User:Rtgates/Rob Schenck

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Rev. Rob Schenck
File:Rev Rob Schenck Photo.jpg Reverend Robert L. Schenck
Born	1958
Education	Master of Arts in Christian Ministry - Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary
Spouse	Cheryl (Smith) Schenck
Children	Anna and Matthew
Parent	Henry & Marjorie Schenck
Church	Evangelical Church Alliance
Ordained	1982, New York District Assemblies of God
Writings	Book- Ten Words That Will Change America (Albury Press)
Offices held	President, Faith and Action in the Nation's Capital
Title	Reverend
Website	http://www.faithandaction.org
Notes
Rev. Schenk also serves as President of the National Clergy Council and an elected Board Member of the Evangelical Church Alliance. His views on current events and public policy are in often viewed or quoted in the media.

Rev. Rob Schenck (pronounced SHANK) (1958) is a leading

. Major media outlets and policy makers seek his opinions on current issues and he regularly appears as a guest on major news and opinion shows.

Early Years

Rob and his identical twin brother, Paul, were born in 1958 to Henry Paul (Chaim) Schenck and Marjorie Apgar Schenck. Robert Lenard Schenck was named for his father’s older brother who was a decorated

and who lost his life in an air crash while serving in the Korean War.

Schenck grew up in the historic town of

club was a big interest and today he uses his Spanish skills in ministry.

Rob grew up in a culturally diverse home: His father was

fundraiser and danced with a black girl, something forbidden in the social circles of his time. These early lessons on justice continue to motivate Schenck’s view of his role in ministry and in life.

center.

Conversion to Christianity

As a self-described “rebellious teen” Schenck and brother Paul became involved in risky behavior. Then in 1974 at the age of 16, the boys became acquainted with the son of a

Lord and Savior

. The minister’s son then invited the Schenck brothers to a Friday night prayer meeting held at the smaller Emmanuel United Methodist Church nearer the boys’ home.

Partly out of curiosity and partly out of fear his brother had joined a cult, Rob decided to attend Friday meetings with him. The experience was interesting enough that the brothers went the following week to a “New Life Mission” at the Trinity United Methodist Church. At this meeting, a visiting preacher, the Reverend Dr. Peter Bolt of Plymouth, England, spoke with a comfortable eloquence about “Knowing God”. At this meeting, Rob Schenck decided he wanted and needed to know God. When Bolt gave a relaxed invitation to “know the living Lord Jesus Christ”, both brothers, after some hesitation, went forward to the altar. With the help of Rev. Bolt, they offered a public prayer of repentance and commitment to Jesus Christ. They were both later

, which forms the borders of Grand Island.

This Christian conversion caused great alarm among the Schenck parents. His father Henry felt a great rejection of his Judaic roots, while mother Marjorie was more understanding, much later explaining she felt sympathy for her sons because she had converted from Catholicism to Judaism to marry Henry. However, the turmoil from the twins’ action threatened the family unity. It took many years of awkwardness over religion before the elder Mr. Schenck was able to fully accept his son’s decision. The breakthrough finally came years later when Henry was able to travel with his son Rob on a ministerial mission to his ancestral home in Russia. There they found a bonding and made peace over the son’s conversion to Christianity.

Family

While attending the Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Grand Island he became part of a youth prayer group. It was in that mix of spiritually oriented young people Schenck met Cheryl Smith. Their friendship blossomed into a relationship. The next year, after graduating Grand Island High School, Rob and Cheryl married (1977). While Rob attended classes at Elim Bible Institute and worked as a resident counselor at a church sponsored home for at-risk youth, they started their family with daughter Anna coming in 1979 and son Matthew in 1981.

Education and Certification

After Graduation from Grand Island High School, Schenck began to study scripture and theology in earnest. He attended

.

Schenck was ordained in 1982 by the New York District Presbytery of the Assemblies of God. He transferred his ministerial affiliation to the Evangelical Church Alliance International in 1990, while at the same time pursuing further theological studies through

Strategic Leadership

program and is expected to take his post-graduate degree in June 2011.

