Contributors

Troy Bronsink

My name is Troy Bronsink. It’s a Dutch name, like “brown sink” without the “w,” but telemarketers often call me asking for Tony Bronswik.

Steve Frost

I’m Steve, husband of Lindi, father of Ben, child of God. I am rooted in a little mustard seed community called Mosaic in Vancouver, Canada. I work with Travis Reed at The Work Of The People. Well, maybe I shouldn’t say “at” since he’s in Houston and I’m in Vancouver. TWOTP doesn’t really have an “at,” so “with?”

Ryan Marsh

Ryan and his wife Bonnie inhabit Lynnwood, Washington with their precocious children Moses and Juniper. Ryan is the pastor of Church of the Beloved, a new church start that serves their surrounding neighborhoods through creative worship, intentional community, faith, arts and culture events, organic community gardening, and training entrepreneurial leaders.

Richard Webb

I’m Richard. My religious pedigree makes me a bit of a mutt: baptized Lutheran (the baby variety), then Congregationalist (as a little kid), then Bible Presbyterian (as a bigger kid), Bible Baptist Fellowship (upper elementary), Non-Denominational (Jr & Sr High), United Methodist, Charismatic House Church (ah, the college years!), and finally Lutheran again. Interestingly enough, each tradition gave me a gift and has helped me claim “both sides of the aisle” (Evangelical and Mainline) as my tribe.

Melanie Heuiser Hill

Melanie Heuiser Hill is a writer and ELCA pastor. She is currently working toward an MFA in Children’s Literature at Hamline University. Melanie is passionate about wonder in worship; in her experience, what is good for engaging the youngest among us--art, music, storytelling, questions without answers, good fun--is often good for everyone. Melanie lives in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, with her husband and two children ages 9 and 14.

Jodi-Renee Adams

Jodi-Renee is a curious mesh of "heretical orthodoxy": evangelicalism, post-modern philosophy and liturgical practice. Oh, and she's a perpetual student of theology and humankind...as in "I'm still learning how to be human." She is currently pastoring an urban church and working as a writer and musician in various settings from funk bands to liturgical guilds. 

Eric Herron

Eric is the Lead Site Editor for Clayfire Curator. He has also begun a missional experiment through his work with Church Resource Ministries (CRM). Pasadena, California is his laboratory. Eric and his wife Nathalie are part of the leadership team of Tribe, Los Angeles. They have a toddler named Asher Ericson and twins, Zane Ezekiel and Penelope Jade, born March 10, 2011. Explore some of Eric's original music at unkeptrecords.com

DJ Turner

I am a follower of Christ who seeks God’s beauty and grace in all aspects of my life. In my journey to be more like the Lord that I serve, I believe that worshiping God and loving our neighbors are the two highest callings of a follower of Christ. These two callings must permeate every aspect of our lives because they are intrinsic to who we are--they cannot be compartmentalized nor suppressed.

It is my desire to create environments that allow people to experience the presence of God on a level that transcends both heart and mind-- whether in the context of a church service or in casual gatherings with friends. And yet the community is always an important and intentional part of this equation as well.

Vicky Goplin

Vicky Goplin is currently a freelance editor and writer and Adjunct Faculty in Educational Leadership at Luther Seminary where she tries to convince pastors they are teachers. Vicky edited re:form Traditions and Ancestors. When asked for 3 words that describe her, Vicky responded with 2 words and ellipses: I wonder . . .

Todd J. Query

Todd Query is currently Youth Minister at Williamsburg United Methodist Church in Virginia. Todd reviewed re:form Traditions and wrote leader guide sessions for re:form Ancestors. During his writing, one of the amazing thing he learned was that the Rahab story is an analog for the Passover story.

Todd Fadel

Todd Fadel is currently Co-Facilitator of the arts/music collective Agents of Future at the Bridge Christian Church in Portland, OR. Todd has worked with community-building small groups for over 15 years. Todd created Anti-Workbook content for re:form Traditions.  When asked for 3 words that describe him, Todd replied, “Megaphone for others.”

