The Rev. Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., is Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership Emeritus and Senior Consultant for the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.  Prior to coming to Wesley in 2003, he was a pastor in Mississippi and then President of Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, MO. 

The Rev. Dr. F. Douglas Powe, Jr. is Director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership and the James C. Logan Professor of Evangelism (in an E. Stanley Jones Chair).  He has written several books including a co-authored work with Lovett Weems, Sustaining While Disrupting: The Challenge of Congregational Innovation.

The Rev. Dr. Jessica L. Anschutz is Associate Director of the Lewis Center, co-editor of Leading Ideas, and teaches in the Doctor of Ministry program at Wesley Theological Seminary.  She is an ordained elder in the New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.  Prior to serving at the Lewis Center, she co-founded 43:19 and Coffee, Kids, and Chaos to engage young adults and children in her community.

The Rev. Dr. Ken Sloane is Director of Stewardship & Generosity housed at Discipleship Ministries (GBOD) in Nashville, TN, and is a clergy member of the Greater New Jersey Conference.  Ken holds a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from the Lilly School of Philanthropy and an Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from The Lake Institute.  He is the author of the Local Church Guidelines for Stewardship, and a collaborator on the Guidelines for Finance and the Lay Servant Advanced Course, Connectional Living, Connectional Giving.  Most recently, he has written the content for three online courses for Discipleship Ministries: the Generous Church Leadership Course, Creating a Narrative Budget, and Disciples Living Generously, and recently launched a fourth course, Financial Ethics for Church Leaders.  

Kris Konsowitz serves as the Director of Coaching with the Center for Youth Ministry Training. In her position, Kris works with students, coaches, and onsite supervisors to build a support system for those serving in ministry with young people.  Kris has served with CYMT for 17 years.  She leads training and visioning events, as well as coaching for churches.  Previously, she served as the Director of Youth Ministries at Collierville United Methodist Church for 28 years.  During her time with CUMC, Kris also worked with the District and Conference Youth Ministries, she directed a Southeastern Jurisdictional Mission Camp for 15 years and provided leadership for other camps and retreats.  

Lawrence Monahan is Director of Communications at Germantown United Methodist Church and has held this position since June of 2023.  She graduated with a degree in graphic design from Delta State University.  She has experience in public relations, marketing, and communications.  Currently, she manages all church communications including social media, website updates, email newsletters, and taking photographs for various church events.

Natalie Adkinson holds a degree in Human Development & Family Studies from Auburn University and an M.A. in Community Agency Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  She spent the first 4.5 years of her professional career as a mental health therapist, working with juvenile court and several community mental health centers across the State of Alabama.  During this time, Natalie earned the credentials of Licensed Professional Counselor & Nationally Board-Certified Counselor.  She was a school counselor for 12 years prior to becoming the Director of Children’s Ministry at Germantown United Methodist Church.  Currently, she manages a team of ten nursery workers and two associate directors, leads preschool chapel, teaches elementary Sunday school, coordinates volunteers, and plans ministry events for children of all ages. 

Donna Haley has formal education in both education and counseling and personnel services, having been a school teacher and a Training Advisor for FedEx Express.  In the 9 years she has been a member of Germantown United Methodist Church, she has served as a Greeter for their traditional worship services and is the current Chairperson of the Hospitality Team.  She desires everyone to feel at home while at GUMC and has participated in Church of the Resurrection’s one-day Hospitality Program, Hospitality Conference, and Leadership Institute.

Chesley Porteous has been an active member of Germantown United Methodist Church for over 20 years, and she has assumed many roles, including a regular women’s bible study leader, member of the GUMC Preschool Board, Chairperson of the Council on Ministries, and the Hospitality Team Greeter Coordinator.  She is also a leader in Germantown United Women in Faith.  In 2023, she attended the Hospitality Conference and Leadership Institute at Church of the Resurrection, which fueled her passion for hospitality ministries.

Alice Clare Colville is a retired Orff Music Specialist, having taught in both public and private schools for 29 years.  She has been active in Germantown United Methodist Church for 47 years, serving as a youth choir director, member of the board of trustees, Sunday School officer, and in various other roles.  She also attended the Hospitality Conference and Leadership Institute at Church of the Resurrection.  She now coordinates GUMC’s Cookies and Coffee on Sunday mornings and contributes to the Hospitality page in the church newsletter. 

Zach Lykins serves as the Executive Director of Trinity Community Commons, a neighborhood nonprofit transforming an old church building into a vital community gathering space for all of their neighbors, in Nashville, TN.  Zach fell in love with Trinity at a community meal there.  It was the first place he’d seen in Nashville where all people were welcomed as equals, breaking bread together around a shared table.  He grew up in Memphis, went to school in South Carolina, and came to Nashville in 2011.