Senate Resolution No. 683

BY: Senator PARKER

MOURNING the death of The Reverend Calvin O.
Butts, distinguished citizen, religious leader, and
devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to bring full
recognition and just tribute to those men and women of religious
commitment who accept the responsibility of moral leadership and render
the wisdom of human understanding; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing the people of the State
of New York, is moved this day to pay tribute to an eminent man of
indomitable faith and dedication whose public service and countless
accomplishments will forever stand as a paradigm and inspiration for
others; and

WHEREAS, The Reverend Calvin O. Butts died on Friday, October 28,
2022, at the age of 73; and

WHEREAS, The unity of our State and Nation is built upon the
compassion of individuals such as Reverend Calvin O. Butts who upheld
the values of community life and who, through their great actions,
epitomized the best of humanity; and

WHEREAS, Born on July 19, 1949 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Calvin O.
Butts spent most of his lifetime in New York, beginning in early
childhood where he received his primary education; he was a promising
athlete and scholar at Flushing High School where he was a member of the
track team and president of his senior class, graduating in 1967; and

WHEREAS, In 1972, Calvin O. Butts received a Bachelor of Arts degree
from Morehouse College, where he pledged to the Kappa Alpha Psi
fraternity and was active in civil rights; he then returned to New York
where he earned his Master of Divinity degree in Church History from
Union Theological Seminary in 1975, and later his Doctorate of Ministry
in Church and Public Policy from Drew University; and

WHEREAS, This extraordinary man was still in graduate school when he
was hired to work at Abyssinian Baptist Church, starting as an office
assistant and working his way up to assistant pastor, eventually being
named head pastor in 1989; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his three decades as pastor of Abyssinian
Baptist Church, Reverend Calvin O. Butts' work reflected the dramatic
changes in how Americans confronted the nation's history of racism; he
took inspiration from the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the
1960s, and by the dawn of the 21st century, he was a partner of Mayor
Michael R. Bloomberg in attempting to create lasting change in Harlem
and beyond; and

WHEREAS, During his remarkable tenure as the church's leader,
Reverend Calvin O. Butts was a tireless advocate for affordable housing
through the Abyssinian Development Corporation, a non-profit
organization he established in 1989; and


WHEREAS, Under his guidance, the corporation raised $2.8 million to
purchase and renovate property to be used as a homeless shelter; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, with a steadfast and unwavering commitment to
his community, Reverend Calvin O. Butts oversaw the building of a large
apartment complex for senior citizens and apartments for moderate income
households; and

WHEREAS, This distinguished man of God always gave guidance and
wisdom to the many entrusted to his care and administered abundantly and
unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of all; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Reverend Calvin O. Butts leaves behind a legacy which will
long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory
to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of The Reverend Calvin O. Butts, and to express its
deepest condolences to his family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of The Reverend Calvin O. Butts.