THE WILLIAM J. SEYMOUR INSTITUTE FOR BLACK CHURCH AND POLICY STUDIES WILL EDUCATE AND TRAIN BLACK CHURCH LEADERS (INCLUDING CLERGY, SEMINARIANS AND LAY MEN AND WOMEN) AS WELL THE INTERESTED PUBLIC, REGARDING A PROPER CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHIC AND THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF COMPLEX QUESTIONS CONFRONTING THE BLACK CHURCH AT THIS PERIOD IN OUR HISTORY. AN UNCOMPROMISING COMMITMENT TO THE POOR INSPIRES THE SEYMOUR INSTITUTE'S MISSION BECAUSE OF THE GREATER VULNERABILITY OF ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS TO THE HARMS THAT ARISE FROM IMPROPER SOCIETAL ACTION IN THE AREAS OF CONCERN.