Emerging Project Steering Committee

BISHOP CHRISTIAN ALSTED

Bishop Christian Alsted is a native of Denmark. He was elected to the episcopacy in February 2009, and serves the seven conferences in the Nordic and Baltic Episcopal Area of the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference.

Bishop Alsted holds a D.Min. from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Diploma in Leadership from CVU Copenhagen. He has served on several general boards, currently co-chairs the European Methodist Council and is the chair of the Connectional Table.

Bishop Alsted is married to Elisabeth Flinck. They have three adult children and two grandchildren.

REV. KENNETHA J. BIGHAM-TSAI

Rev. Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai, Chief Connectional Ministries Officer of The Connectional Table, came to the CT as a board member in 2012. She provided leadership on the executive committee, as chair of Leadership Discernment and Community Life, as chair of the writing team on human sexuality and in work on the worldwide nature of the church. Prior to her current role on the CT, Bigham-Tsai served on the Michigan Annual Conference Cabinet as chief missional strategist. She also served local churches and in many leadership positions within her annual conference and at the general church level, including as a delegate to General and Jurisdiction conferences since 2012 and as co-chair of the Michigan delegation for the 2020 General Conference. Bigham-Tsai is a sought-after speaker who has a passion for the growth and vitality of The United Methodist Church and for equity and justice for all. She and her husband, Kee Tsai, have two children, Keeton and Kamden.

REV. AMY COLES

Rev. Amy Coles serves as the Assistant to the Bishop in the Western North Carolina Conference. Prior to this position, she served as a district superintendent for six years and has pastored churches in Trinity, High Point and Shoals, North Carolina. Coles is an active participant with the Connectional Table, the Board of Rural Faith Development CDC and the Thriving Rural Communities Initiative at Duke. She was a delegate to General Conference in 2012, 2016 and 2019. Coles is passionate about working to ensure that The United Methodist Church is real and relevant for future generations, as well as more fully living into its global connection in order to make a kingdom impact in this world. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro in Child Development and Family Relations and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. She is the guardian of her nephew, Brandon Estrada, and her niece, Mae.

NAOMI GARCIA

Naomi Garcia: Mesmerized, reminded and centered by the shores of the Gulf of Mexico; lakes called Rathbun, Great, Clear, Townline, Thumb; the rivers named Rio Grande, San Gabriel, Colorado, Grand River, Cumberland, Lake, Grand, Dowagiac, Hersey. Aspiring disciple rarely satisfied with the latest take on how The Holy One calls, moves, shapes, beckons, equips, comforts and companions; shuttling between the discipline of mind and the art of soul. A facilitator intrigued and longing for inclusive inclusion. A consultant negotiating the wide spaces between meddling and staying home. A mediator stirred by the courage of truth-telling and re-discovering the edges of compassion. A coach channeling Curious George (children’s book character) and Hiccup (hero of animated movie and book). She is Associate Director of Congregational Vibrancy of the Michigan Conference and an experienced congregational systems coach.

REV. MARKUS JUNG

Rev. Markus Jung, from Stuttgart, Germany, is currently District Superintendent for the Nuremberg District. In addition to pastoring several congregations, he worked at the Youth Department in Stuttgart, where he served as a missionary to create, educate and develop youth events and youth movements in the South German Annual Conference.

After working as a baker and civil servant, Markus discovered his call to ministry, graduating from Reutlingen School of Theology. He has also studied drama, political and sexual ethics, social management, time management, moderation tools, church planting and personal coaching. Markus is married to Denise, a pastor in The United Methodist Church in Germany called to educate and develop social justice and environmentalism. They have four children.

REV. JOSEPH D. KIM

Rev. Joseph D. Kim has served as Lead Pastor of Bothell United Methodist Church in Bothell, Washington, since April 2018. He has served in ministry as Associate Pastor of Bothell United Methodist and as Minister to Young People at Salem United Methodist Church in Harlem, New York. Before entering parish ministry, Rev. Kim was the Director of Children’s Rights Advocacy at the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., where he focused on policy and advocacy efforts to combat human trafficking and promote equal education opportunities for all children. He has also served as Director for Community Care at Spark12; was Senior Associate for Membership Development and Services for the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations; and was Program and Administrative Assistant at the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church at their United Nations Office. Dr. Kim has traveled around the world as a speaker, workshop leader, and facilitator, encouraging people of faith to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. He and his wife, Joann, have two children, Asher and Ember, and a dog, Leigh.