Schenck has also been awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree by St. Paul Christian University in St. Paul, Indiana. This was done in conjunction with the Mid-America Regional Conference of the old-line Methodist Episcopal Church USA.

Early Ministry

After serving in various capacities with the Rochester

center, a church sponsored home for at-risk youth, Schenck was selected as the director of the local Rochester program and then executive director of the state-wide network of homes known as Empire State Teen Challenge that included facilities in Syracuse and Buffalo, New York. In 1980, Schenck left Teen Challenge and served a short stint as Youth Pastor for the Webster Assembly of God congregation in a suburb of Rochester, followed by another short post as a staff pastor for the Community Gospel Church in Long Island City (Queens), New York (now Evangel Church and Christian School). In the latter role, he was mainly tasked with developing a training program for college interns in urban cross-cultural ministry. The program eventually became the New York School of Urban Ministry or NYSUM.

In 1982, Schenck reunited with brother Paul in ministry and became minister of missions and evangelism at the New Covenant Tabernacle in Tonawanda (suburban Buffalo) New York where Paul was the senior pastor. They worked together in ministry from 1982 to 1994. During that time Rob formed New Covenant Evangelical Ministries that was later renamed P & R Schenck Associates in Evangelism, the parent organization of Faith and Action in the Nation’s Capital. Schenck has been in full time ministry with Faith and Action since he moved to Washington, D.C. in 1994.

Operation Serve International

In 1983, while at New Covenant Tabernacle, Schenck branched out into organizing medical mission efforts by creating “Operation Serve” which grew into an international effort. Operation Serve International is a Christian humanitarian outreach organization deploying volunteer medical, dental and other health and hygiene workers to serve some of the poorest population groups in the world. Schenck turned the operation over to Dr. Sameh & Connie Sadik in 1993 when he went to Washington, DC to minister. Operation Serve International still serves poor populations with medical, dental, health and hygiene services while also sharing the message of God’s love for all humanity.

Faithwalk

1988 led Schenck into a new avenue of activism- long distance walking. Through personal contact during a speaking tour of Mexico, he became aware of the plight of the Mexican “dump people”, individuals and families who live, eat, and make their living scrounging recyclables in the municipal garbage dumps of Mexico City. To raise awareness of their plight, Schenck decided to take a 2000 mile “Faithwalk” from the border of Canada near his hometown, through the United States and across the border with Mexico. His purpose was to raise funds and to recruit volunteers willing to help by providing medical, dental, health, hygiene and construction services. His four-month journey through five states led to much word-of-mouth marketing and dozens of newspaper articles and television news stories in the many cities and towns along the way. ^[2]

Hearts for the Homeless

Then, in 1989, in response to a growing crisis in his own community, Schenck and others began Hearts for the Homeless. “Hearts”, as it is known affectionately, began as a mobile kitchen providing food to homeless population of Buffalo, New York. The recreational vehicle Schenck used to house his family during his 2000-mile trek to Mexico was outfitted as a mobile shelter for the homeless population, providing temporary relief from the harsh winters of Buffalo, New York, as well as an immediate distribution point for clothing, food and medical treatment. The growing organization continued to meet the needs of disenfranchised people. Later, Schenck recruited the Rev. Ron Callandra, a former victim of homelessness, to direct the organization that continues to feed thousands of the hungry, indigent and homeless in the Buffalo area.

Buffalo Pro-Life Activism 1992

In 1992, during Buffalo’s large-scale

This visibility came back to haunt him later in 1992. A $25,000 judgment was levied against Schenck for alleged contempt of court when 6 pro-life leaders were arrested following prayer vigils and demonstrations surrounding the

), his office indicated to Schenck the judgment would not be collected and it eventually expired.

