North Babylon Pastor Opens Legislature Meeting

Urging all in attendance to demonstrate that they have “the wisdom and courage necessary to form communities and societies in which the dignity of each individual is recognized and supported by one another,” the Rev. Pastor Conrad Strauch of St. Paul’s Reformed Church in North Babylon opened the Suffolk County Legislature’s May 7 general session with an inspiring non-denominational invocation.  

Legis. Lou D’Amaro, D-North Babylon, invited Rev. Strauch to represent his Legislative District before the entire Legislature and other guests in attendance at the William H. Rogers Legislative Building in Hauppauge.

In his prayer, Rev. Strauch stated: “We ask that this legislature elected by us to lead us in forming a society in which our diversity is celebrated, our safety secured, our societal bonds strengthened and all live under the rule of justice, may use the gifts you have given them, and their talents, to strengthen and enrich our life together. May they be able to discuss, debate and wrestle with the many issues that we confront in these challenging times in ways that build us up, rather than divide and weaken us.”

The Rev. Strauch has served as Pastor of St. Paul’s Reformed Church in North Babylon for more than three decades.  He was one of the Babylon area clergy that gathered in 1984 to form what would become the Babylon Interfaith Clergy Cluster. As one of its founders, and current Treasurer, Rev. Strauch has been active in supporting the Cluster’s outreach to the community through the various food pantries and other feeding ministries of the member congregations.

As a minister in the Reformed Church in America, Rev. Strauch has been active in the work of the Reformed Churches in the New York metropolitan area, currently serving as Stated Clerk for the Synod of New York, the denominational body that has oversight of the Reformed Churches in the New York metropolitan area.

“Pastor Strauch is a true community leader,” said Legislator D’Amaro.  “I would like to thank him for reminding us that even though our thoughts and beliefs may differ, we can still come to a mutual understanding if we show respect for one another and keep an open mind.”