Rebekah Wedge Thornhill

Rebekah Wedge Thornhill is Director of Family and Youth Ministries at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Jamaica, Queens, NY where she handles most of the Education and Programing for toddlers to young adults. Follow her on Twitter @rebekahwedge. She is also a contributing blogger for the Metro New York Synod's Children Youth and Family Committee blog atstoriesinfaith.wordpress.com. Rebekah reviewed content for re:form Traditions. She would be voted the re:form contributor most likely to be heard three rooms away by her laugh.

Rebecca Ninke

Rebecca Ninke is Pastor at Brooklyn Lutheran Church outside of Madison, WI. She created Leader Guide content for re:form Traditions and Ancestors. A favorite quote of hers from a theologian is “The church must sound strange to the world if it is not to be dull” (Karl Barth).

Raul Garcia III

Raul Garcia is Associate Director of Children, Youth and Family—Junior High at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, MN and currently enrolled at Luther Seminary. Follow him on Twitter @futbolraul. Raul reviewed re:form Traditions. For his youth ministry superpower, Raul would choose the ability to disappear.

Neal Presa

Neal Presa is Pastor of Middlesex Presbyterian Church in Middlesex, NJ. Neal also serves as Adjunct Instructor at New Brunswick Theological Seminary and at Somerset Christian College. Follow him on Twitter @nealpresa. Neal reviewed content for re:form Ancestors and would be voted the re:form contributor most likely to be elected off of the island because of timeless editing he did on the portion about the doctrine of election.

Nate Houge

Nate Houge is a performing songwriter, freelance writer, and Campus Ministry Outreach Team Leader at the University of Minnesota. Check out his web site at natehouge.com. Nate created Anti-Workbook content for re:form Ancestors and also worked on ReNew: the Green VBS. His youth ministry superpower is delegation.

Mike Baughman

Mike Baughman is currently Associate Pastor for Young Adults at Custer Road United Methodist Church in Plano, TX. He is also a pastor’s husband, blogger, writer, dad, fencing coach and Duke Basketball fan. Follow him on Twitter @ireverant, check out his blog (ireverant.wordpress.com), or go to mikebaughman.com. Mike created Anti-Workbook content for re:form Traditions and Ancestors and is a contributor on The Hardest Question. He would be voted the re:form contributor most likely to make a mess on the sparkhouse walls and ceiling.

Melissa Cooper

Melissa Cooper is Program Coordinator at Life Enrichment Center in Fruitland Park, Florida. Follow her on Twitter @revmelissa or check out her blog (revcooper.com). Melissa created Leader Guide content for re:form Traditions and Ancestors. Her desired Youth Ministry superpower is the same one every youth minister desires...the ability to capture the full attention of a junior high boy, just once.

Laura Gentry

Laura Gentry (nicknamed Laughing Laura) is currently Pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing, IA. Check out her web site at LaughingLaura.com. Laura created Anti-Workbook content for re:form Ancestors. When asked to name her favorite ancestors, Laura replied, “I groove on them all, but I particularly relate to Jonah because I don’t like fish or worms either.”

Karl Jacobson

Karl Jacobson is Assistant Professor of Religion at Augsburg College. He reviewed re:form Ancestors. When asked who his favorite ancestor was, Karl responded “Jacob. He is the younger brother, and the Bible and I are in complete agreement on this point: the younger brother is preferred.”

Kara Kristen Root

Kara Kristen Root is Pastor of Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, MN. Check out her blog about ministry and motherhood at kara-root.blogspot.com. Kara wrote Leader Guide content for re:form Traditions. While working on this project, Kara gained this insight about her tradition’s founders: “Whatever else they were (and they were all shades of crazy), they were brave. Seriously.”

June Wilkins

June Wilkins is currently Pastor at Gethsamane Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio. She blogs at revjune.blogspot.com. June wrote Anti-Workbook content for re:form Traditions and Ancestors. While working on Traditions, June learned that Martin Luther’s wife Katie escaped her convent in a pickle barrel (or maybe it was herring).

Jon Wasson

Jon Wasson is a Middle School Director at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX. Follow him on Twitter @jonwasson and check out his web site at www.jonwasson.com. Jon reviewed content for re:form Traditions and Ancestors. During his work on Traditions, Jon reports “It was fun to work out the differences between Barthian and Calvinistic understandings of election."

