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Man of the Year
in Religion
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A man of the cloth and
Three Village community Rev. Gregory Leonard,
serving his church, veterans, firefighters,
earns our honor for Man of the Year in Religion
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By Lee Lutz |
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December 19, 2008 | 11:07 AM
There is a rock in Setauket on which a large segment of
the local community rests. Whether it be parishioners at
the historic Bethel AME Church on Christian Avenue,
veterans at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony
Brook, fire men and women in the Setauket Fire
Department, or so many others, the Rev. Gregory Leonard
is the spiritual leader they all turn to in times of
crisis or for compassion, comfort and direction. For all
he does for the Three Village community, Rev. Gregory
Leonard is our Man of the Year in Religion.
Leading a congregation of about 125, Leonard, 59, has
been pastor at Bethel AME Church for 15 years.
Originally from Cambridge, near Boston, Leonard came to
Setauket by way of stops in Bermuda, Providence, Rhode
Island and Atlanta.
Cognizant of the rich history of his church, Leonard
worked with people including Robert Lewis, the late
Setalcott Chief Ted Green and Councilman Steve
Fiore-Rosenfeld (D-East Setauket) in helping to create
the Bethel Christian Avenue Laurel Hill Historic
District, approved by Brookhaven Town in June 2005.
"A calming, caring and compassionate leader in our
community," is how Fiore-Rosenfeld described Leonard,
"whose strength clearly comes from up above. Reverend
Greg Leonard has shown his deep commitment to preserving
our local history — the whole story — while working
passionately every single day to sustain the vibrancy of
the here and now."
Leonard has been the Protestant chaplain and part-time
employee of the state veterans home since 2005.
"Reverend Leonard has brought his tremendous passion,
energy and spectacular singing voice to our home," said
Executive Director Fred Sganga. "His style of prayer
attracts residents of all faiths to hear the good word."
Sganga praised Leonard, stating, "He is a wonderful
asset to the Long Island State Veterans Home and has a
unique ability to connect with all those who come into
contact with him."
In addition to his duties with Bethel and the LISVH,
Leonard serves as chaplain for the Setauket Fire
Department. "I've been chaplain for about 10 years,"
said Leonard.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in
1815, according to Leonard, and the sanctuary in which
the congregants now worship was built in 1848. The
church also owns the two historic cemeteries located a
short distance from the church grounds, including the
Laurel Hill Cemetery which contributed its name to the
Brookhaven historic district. The neighborhood has been
home for Setalcott Native Americans and African
Americans for hundreds of years. Numerous headstones in
the nearby cemeteries are so weather-worn the
inscriptions are no longer legible.
"We are a historic church but living and active,"
Leonard said. Part of that activity recently includes a
working farm in Centereach, bequeathed to Bethel by a
long-time parishioner. The Hobbs Farm has quickly become
a source for fe eding the hungry in northern Brookhaven
and adding to the good works of the Bethel community.
"This past growing season," Leonard said, "through the
leadership of Tom Lyon and Ann Pellegrino, we gave seven
to 10 tons of food" to local food pantries and soup
kitchens. "Zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, beans, peas."
Leonard said the farm is aiding those in need in the
area. Of the entire 11-acre parcel only "two acres were
planted this year," yielding the bumper crop of veggies
for the community. Bethel is working toward making the
house on the land livable so a caretaker can be
installed on the site. In the meantime, Leonard said,
"The neighbors have been a big help." The reverend also
credited the local Centereach civic organization for the
help it has provided in getting the farm productive.
The Bethel AME Church has grown along with the community
it serves, with additions that house offices, meeting
rooms, the facility until recently occupied by the local
Boys and Girls Club, and living quarters for the
Leonards. The reverend's wife, Rev. Sandra Leonard, is
co-pastor at Bethel. The Leonards have two sons and a
daughter.
"Our members come from Selden, Centereach, Mount Sinai,"
among others, Leonard said. "We are a regional AME
church."
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