REV. DR. KAH-JIN JEFFREY KUAN

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Kuan is the seventh President and Professor of Hebrew Bible at Claremont School of Theology. He was previously Dean and Professor of Hebrew Bible of the Theological School at Drew University. He earned his Ph.D. in Old Testament studies at Emory University. Dr. Kuan’s research and teaching interests include ancient Israelite and Near Eastern history, Asian and Asian American hermeneutics, the Book of Job, as well as approaches to biblical instruction for the churches. He is a member of the California-Nevada Annual Conference, currently serves on the University Senate of The United Methodist Church and chairs the Commission on Theological Education.

Rev. Dr. Kuan began his career serving as an associate pastor in Malaysia. He chaired his annual conference's Commission on Religion and Race and is a two-time delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences. He served as a director of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and as the Vice President of the Board and Chair of the Division of Higher Education.

As a theological educator, Rev. Dr. Kuan is a strong proponent of religious pluralism and passionately committed to justice issues in the global and local contexts. As a biblical scholar, he has long been a visible advocate for LGBTQIA+ equality in churches and society.

MARIE KUCH-STANOVSKY

Marie Kuch-Stanovsky is a lifelong United Methodist who has served as a delegate to three General Conferences. She has also been a director for the General Board of Global Ministries and currently represents the Western Jurisdiction on the Commission on General Conference. Kuch-Stanovsky is a web designer and letterpress printer who enjoys hiking and camping both near and far from her home in Seattle.

Editorial Team

NEIL ALEXANDER

Neil M. Alexander is the President and Publisher Emeritus of The United Methodist Publishing House. There, he also served as Editorial Director, Book Editor of The United Methodist Church, Vice President of Publishing and for twenty-one years as President and Publisher. Previously he held posts as a publisher and program executive with the General Board of Discipleship and as a member of the conference staff of the former Southern New Jersey Annual Conference. He has been actively involved with conceiving, developing, delivering and evaluating the quality and efficacy of resources for congregations, the general church and the academy in the areas of worship, music, liturgy, theology and Christian formation. He has served on numerous church and ecumenical boards and has attended every General Conference since 1980.

REV. DR. JACOBS DHARMARAJ

Rev. Dr. Jacob Dharmaraj is a retired clergy member of the New York Annual Conference. He has also served in Bombay and Illinois Great Rivers Conferences.

Dharmaraj has lived in various cultural settings, has been involved in interfaith relations and is actively engaged in global mission. He has written over a dozen books and numerous articles in the areas of Christian mission and interfaith relations. He writes regularly commentary in The Vision, New York Annual Conference’s monthly news magazine. Dharmaraj has served the church-at-large in various capacities including teaching, lecturing, conducting workshops and has served as a consultant both in academic and church settings. He has traveled extensively and worked with both United Methodist Church and ecumenical partners from around the world. He is passionate about world Christianity at work through mutuality in mission engagement.

Dharmaraj holds a Ph.D. in Theology of Mission, an M.A. in Political Science and Public Administration. He has also earned an M.Div, S.T.M and Th.M. degrees in Biblical Languages and Mission Theology.

REV. SCOTT GILLILAND

Rev. Scott Gilliland is an ordained Elder in the North Texas Annual Conference, where he currently serves as an Associate Pastor at Lovers Lane UMC in Dallas. He is passionate about discussing the future of Methodism and believes in the "big tent" vision for a denomination that reflects the sacred diversity of God's people. For the past decade, Gilliland has had a front-row seat to the beauty and challenges of such diversity at his church, which is home to rich and poor, progressive and conservative, African immigrants and LGBTQIA+ folk and many other groups. His experience at this church is the basis for a book co-authored with Senior Pastor Stan Copeland, entitled Together: United Methodists of the Temple, Tabernacle and Lord's Table. Scott is married to Raegan, who is also an ordained elder and Associate Pastor at Lovers Lane. They are the proud parents of Andie Jane.