Jim Kast-Keat

Jim Kast-Keat is Middle School Program + Content Pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI.

Jim achieves social media dominance through his personal blog (www.jimkastkeat.com), theology blog with his wife (www.practicallytheology.com), and apophatic worship blog (www.theothersideofworship.com). Follow him on Twitter @jimkastkeat and check out his photos on flickr @jimkastkeat. Jim created Anti-Workbook content for Traditions and Ancestors. Jim would be voted the re:form contributor most likely to wear a tie.

Jeni Grangaard

Jeni Grangaard is currently Pastor at Glyndon Lutheran Church in Glyndon, MN. Follow her on Twitter @jgrangaard or check out her web site here: jfalkmangrangaard.posterous.com. Jeni reviewed re:form Ancestors. The ancestor she identifies with most is Jonah, with a hint of Ruth.

Hansen Wendlandt

Hansen Westlandt is currently Associate Pastor for Youth and Mission at Providence Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. Hansen reviewed re:form Traditions and would be voted the re:form contributor most likely to ski off a cliff.

Erin Davis

Erin Davis is currently Coordinator of Young Adult and Group Ministries at Christ United Methodist Church in Rochester, MN. Follow her on Twitter @erinmariedavis. Erin edited re:form Traditions. As she prepares for her marriage to sweetheart Nick, she recalls a favorite quote from her Grandma: Marriage isn't easy. Some days you'll love him. Some days you'll hate him. It's when you stop trying that you know there's a problem.

Erik Ullestad

Erik Ullestad is currently Family Life and Youth Director at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church in Des Moines, IA. Follow him on Twitter @erikullestad and check out his blog at erikullestad.blogspot.com. Erik reviewed Traditions and wrote Leader Guide content for Ancestors. He would be voted the re:form contributor most likely to submit a manuscript at 3:00 a.m.

Emily Odean

Emily Odean is Youth Minister at Plainfield Congregational Church of Christ in Plainfield, IL. Follow her on Twitter @emmyohere. Emily wrote Leader Guide content for re:form Ancestors. Her favorite ancestor is Mary Magdalene, about whom she says, “To follow your calling simply because it’s your calling…now that’s something we can all admire!”

Dave Buerstetta

Dave Buerstetta is Koinonia Pastor at Woodridge United Methodist Church in Woodridge, IL. Follow him on Twitter @davebuer or check out his blog All That I Can’t Leave Unsaid (cantleaveunsaid.wordpress.com). Dave reviewed re:form Traditions and Ancestors.

Darin Wiebe

Darin Wiebe is Pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in West Bend, WI. You can see his robot army at flickr.com/photos/friarjunk/. Darin created Anti-Workbook content for re:form Traditions and Ancestors. Darin reports his youth ministry superpower as “a psyche impenetrable to the fact that youth do not think I am cool.

Dan Haugh

Dan Haugh was Pastor of Student Ministries at Bedford Community Church in New York but has recently moved to Paris to work at the American Church in Paris serving as Pastor of Youth and Young Adults. Follow him on Twitter @danhaugh or check out emergingyouth.com. Dan reviewed re:form Ancestors. If leading a youth lock-in while stranded on a desert island, Dan’s essential would be a cell phone to call for rescue and let the kids fend for themselves.

Barbara Wilson

Barbara S. Wilson’s name appears in small letters among the editorial credits. Her contribution to the re:form Ancestors process was to smooth out unintended rough places so that writers say what they want to say, with all of the bumps, zaps, and jolts they intend.

Austin Ariail

Austin Ariail is currently Student Ministry Director of Programs and Resources at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX. Follow him on Twitter @AustinAriail. Austin reviewed re:form Ancestors. When asked for 3 words to describe himself, Austin provided 4: Alpha male, insatiable, jackhammer.

Andy Sahl

Andy Sahl is Director of Youth Ministry at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, TX.