Meanwhile, a similar case that involved both Schencks was making its way through the federal courts. In what eventually came to be named Rev. Paul Schenck and Dwight Saunders v. Pro-choice Network of Western New York, Rob and Paul Schenck were named contemnors for in incident involving the distribution of New Testaments and Gospel tracts on a public sidewalk outside an abortion facility on Main Street in Buffalo, NY. Although Robert was not a named petitioner (he remained a defendant only in the underlying case involving the incident itself), the court order restricting the Schencks’ activities became the basis for a Supreme Court case, Schenck V. Pro-Choice Network (95-1065). It stemmed from a lawsuit filed against 30 pro-life leaders (including the Schenck brothers) and organizations by

First Amendment

rights to free speech.

The High Court agreed with Schenck, et al. Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote that “floating zones” were not constitutional “because of the type of speech restricted and the nature of the location... [and] speech in public areas is at its most protected on public sidewalks”. ^[4] Important in its outcome, the case of Schenck V. Pro Choice Network has since helped define the “rules of engagement” for public expression and civil disobedience.

D.C. Ministry

Schenck came to Washington out of a desire to bring classical Christian moral perspectives into the conversation and debate surrounding public policy, while presenting an intensely personal witness of the

, solemnizing weddings, conducting funerals, providing pastoral care, counseling and visitation and presiding at various public and private religious ceremonies.

Because of his commitment, his role on the national stage, and because of his genial, passionate preaching style, Rev. Schenck continues to be a highly sought after speaker. He spends quite a bit of time traveling as an

region.

National Community Church

In August 1994, in response to a desire to minister to national decision makers, Schenck and family moved to Washington, D.C. His first ministry there was to organize a new church (“plant” a church in ministry jargon). He attracted a core group of worshippers and created what became the National Community Church. He served as pastor to the church for over a year when Schenck decided he needed to spend more time ministering to the people in government. In the beginning of 1996, Schenck passed the mantle to Mark Batterson, a young man he recognized had many gifts for ministry. Starting with Schenck’s core group, Batterson built National Community Church into a large, vibrant evangelical church with a cutting-edge, contemporary ministry model.

Faith And Action

The name Faith and Action represents well Schenck’s ministry philosophy. His brand of activism and advocacy flows from his conviction that the two Great Commandments of Christ are inseparable: “Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength,” and, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:28-31 NKJV)

Schenck is also a student of

. Schenck actively promulgates Bonhoeffer’s position that one’s Christianity must be vigorously expressed through one’s relationships and one’s actions.

Schenck also believes public policy and those that shape, enact and enforce it can be encouraged to uphold Biblical values through exposure to authentic Christian relationship. Schenck seeks to affect policy by creating personal relationships and challenging hearts and minds with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Those teachings can be summarized in the Two Great Commandments. (See Gospel of St. Mark, Chapter 12, verses 28-31) Faith and Action seeks continually to recruit, train and deploy both ordained and lay missionary workers to effectively engage those serving in high public office.

The organization itself is headquartered in the Honorable William J. Ostrowksi House, named for a retired New York State Supreme Court judge and long-time supporter of the Schenck brothers’ efforts. The 19th Century Victorian Row House is located at 109 2nd Street, NE, across from East Façade of the U.S. Supreme Court building. A notable feature of the ministry office is a granite sculpture depicting the Ten Commandments displayed in the building’s front garden. The garden statue was considered so provocative that after five years of negotiating with the local government authorities, permission to install it was denied.^[6] Finally, on Memorial Day in 2006, the monument was attractively placed in the front of the building, readily noticeable from the street.^[7] (Though they lacked a proper installation permit, the volunteer workers that installed the 850-pound granite sculpture were careful to exceed code requirements.)

When the Government of the District of Columbia threatened fines of $300 a day for a “possible public space violation,” Schenck appealed the decision based on a First Amendment claim and in view of the many similarly-sized sculptures located in the garden areas of surrounding properties. Three weeks later, the Government of the District of Columbia reversed itself based on Schenck’s “First Amendment interests” and “upon further consideration of the applicable law,” informing him he did not need an actual permit or any other official permission to display the statue.