MICHELLE HETTMANN

Michelle Hettmann (she/her/hers) is a certified candidate in the Virginia Conference seeking ordination as an elder in The United Methodist Church. She received her Bachelor's in Human Development at Virginia Tech and Master of Divinity at Emory's Candler School of Theology. She currently works as the Communications Director at Burke United Methodist Church as well as doing freelance communications for several churches and organizations across the Southeastern Jurisdiction. Michelle is passionate about environmental justice, the role of people of faith in the fight for climate justice, and working for a more inclusive church and world.

HARRIETT JANE OLSON

Harriett Jane Olson has served as chief executive officer of the United Methodist Women’s national administrative and policymaking arm since 2007. United Methodist Women is a nearly 800,000-member organization within The United Methodist Church in the United States.

A Harvard Law School graduate, Olson practiced real estate and environmental law in New Jersey before working for the church full-time. Olson has also served as senior vice- president for publishing, editor for church school publications and United Methodist Church book editor at The United Methodist Publishing House.

Olson has a bachelor's degree from Houghton College in Houghton, New York, where she serves on the board of trustees.

CHRISTINE SCHNEIDER-OESCH

Christine Schneider-Oesch has wide experience in the worldwide UMC. She's served as a missionary in Congo; a member and chairperson of the mission board of the Switzerland-France-North Africa Annual Conference, director of the General Board of Global Ministries, a member of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters for the 2016–2020 quadrennium and as a three-time delegate to the General Conference. She is currently a self-employed copywriter and editor, serving small businesses and NGOs. She has a diploma in development studies and has trained in copy writing and public relations. A native of Switzerland, she is fluent in English and French and speaks Italian and Swahili. Schneider-Oesch is married to Richard Schneider.

REV. DR. GERALD “JAY” WILLIAMS

Rev. Dr. Jay Williams has served congregations in New York City, Boston and San Francisco, including Glide Memorial, and currently pastors Union Church in Boston.

Williams holds a Ph.D. in the Study of Religion from Harvard University. His work explores the meaning of "spirit” in black cultural discourse at the intersection of race, class, gender and sexuality. His particular focus explores how spirit-talk has been a marginalizing language of power. His dissertation, “Unholy Ghosts in the Age of Spirit: Identity, Intersectionality, and the Theological Horizons of Black Progress,” develops a constructive theology of spirit that rethinks hope, courage and vitality, premised on insights from W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston and Howard Thurman. Through his pastoral and academic work, Williams strives to help more disinherited folk find their voices.

Williams, a queer, cisgender man, and his partner, Robert, have two crazy yorkie-chihuahuas, Bentley and Hurston.

MAI-ANH LE TRAN

Rev. Dr. Mai-Anh Le Tran is incoming Vice President of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She teaches in Religious Education and Practical Theology and is an ordained Elder in full connection with the California-Nevada Conference. Prior to her work at Garrett, Tran was the assistant professor of religious education and Asian American studies at Pacific School of Religion. Tran holds a Ph.D. in Christian education and congregational studies from Garrett-Evangelical, an M.Rel.Ed. from Southern Methodist University and a B.S. from Texas Wesleyan University. Her denominational service includes a quadrennial term on the Curriculum Review Committee of The United Methodist Publishing House and the District Committee on Ordained Ministry in Missouri.

REV. DR. LACEYE C. WARNER

Rev. Dr. Laceye Warner serves as Associate Dean for Wesleyan Engagement and is the Royce and Jane Reynolds Associate Professor of the Practice of Evangelism and Methodist Studies at Duke Divinity School. She is an elder in the Texas Annual Conference and has served on the University Senate, Ministry Study Committee and Council of Bishops’ Task Force for Leadership Formation and Theological Education. Warner served as a delegate for the past two General Conferences. She has authored and co-authored a number of books, including Saving Women, Grace to Lead, From Relief to Empowerment and Method of Our Mission. She lives in rural Texas on a farm with her spouse, daughter and many animals.