Rev. James Daniel, a community organizer and fair banking advocate, died of cancer on October 13. He was 55.

Daniel, pastor the Ecclesiastical Church of God and Christ in Fort Greene, created the 21st Century Partnership and 21st Century Ministerial Alliance, an organization of Long Island, Brooklyn and Queens congregations that assists parishioners and community members with credit and home loans. He also set up classes to teach community groups about the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), and led challenges against New York City banks he believed were shortchanging black and Latino neighborhoods.

“He was spirit-led,” said the Reverend Joseph Washington, senior pastor at Brooks Memorial United Methodist church. “He will be missed not only in the religious community, but in the nonprofit empowerment community as well.”