Summary
[RICKY BURGESS]'s 2007 council run wasn't his first attempt to help his community. Aside from being a reverend, Burgess has taught college courses and served as the director of a local nonprofit that provides family counseling and job training. "I've tried to do it in the religious circle," he says. "I tried to do it in the nonprofit world. I've done it in the education world."
School-board member Randall Taylor who represents the area and who also briefly ran against Burgess last year - says the school district didn't do a good enough job of notifying the community about the building's availability. "We just didn't get it right with this process," he says. "In my opinion it won't ever happen again." But Taylor says he's not aware of Burgess getting involved in the sale."When I have a problem, and I'm struggling with the worries of the world," Burgess trumpets, putting vibrato into his words, "God won't send an angel because angels can't really understand. Angels have never had a troubled marriage. Angels have never had a wayward son. ... Angels never had folks talk about them. Angels never had enemies attack them. ... So I'm so glad, God won't send an angel"See the full content of this document
Extract
Practicing What He Preaches
Sitting in his wooden chair behind the altar, he begins clapping with the choir, his blue robe flowing with the rhythm of his hands. Soon, he stands and swings his arm in unison. As the music trails off, Burgess steps forward.
In churches all around Pittsburgh, ministers are beginning their sermons with parables from the Bible, or humorous anecdotes. But Ricky Burgess isn't just a minister: He's the Pittsburgh city councilor representing District 9. And he begins his sermon with current events, reminding his congregation of the shooting that killed 56-year-old Sharon Stewart on the porch of her sister's Beltzhoover home."It's bad when you can't sit on your porch," Burgess says. "I believe that we can stop this, but it's going to take all of us."At the outset, Burgess' voice is calm, deliberative - the reserved tone he often displays in city council. But gradually, his pace quickens and his voice amplifies. After 10 minutes, he is shouting with a passion rarely seen in public on the fifth floor of the City-County Building."We don't get involved with social issues unless they directly affect us personally!" he thunders before a congregation of 75. "Drugs are destroying our community. Many of our young men are in the prison system. Our children are having children!..."As the church goes, so goes the community!" he adds. "If you thin...See the full content of this document
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