The Revs. Bethel, Frazier to Speak on Police Brutality

Police brutality and local gentrification are the topics in a discussion session sponsored next week by the Black Studies Department at Portland State University.

The speaker series, to be conducted during the next several months, will focus on issues of importance to the African American community.

The session on "Police Brutality and Gentrification in Portland," will run from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April19,inPSU's Multicultural Center, in Room 228 of the Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 S.W. Broadway.

The Rev. T. Allen Bethel, pastor of Maranatha Church, will discuss police shootings and brutality in Portland, and the Rev. Donald Frazier, pastor of Mt. Sinai Community Baptist Church, will explore issues of gentrification along Alberta Street. Turiya Autry, an adjunct professor in the Black Studies Department, will open the event.

The Rev. Bethel received his ministerial training at Bay Ridge Christian College, Texas; Kansas City College and Bible School, Kansas; andGordonConwell Seminary in Boston, Mass. With 30 years' experience in ministry and 28 years in pastoral ministry, he speaks throughout the United States and internationally. Prior to his move to Portland, the Rev. Bethel pastored Shawmut CommunityChurchof Boston for 10 years.

He is a doctoral candidate for a Doctor of Missiology degree at Western Seminary in Portland and holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Southern CaliforniaSchoolof Ministry.

The Rev. Frazier is a graduate of Western Seminary and received his master's degree in specialized ministry in 2004. Ordained in 1983, he was installed as pastor of Mt. Sinai Community Baptist Church in 1988.

The Rev. Frazier began the Bridge Ministries Program, designed as an outreach program aimed at gang-affected youth and their families. High-risk and at-risk youth were referred to the program by the justice system, local high schools and the community. In addition to working with youth, his work included a component of racial reconciliation to promote cross-racial understanding within churches.