"Clergy May Vest In The Undercroft"

On September 17, the Archdiocese of New York sponsored the annual celebration of Evening Prayer on the occasion of the opening of the Sixty-second Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The service was held at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family, located on East 47th Street near UN headquarters. Clergy of various faiths attended.

Brent was asked to attend in place of Area Seventy Elder Gary Crittenden. Participants included Cardinal Egan, who gave the homily, and new UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who addressed the packed room.

Following the processional, service, and recessional of bishops, clergy and dignitaries, a reception was held in the parish garden for those in attendance. Cardinal Egan seemed genuinely pleased to have the "LDS Church" (his words) present, as did Pastor Robbins of the parish church. Secretary General Ban recognize the Church by name when Brent introduced himself. Father Robbins, who conducted the prayer service, said that this was the first year in which the Secretary-General had attended.

Almost all of the 20 or so clergy members present--bishops, rabbis, members of various holy orders, etc.--were clothed in obviously religious attire. Brent, of course, wore a business suit. Upon arriving at the Church of the Holy Family, he was perplexed when directed where to change into his religious attire by a sign that read: "Clergy may vest in the undercroft." The verb "vest" and "undercroft" threw him off for a moment, but he eventually figured out what the sign meant and where he was to go.