Ten Commandments Project

Created in 1995, Faith and Action’s Ten Commandments Project seeks to remind Americans of our common need for a moral foundation. For this reason, Faith and Action has given over 400 plaques bearing the familiar Words of Sinai to members of Congress and other highly placed officials, including former presidents Clinton and Bush. Special delegations made up of clergy and lay people make the presentations during ceremonies held in the recipients’ offices. The agenda includes a short speech about the foundational basis of morality and law, a reading of the Commandments in their entirety and prayers. The official is then given an inscribed wooden plaque on which is mounted two stone polymer tablets containing a summary of the Ten Commandments. Recipients are urged to “display and obey” the Ten Commandments.

Schenck chose to promote the Ten Commandments because of their universal and enduring nature and because they are fundamental to morality. The Decalogue is also revered equally by Jews, Christians and Muslims, and are considered by most other major religions to reflect the highest in divine and human ideals.

National Memorial for the Preborn

In 1995, Rev. Schenck organized the first National Memorial for the Preborn and their Mothers and Fathers. This Memorial is a service of preaching, worship and witness for the sanctity and dignity of all human life, beginning with those yet to be born. The first event drew people from around the country, women and men who had suffered the loss of abortion, pro-life activists and clergy from around the nation as well as members of congress. This quickly became a prominent pro-life event held inside the US Capitol complex in Washington, DC. Originally a program of the National Clergy Council, the event has now been renamed the National Pro-Life Clergy Conference and is sponsored by the

and a trustee of Schenck’s Faith and Action. Rev. Schenck and his staff continue to have major roles and responsibilities associated with the event.

National Clergy Council

Schenck is the also the co-founder and president of the National Clergy Council, a network of pastors and denominational leaders. The NCC represents church leaders from

Protestant

traditions. It was formed in 1989 and has maintained an office on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, since 1994. Its mission is to "Bring classical Christian moral instruction into the conversation and debate surrounding public policy."

The National Clergy Council members work together to bring a Christian values-based ethic into the public conversation on national affairs. This means participation among newsmakers and a willingness to comment upon notable events. As a leading voice of the NCC, Schenck is often sharing the group’s views with Congress and its leadership. Remaining informed on the details of pending laws and Supreme Court cases remains critical because many in the media are interested in his comments on the issues. As president of the clergy association, he is often asked to opine on the topic of the day. Schenck serves the National Clergy Council’s presidency on a pro-bono or volunteer basis.

As President of the National Clergy Council Schenck also performs very diverse functions, such as moderating the “Faith in the Public Square Round Table: where do we go from here?” [8] separation of Church and State panel discussion featuring leaders from various traditions, making a formal request of President Bush that the nation adopt a National Day of Prayer for Hurricane Katrina victims,^[9] being the first to receive permission to hold a National Day of Prayer Service on the grounds of the U.S. Supreme Court,^[10] or traveling to San Diego to speak out against the removal of the Mt. Soledad Korean War Memorial Cross.^[11]

Judge Moore's Monument

One role of the National Clergy Council chair is to participate in the national dialogue. So, in 2003, Schenck helped organize and lead supportive demonstrations outside of the Alabama Judicial building, seat of the state’s Supreme Court where, at the time, the Honorable Roy Moore was chief justice. ^[12]

By that time, Schenck and Moore had enjoyed a long cooperative association with Moore who had refused to relocate a granite monument to the historic basis of the law that included the Ten Commandments. The monument was eventually ordered moved by US District Judge Myron Thompson. When US marshals were dispatched to supervise the forced removal, Schenck and several others had surrounded the monument, knelt and begun to pray. He was arrested and held for 5 1⁄2 hours while the monument was moved. Because of his stature in the religious community, Schenck was interviewed on numerous television shows regarding the events.

Evangelical Church Alliance

Since 1999, Schenck has maintained ministerial credentials as an ordained member of the

and Pastoral Counsel. Rev. Schenck carries out all these religious activities as he ministers to the population of Capitol Hill and in other areas.

