Featured Speakers

Meet Thursday’s Preacher: The Reverend Aisha Brooks-Lytle is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Central High School (Class of 251) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Music from Temple University. (’99). After spending a significant time as youth director at Wayne Presbyterian Church, she obtained a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. (’05) She served various other churches in Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, and surrounding areas through her music ministry and preaching, teaching, and pastoral care before returning to Wayne Presbyterian Church in February 2013. Aisha served as the mission pastor for Wayne Presbyterian while serving as the Organizing Pastor for The Common Place, a faith-based arts and education center in Southwest Philadelphia. (thecommonplacephilly.org)
In 2018, Aisha began her role as the Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, serving 84 congregations and encouraging 26 new worshipping communities. She is honored and overjoyed to serve as an encourager to the congregations and leaders within a presbytery filled with a deep cultural diversity and a vast theological landscape. She believes that it is her part of her call to support healthy and vital congregations and to equip healthy and innovative leaders to live into their passion and purpose as the people of God. Aisha is blessed to have her mother, Deborah, and her son, Ellington, to join her in this adventure in the Greater Atlanta region. (atlpcusa.org)

Meet Thursday’s Plenary Speaker: Bruce is an author, speaker, parent, consultant, coach, podcaster, and pastor. He speaks and writes on issues of faith, technology, race, parenting, and church culture. He is currently the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, Senior Consultant with The Convergence Network, and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. He hosts the podcast BRC & Friends and is the author of four books. His latest, “In Defense of Kindness: Why It Matters, How It Changes Our Lives, and How It Can Save the World,” will be released Spring 2021 by Chalice Press.
He has an active online presence and can be found on most social networks via @breyeschow.

Meet Friday’s Preacher: For 11 years, the Reverend Paul Timothy Roberts Sr. has been the President of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA, the only historically Black Presbyterian seminary in the country.

Paul grew up in Bradenton, FL. He graduated from Princeton University in 1985 with a B.A. in Architecture and African American Studies. He later received the Master of Divinity degree from Johnson C. Smith Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, and became an Academic Fellow of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey in Céligny, Switzerland. From 1997 through 2010, Paul was the pastor of Church of the Master (PCUSA) in Atlanta, GA. He and his wife, Nina, have three children.

Meet Friday’s plenary speaker: Dr. Warren Chalklen passionately works for equity and social justice through education, advocacy, and cross-cultural dialogue. His personal experience growing up in a mixed-race family in racially segregated South Africa shapes how he sees and experiences the world. In his current role, he trains doctors and nurses in anti-racist practices across the United States. Learn more about Dr. Chalklen at www.warrenchalklen.com

Meet Saturday’s plenary speaker: Amy Kim Kyremes-Parks. Amy Kim serves as the Director of Children’s and Family Ministries at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville, North Carolina. She is an enthusiastic, creative and thoughtful woman always open to new opportunities to support and sustain the life of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Amy Kim currently serves on the board of More Light Presbyterians. She is a frequent contributor to Horizons Magazine and has led workshops at APCE, Next Church and regional gatherings. Amy Kim shares everyday life with her spouse, Justin, and children Natalily, Isaiah, Obed the wonder dog, and 9 chickens.

Meet Saturday’s preacher: Rev. Keatan King has served as Associate Pastor at St. Philip Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas, since 2013. She is a native of Austin, Texas, and a life-long Presbyterian. Keatan has a special focus on ministry with youth and young adults, as she seeks to accompany young people as they experience the transformative love of Jesus Christ in their lives. In congregational ministry, Keatan’s joy and purpose is found in forming ministries of fresh expression of the gospel touching daily living. She is married to the Rev. Dr. Nathan Carlin, who teaches at McGovern Medical School, and together they delight in raising their daughter. They enjoy cooking (especially barbecue), walks to the park, and traveling as a family.