About Us

A movement of churches and Christians partnering together to reach Raleigh for cultural, social, and spiritual renewal.

OUR MISSION

Equipping, connecting, and mobilizing a movement of Christians to work for the common good of the city.

OUR VISION

Seeking the cultural, social, and spiritual
renewal of Raleigh and the Triangle.

OUR INITIATIVES
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New City Fellows

A 9-month fellowship program that disciples emerging leaders with a focus on integrating faith and work, gospel worldview, personal growth, community formation, and cultural renewal. Personally led by our Director, Dr. Joshua Chatraw, while also featuring a diverse group of nationally recognized Christian leaders from different fields.

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Gatherings

Events designed to rally, network, and support our New City Fellows alumni and friends. They include socials, round table discussions, workshops, book studies, and service opportunities.

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Forums

Public events featuring leading thinkers on pressing issues of concern to the whole city and our culture-at-large.

OUR VALUES

The Gospel

The good news of Jesus Christ is what brings us together and motivates us to love God and love our neighbor.

Public Faith

The Gospel affects all of life, which is good news because sin affects all of life. Redemption extends to every facet of the world.

Culture

Christians have a calling from God to steward, discover, and cultivate creation. Caring about culture is not only a way to love our neighbor, it is an expression of love for our Creator.

Dignity of Work

God created us to work, so there is dignity in work. Sin ushered in “thorns and thistles,” making work hard and misdirecting it. The Gospel redeems us and redirects our work to fulfill God’s kingdom purposes.

Local Churches

We equip leaders for the local church, partnering with churches across Raleigh to serve them and their missions.

Our Leadership

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Joshua D. Chatraw, Executive Director

Dr. Chatraw is executive director of the Center for Public Christianity, lead teacher for New City Fellows, and theologian-in-residence at Holy Trinity Anglican Church – all based in Raleigh, NC. His writing and speaking focuses on public theology, apologetics, and culture. He has written and edited several books including, Apologetics at the Cross, Cultural Engagement, The History of Apologetics, Telling a Better Story, Truth Matters, and Truth in a Culture of Doubt. His writing has received numerous awards, Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year in Apologetics and The Gospel Coalition’s Book of the Year in Apologetics/Evangelism, and his work has been featured in outlets such as Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, World magazine, and The Washington Post. He earned his Ph.D in Biblical Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelors in Business from Georgia Southern University. Josh has served in a full-time academic teaching post, as well as pastorates at churches in Virginia and Georgia. Josh and his wife, Tracy, have two children, Addison and Hudson.

Daniel J. Lee, Program Coordinator

Daniel runs operations, curates the Fellows program, and teaches on its faculty. Previously, he was Pastoral Apprentice at the Summit Church, where he worked with The Summit Institute and small groups ministry developing classes and teaching on discipleship, Bible study, and faith-and-work. Daniel hails from New York, where he helped plant Maranatha Grace Church and taught, led worship, and oversaw operations on its staff. Prior to that, he worked in the legal field in Manhattan and attended Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Daniel has a Masters degree in theology from Westminster Theological Seminary. An alumnus of New City (class of ’18), he shares with wife Crystal (Gotham Fellows class of ‘15) a passion for faith-and-work ministry, travel, hospitality, and biblical justice.

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Daniel J. Lee, Program Coordinator

Daniel runs operations, curates the Fellows program, and teaches on its faculty. Previously, he was Pastoral Apprentice at the Summit Church, where he worked with The Summit Institute and small groups ministry developing classes and teaching on discipleship, Bible study, and faith-and-work. Daniel hails from New York, where he helped plant Maranatha Grace Church and taught, led worship, and oversaw operations on its staff. Prior to that, he worked in the legal field in Manhattan. Daniel has a Masters degree in theology from Westminster Theological Seminary. An alumnus of New City (class of ’18), he shares with wife Crystal (Gotham Fellows class of ‘15) a passion for faith-and-work ministry, travel, hospitality, and biblical justice.

Our Story

A group of Raleigh’s community leaders and downtown pastors were drawn together by a common vision to develop Christian leaders whose lives would have a transformative impact on the wider community. Where important conversations could take place in public forums for the good of our city. Their thinking took shape, focusing on a program that would address the necessity and importance of integrating faith and work for the sake of a flourishing city.

Their vision turned into reality in 2016 when Holy Trinity Anglican Church and Vintage Church with their partners launched New City Fellows, a 9-month intensive discipleship program for emerging leaders in Raleigh, under the directorship of Katherine Alsdorf, who founded Redeemer’s Center for Faith and Work and Gotham Fellowship. Two years later Josh Chatraw assumed leadership as director of New City Fellows.

With the Fellows program established and a network numbering in the 120s, the broader vision can be realized under the banner of the Center for Public Christianity. New City Fellows remains the Center’s flagship initiative, and it is now joined by gatherings – events designed to rally, network, and support our alumni – and forums that engage the community at large in dialogue to address the pressing issues of our day for the common good and God’s redemptive work.

Our Partners

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Pastoral Leadership

  • John W. Yates III — Rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church
  • Tyler Jones — Lead Pastor of Vintage Church

Steering Committee

  • Judy and Frank Hill — High Cotton Ties, The Institute for the Public Trust
  • Milo Jasso — Merck, New City Fellows Class of ’17
  • Willa and John Kane — Sunday Supper, Kane Realty
  • Press McPhaul — NC State University Men’s Golf Team
  • Sam Pierce — Monteith Construction, New City Fellows Class of ’18
  • Kelly Seaton — Duke University, New City Fellows Class of ’19
  • Jasmine Smith — WellCare Health Plans, New City Fellows Class of ’21
  • Melissa Thornton — Oracle NetSuite, New City Fellows Class of ’20
  • Alysia and John Yates — Holy Trinity Anglican Church

Former Steering Committee Members

  • Cliff and Anna Benson — American Homesmith, National Christian Foundation
  • Geoff Bradford — Senior Pastor, Christ the King Presbyterian Church
  • Jan and Wesley Burks — UNC Health Care
  • Angel Eaglin — Director of Discipleship, Vintage Church
  • Brian Gilman — Elder, Christ the King Presbyterian Church
  • Jordan Penley — Pastor, Vintage Church Downtown
  • Jesma and David Reynolds — Walter Magazine, Loading Dock, Second Empire
  • Maryann and Bill Roper — UNC System

Alumni Council

  • Matt Benson — President
  • Lillie Lodge — Class of ’17 Representative
  • Gretchen and John Hyde — Class of ’18 Representatives
  • Kevin Graybeal — Class of ’19 Representative
  • Catherine and Jimmy Doster — Class of ’20 Representatives
  • Anna Christian Allen and Tripp Gordon — Class of ’21 Representatives
  • Katharine Batchelor — Class of ’22 Representative