The Evangelical Church Alliance International (ECA) is a coalition of Evangelical Christian ministers serving throughout the world. Begun in 1887, the ECA focuses on preparing, consecrating and nurturing men and women called into Christian Ministry. The central office for the Evangelical Church Alliance is located in Bradley, Illinois. The ECA is an association of ministers and not a hierarchical organization. Members of the ECA include, but are not limited to, pastors, teachers, para-church leaders, church and religious non-profit executives, missionaries, evangelists, speakers, youth ministers, professors, military chaplains as well chaplains for emergency response services, hospice, prisons and industry.

Schenck holds an elected seat on the board of directors for the ECA and serves as the appointed chairman for its Committee on Church and Society, the social witness for the alliance of ministers. As a board member, his duties include chairing interview committees for new ministerial candidates.

Public Chaplain

As President of the National Clergy Council, Schenck can be found ministering in situations that are both high profile and complex. His distinctive office gives him access in these notable situations with a chaplain’s ability to minister to people of diverse faith traditions. His facility in filling this unusual role, as well as his ability to articulate his experiences to the media, brings people together.

Immediately following the

children there.

Schenck is known to be strong in his evangelical conviction but remains consistent with his early years in a Jewish home. He ministers with respect for other faith traditions. In one case, he voiced his support for a measure that would allow all military chaplains to publically pray in a manner appropriate to their own faith traditions.

Nickel Mines Amish School Shooting

In October 2006, a gunman took hostages at an Amish School in Pennsylvania. He killed three elementary age girls and seriously wounded seven others before committing suicide at the scene. Two of the wounded children died in the days following the attack. As President of the National Clergy Council and through a liaison to the Amish community, Schenck received invitations to visit families of both the victims and the deceased gunman. In this role, Schenck was able to share his experience and insights into the reaction of the highly religious “plain people” as well as explain to a curious press and public how the Amish were reacting to the tragedy.

About their surprising attitude toward the gunman, Schenck shared about his visit to an Amish farm where the body of one of the victims was being prepared for burial, "It was while the family and community stood watching this mother tenderly care for her little girl's brutally damaged body that they spoke to me at length of forgiving the shooter. It was the most moving thing I've seen or heard in my 25 years as a minister of the Gospel. It was a living sermon on the power of

After a pastoral call to the devastated family of gunman Charles Roberts, Schenck explained at a press conference, “Out of guilt and shame, the Roberts family could have rejected that generous offer of forgiveness, but they instead accepted it. I don't think there's a better illustration of the Christian message in the Gospel. As the Amish say, God extends his forgiveness to us for our sins, but we must receive it. That's the essence of salvation. Only then can we pass that forgiveness on."^[16]

Memberships

• President, Faith and Action in the Nation’s Capital
• President, National Clergy Council, Washington, DC
• Member of the US Senate Chaplain's Pastoral Care Response Team
• Chairman, Committee on Church and Society for the Evangelical Church Alliance
• Trustee, Gospel of Life Ministries
• Member, Board of Directors, Institute on Religion and Public Society
• Member, American Academy of Religion
• Member, The Center for Bio-ethics and Human Dignity
• Member, The National Association of Evangelicals

Appeared on

Rev. Schenck has appeared or been featured on…

• Television
• PBS Lehrer News Hour
• Larry King live
• Hannity and Combs
• Nightline
• 20/20
• CNN
• C-Span
• 700 Club

Radio

• The Sean Hannity Show
• NPR’s On Point
• The Adam McManus Show
• NPR’s To The Point
• Jane Pershall’s America
• Jay Sekulow Live

Magazines

• Life
• Time
• Newsweek
• U.S. News and World Report
• Christianity Today
• Feature Story Focus
• New York Times
• Chicago Tribune
• Houston Chronicle
• Los Angeles Times
• Baltimore Sun
• Washington Post
• Washington Times

References

External links

• Faith and Action
• Evangel Church
• New York School of Urban Ministry
• Operation Serve International
• Hearts for the Homeless
• National/ Community Church
• National Memorial for the Preborn Video
• Teen Challenge USA