Follow him on Twitter @andysahl or check out his blog (Unpackthis.com). Andy reviewed re:form Ancestors. If he could choose a youth ministry superpower, it would be calculating the exact amount of pizza to order for ravenous 7^th grade boys.

Andrea Hall

Andrea Hall is currently Director of Christian Education at Spring Hill Presbyterian Church in Mobile, AL. Andrea reviewed re:form Traditions. If she could have anyone as a dinner guest (in addition to Jesus, of course), she’d invite John Calvin.

Amihan Valdez Barker

Amihan Valdez Barker is Project Manager for the Vital Congregations Project for The United Methodist Church and works with UMVitalCongregations.org to “develop resources for churches moving towards health and vitality.” Check out her blog at amihanvb.wordpress.com. Amy reviewed content for re:form Traditions and would be voted re:form contributor most likely to jump out of a plane or travel the world.

Adam Walker Cleaveland

Adam Walker Cleaveland is Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, Oregon. Follow him on Twitter @adamwc. Adam also blogs at Pomomusings (technology, theology, ministry); Dazed Dad (fatherhood, grief, and loss); and #RunRevRun, a community blog (running, health, and fitness). Adam reviewed content for re:form Ancestors. A favorite theologian quote of Adam’s is “It’s always a good time to change your mind when to do so will widen your heart” (William Sloane Coffin).

Adam Copeland

Adam Copeland is currently Mission Developer for The Project F-M, an emerging ELCA congregation in Fargo, ND. Previously he was pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hallock, MN. Follow him on Twitter @ajc123 or check out his blog (adamjcopeland.com). Adam reviewed re:form Traditions and Ancestors. After working on Traditions, Adam commented, “Who knew Calvin’s accent was that cute?”

Ryan Marsh

Ryan and his wife Bonnie inhabit Lynnwood, Washington with their precocious children Moses and Juniper. Ryan is the pastor of Church of the Beloved, a new church start that serves their surrounding neighborhoods through creative worship, intentional community, faith, arts and culture events, organic community gardening, and training entrepreneurial leaders.

Nate Houge

Nate Houge is a performing songwriter, freelance writer, and Campus Ministry Outreach Team Leader at the University of Minnesota. Check out his web site at natehouge.com. Nate created Anti-Workbook content for re:form Ancestors and also worked on ReNew: the Green VBS. His youth ministry superpower is delegation.

Melanie Heuiser Hill

Melanie Heuiser Hill is a writer and ELCA pastor. She is currently working toward an MFA in Children’s Literature at Hamline University. Melanie is passionate about wonder in worship; in her experience, what is good for engaging the youngest among us--art, music, storytelling, questions without answers, good fun--is often good for everyone. Melanie lives in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, with her husband and two children ages 9 and 14.

Unvirtuous Abbey

Unvirtuous Abbey appeared on the Twitter scene on August 6th, 2010. They are a slightly sarcastic, yet hopeful, group of monks. They try to elevate the conversation with humorous tweets about the Bible, God, and Jesus.

Tripp Hudgins

Tripp Hudgins is baptimonastic, mandolin-playing Jesus enthusiast, a preaching pastor, baptist cantor, liturgist, ecumenist, writer of articles, tangentist, and husband. He is the pastor of The Community Church of Wilmette in Wilmette, IL, a suburb of Chicago. His blog can be found at www.anglobaptist.org and he tweets as @anglobaptist.

Tony Jones

Tony Jones is the author of many books, including The Teaching of the Twelve: Believing and Practicing the Primitive Christianity of the Ancient Didache Community. He blogs at The Tony Jones Blog. And he’s teaching a D.Min. cohort on Christian spirituality at Fuller Theological Seminary beginning in 2011.

Stephen Marsh

Stephen Marsh is a grateful child of God who was born, raised and schooled in the windy city of Chicago. He was baptized in 1961, and between then and now has been called to serve God’s people in many capacities, from acolyte to bishop.

Sonya Olson

Sonya Olson is a trained sculptor working as a preschool and elementary art teacher. An amateur theologian, she is learning to love the Old Testament as much as she loves her table saw. She lives in Saint Paul with two recovering barn cats.

