the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Many churches hold “Homecoming Day” services to launch a new year of programming and special ministries. And for the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church the word “homecoming” will take on new meaning because its new pastor is returning to his native Brooklyn. The congregation will welcome the Rev. David F. Telfort home to the borough as he becomes the first African-American permanent (called) pastor in its 160-year history.
After an exhaustive 18-month nationwide search, the Brooklyn congregation selected Telfort to serve as the church’s eighth installed pastor. Founded by abolitionists in 1857, the historic Brooklyn church is a multiracial, multicultural congregation with a long history of progressive leadership, social justice work and community engagement.