The leadership line up for the 2021 Annual Event reflects the theme—they are anything but ordinary! Bringing together diverse voices of scholars and musicians, pastors and teachers, artists, and coaches, participants will get a sneak peak at the wide vision of ministry in these anything but ordinary times.
The preachers for the conference include a seminary president, a presbytery executive, and a Texas pastor. Our keynoters represent a diverse range of talents, passions, and ethnicities.
Day one, we’ll move from lamenting these days to seeing the possibilities of creating and building new kinds of relationships. Author, speaker, consultant, coach, podcaster, pastor . . . and more describe Bruce Reyes-Chow. A teaching elder for over 20 years, Bruce has served the church as Moderator of the 218th General Assembly, numerous committees and commissions, and presently as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, CA. He earned degrees from San Francisco State University and San Francisco Theological Seminary. As a blogger and webinar host, he explores the intersection of faith and social justice. His books examine topics such as racism, parenting, and social media in the church. He is convinced, and convincing, about the role of social media in building and maintaining faith-full relationships.
The Reverend Aisha Brooks-Lytle, artist, musician, preacher, and encourager, comes to us from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta where she serves as Executive Presbyter. A graduate of Temple University and Princeton Theological Seminary, Rev. Brooks-Lytle has served churches in Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey. She served as Organizing Pastor for The Common Place (TCP), a faith-based arts and education center in Philadelphia. Her colleague at TCP, Peter Grim, says her deep faith and jubilant personality mark all that she does. Equipping healthy and innovative leaders as they live into their passion and purpose is both her calling and her joy.
Day two, we’ll delve into discovering and growing our leadership strength through diversity. Dr. Warren Chalklen is a passionate South African and an education innovator. Growing up in a mixed race family shaped his experience of the world and drives his obsession with realizing a better world through building capacity in the field of diversity. Using innovative teaching strategies, both in person and online, he trains people about unconscious bias and how to have the difficult conversations about race and class. His is currently working on a book applying Ubuntu (“we’re in this together”) to education in the U.S. and South Africa. He and his wife, Stephanie, host Ubuntu Supper Clubs, an evening of good food focusing on cultural awareness.
The Reverend Paul T. Roberts currently serves as President of Johnson C. Smith Seminary, the only historically black seminary in the PC(USA). A native of Bradenton, FL, Rev. Roberts graduated from Princeton University, received his Master of Divinity degree from Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, and was named an Academic Fellow of the Ecumenical Institute in Celigny, Switzerland. Before coming to the seminary, Paul worked in New York City in advertising and pastored Church of the Master in Atlanta, GA
Day three, our focus will be on building hope and celebrating the anything but ordinary leadership within us. Amy Kim Kyremes-Parks is no stranger to APCE, having frequently led workshops at previous events. I had the great fun of taking one of her workshops and seeing her creativity and leadership in action. Amy has a passion for creating space for folks to interact with the Holy through art and creative expression. She is an ardent advocate for inclusion of all God’s children, regardless of race, gender, sexual identity, and theological tradition. Ms. Kyremes-Parks is the new Director of Children’s and Family Ministry at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville, NC.
A life-long Texan and Presbyterian, the Reverend Keatan King currently serves as Associate Pastor at St. Philip Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX. Her ministry there includes preaching, teaching, and congregational care. Keatan holds degrees from Austin College and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where she received the Field Education Award. Rev. King has a heart for ministry with youth and young adults as they experience the transformative love of Jesus Christ in their daily lives.
Without a doubt, this group of speakers and preachers will bless our time together with new hope and new vision and new energy for this Anything But Ordinary Time.
Register Today for the Virtual Annual Event!