Russell Rathbun

Russell Rathbun is the curator of The Hardest Question. He’s also a preacher at House of Mercy in St. Paul, Minnesota and the author of several books, including Midrash on the Juanitos (Cathedral Hill Press, 2010).

Phyllis Tickle

Phyllis Tickle is the award-winning author of many books and the founding religion editor at Publisher’s Weekly. Tickle is an authority on religion in America and a much sought after lecturer and writer on the subject.

Nanette Sawyer

Nanette Sawyer is the founding pastor of Wicker-Park Grace, an emerging faith community that gathers in an art gallery on the west side of Chicago. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), she has blogged at The Christian Century’s lectionary blog and has been a featured speaker at various events.

Nadia Bolz-Weber

Nadia Bolz-Weber is the founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, Colorado. She is the author of Salvation on the Small Screen? 24 Hours of Christian Television (Seabury, 2008) and blogs at Sarcastic Lutheran and at God’s Politics. Nobody really believes she’s an ordained pastor in the ELCA.

Mike Stavlund

Mike Stavlund writes from a 5-car pile-up at the intersection of his Christian faith and real life. A husband of over 15 years and a father of 4 children, he lives with his wife and 3 daughters in a small house outside Washington, DC. 

Mike Baughman

Mike Baughman is currently Associate Pastor for Young Adults at Custer Road United Methodist Church in Plano, TX. He is also a pastor’s husband, blogger, writer, dad, fencing coach and Duke Basketball fan. Follow him on Twitter @ireverant, check out his blog (ireverant.wordpress.com), or go to mikebaughman.com. Mike created Anti-Workbook content for re:form Traditions and Ancestors and is a contributor on The Hardest Question. He would be voted the re:form contributor most likely to make a mess on the sparkhouse walls and ceiling.

Mark Labberton

Mark Labberton is the Lloyd John Ogilvie Associate Professor of Preaching and Director of the Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute of Preaching at Fuller Theological Seminary. Prior to that, Mark was a Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor for over 30 years, and he’s the author of The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God’s Call to Justice.

Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA). She is the associate pastor for family and children’s ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Ashland, Kentucky. Her alter ego of the same name writes romance novels, and she has had four novels published since 2008 with two more books due out in 2011.

Jake Bouma

Jake Bouma is the Director of Youth Ministries at Faith Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Clive, Iowa. His quest to be an autodidact recently ended with enrollment in a distance learning Master’s program at Luther Seminary.

Doug Pagitt

Doug Pagitt is the founder of Solomon’s Porch -a holistic missional Christian community in Minneapolis. Www.solomonsporch.com. For more on Doug and his latest book, Church in the Inventive Age (sparkhouse press, 2010), check outhttp://dougpagitt.com/.

Debbie Blue

Debbie Blue is one of the founding pastors of House of Mercy in St. Paul, MN, the author of Sensual Orthodoxy and From Stone to Living Word. She lives on a farm with her family, friends, and animals.

Dave Buerstetta

Dave Buerstetta is a life-long and ordained American Baptist who has served as one of the pastors at the Woodridge United Methodist Church (Woodridge, IL) since 1995. Striving (but mostly failing) to love God, love neighbors and love enemies makes social justice, contemplative practices, equality and sustainability some of Dave’s passions.

Danielle Shroyer

Danielle Shroyer is the Pastor of Journey Church in Dallas, TX. She is the author of The Boundary-Breaking God: An Unfolding Story of Hope and Promise (Jossey-Bass, 2009) and blogs at www.danielleshroyer.com. Danielle lives with her husband, two children, and two wild and crazy dogs in Dallas.

Carol Howard-Merritt

Western Presbyterian Church, an intergenerational congregation in Washington, D.C. Western’s deep commitment to serving the poor in the city has helped to initiate programs like Miriam’s Kitchen, a social service program for the homeless which provides a hot, nutritious breakfast and dinner for over 200 men and women each weekday.

Bruce Reyes-Chow

Bruce Reyes-Chow is a native Northern Californian and third generation Chinese/Filipino. He was the founding pastor of Mission Bay Community Church, a church of 20/30-somethings in San Francisco, CA and from 2008-2010 was Moderator of the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).