We were blessed to work with some wonderful authors and church leaders in the process of developing Becoming a Praying Congregation.

Laurie Lowe Barnes is pastor of Bristol Hill United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Kansas. Previously she served as Pastor of Prayer and Congregational Care at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.

Betty Shannon Cloyd is a diaconal minister in The United Methodist Church, a consultant in prayer and spiritual formation, and the author of Parents and Grandparents as Spiritual Guides (Upper Room, 2000) and Children and Prayer (Upper Room, 1997).

Barbara E. Davis, ordained in the United Church of Christ, is the Minister of Christian Education at the First Presbyterian Church in New York City, where she has served for eleven years. She gives oversight to the educational programming for children, youth, and adults, as well as various other pastoral responsibilities.

 

 

 

 

 

Sally Dyck is a bishop of The United Methodist Church serving in Minnesota. Follow Bishop Dyck at her blog and learn more about her at her website.

 

  

 

 

Tyrone Gordon serves as the pastor of St. Luke “Community” Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, one of the fastest-growing churches in the United States.

 

 

 

Kel Groseclose is Minister of Congregational Care at First United Methodist Church in Wenatchee, Washington, and is the author of several books, including Why Did God Make Bugs and Other Icky Things? (Dimensions for Living, 1992) and A Moment With God for Grandparents (Dimensions for Living, 1999). 

 

Leanne Ciampa Hadley, president and founder of the First Steps Spirituality Center which is dedicated to providing spiritual support to hurting children and teens as well as educational tools and events for adults wanting to learn about the spirituality of children. She is also the associate minister of children and families at First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs. Follow Leanne’s blog.

 

 

Pamela Hawkins is the editor of Weavings, a quarterly journal that promotes a pattern of faithful living through prayer, community, and engagement. Pam is also an ordained United Methodist pastor.

 

 

 

Stacy Hood is Director of Worship Ministries for Grace Community United Methodist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana. She works with the creative ministry team and over 300 volunteers in music, sound, multimedia, drama, altar ministry, dance, and youth worship-related ministries.

 

Rueben P. Job, a retired United Methodist bishop was formerly World Editor of The Upper Room publishing program. His previous publications include Three Simple Rules (Abingdon Press, 2007), A Wesleyan Spiritual Reader (Abingdon Press, 1998), and A Guide to Retreat for All God’s Shepherds (Abingdon Press, 1994).

 

 

Andy Langford, a United Methodist pastor in Western North Carolina, has authored several books focusing on worship and faith and worked extensively on The United Methodist Hymnal.

 

Sally Langford has been a United Methodist pastor for 30 years, serving congregations ranging from very small to very large. She currently serves as the Salisbury District Superintendent and has co-written books and Bible studies with her husband and fellow pastor, Andy Langford.

 

 

Joe E. Pennel served as a pastor in local churches in Memphis and Nashville over a period of thirty years. In 1996 Pennel was assigned Bishop of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church where he served for eight years. Now retired, he continues to serve as the Professor of Pastoral Leadership and is a published author. His latest book is The Gift of Presence (Abingdon Press, 2009).

 

K.C. Ptomey was senior pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church for over twenty years. He is now the Louis H. and Katherine S. Zbinden Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Leadership at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas.

 

 

 

Nancy C. Reeves, from Victoria, B.C. Canada, is a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, spiritual director, best-selling author, and published poet. She works extensively in the areas of trauma, grief, loss and transformation and spirituality. Nancy is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Victoria and Santa Clara University. She conducts many lectures and workshop internationally. Her books include:   Spirituality for Extroverts (and Tips for Those who Love Them) (Abingdon Press, 2008) and A Match Made In Heaven: A Bible-Based Guide to Deepening Your Relationship with God (Abingdon Press, 2007). Keep up with Nancy at her website.

 

Steve Richards and his wife, Amanda, are the parents of two daughters. Currently, he serves as pastor of Messiah United Methodist Church in Plymouth, Minnesota.

The Rev. Drs. Connie and Joseph Shelton are senior pastors of Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, and previously served as co-directors of Field Education/Church Relations at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina.

 

Ben Simpson is a Christian, freelance writer, and school bus driver in his hometown of De Soto, Kansas. He has been married to his wife Molly for six year. Molly is the campus pastor of the West Campus of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Olathe, Kansas. 

Ben is working toward the completion of his second Master’s degree at The University of Kansas, having previously obtained an MA in Christian Eductation from Dallas Theological Seminary. You can connect with Ben by visiting his website, his blog, or through Twitter.

 

 

The Rev. Becca Stevens is an Episcopal priest at St. Augustine’s Chapel on the Vanderbilt University campus. She is the founder of Magdalene, a residential community for women with a criminal history of prostitution an drug abuse. Follow Becca’s blog. 

 

                                                                                                                                                     

 

Kim Thomas, with her husband Jim, pastors The Village Chapel in Nashville, Tennessee. She is also a painter and a published author. Keep up with Kim through her blog or on Twitter.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marilyn E. Thornton is a minister, musician, storyteller, and educator who loves to tell the story of God’s salvation for all people, using different media. She is pastor of Emery United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and the lead editor of African American resources at Abingdon Press.