Geonyul Byeon
Geonyul grew up in the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, which has a partnership with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Since coming to the US in 2019, he has been serving as a co-pastor in Sallims Church in Irvine, California. Also, Geonyul served as a student minister in Salem First Christian Church in Salem, Oregon, and the Oregon SW Idaho Region recognized his ordination in June 2022. Geonyul is interested in how art can revitalize the church and theology of our time. In particular, his main research topic pertains to how visual art can support our neighbors and the marginalized. He is now applying himself in studying these areas of academic interests in the Ph.D. program focused on Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion at Graduate Theological Union.
Kyungmok Lee
At Claremont School of Theology (CST), I achieved an M.A. degree in 2019 and have been studying in the Ph. D. program since then. My academic concern is mainly focused on ecological theology, making use of process theology. Also, I delve into practical ways to transform current church ministry for the upcoming era. For approximately six years, I have been a member of Downey Memorial Christian Church and minister there as an education pastor. In addition, I now serve as a co-pastor at Sallims Church. Both churches belong to PSWR of DOC and are recognized as multi-ethnic congregations. Under the warm cooperation of all the church members and pastors, I am grateful to be learning about the full vision and possibility of multi-ethnic ministry. Last July, I started working as the PSWR NAPAD ministries coordinator. I am honored and excited to contribute to PSWR and NAPAD clergies and congregations.
Richard Bray
Rev. Richard Bray has worked in higher education, non-profit sectors, and communities of faith as a leader and consultant. He works to foster relationships among community stakeholders to equip, empower, and engage persons to transform communities where people live, learn, work, worship, and play. Richard is a Ph.D. candidate in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Richard’s dissertation explores Black Preaching in Cross-Racial Cross-Cultural Congregations of The United Methodist Church. As a practitioner-scholar he will continue to work and serve at the intersection of higher education, religion, and community engagement. Practically, he will foster relationships with residents, congregants, schools, community-based organizations, government, and businesses to create equitable and just ways of being in the world and with each other that may begin with transformational dialogues. Richard volunteers as the Vice President of the board of directors at the Edna Martin Christian Center in Indianapolis and he serves on the national board of the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE). Rev Richard worships at Amazing Grace Christian Church. Richard has been married to Cheryl for 30 years and they have three children. After family and academic accomplishments, Rev. Richard says his personal greatest accomplishment is completing three (3) half marathons and a Spartan Race. For fun and relaxation, he is learning to play golf and practice yoga.
Mbûûi GM
I am an artist/singer-theologian/scholar-practitioner from the Eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya, East Africa. As a recording artist, I’m passionate about employing the arts towards positive justice-oriented transformations. Currently, I am a Theology and Ethics student at Graduate Theological Union, working at the intersection of constructive African Public Theology, Liberative Ethics, and African Indigenous Philosophical frameworks. I am the founding director of Kilele Africa Ministry. I enjoy singing, knitting, cooking, making connections and comedic expressiveness, among other joys.
Larry J. Morris III
Rev. Larry J. Morris III (he/they) is a PhD student in the African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric Program at Christian Theological Seminary, focusing on the intersections of Blackness, Queerness, and Sacred Rhetoric. Larry earned their Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Studies at Claremont School of Theology and co-founded Communion Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Henderson, NV based on their MTS thesis. Larry recently relocated to Chicago, IL to accept the position as Executive Director/Lead Pastor of the Inclusive Collective.
Young Kang
I’m a Ph.D. student in New Testament at Yonsei Graduate School. My field of interest is postcolonial biblical interpretation in Pauline studies. I’m interested in how to apply the understanding of the dynamics of the early churches with diverse cultural and ethnic identities, to the reality of the marginalized immigrant communities in the United States. As a minister who has served Korean-American churches since 2012, I have a passion for second-generation youth and young adults. I’m currently under care for ordination with the Pacific Southwest Region, serving Yedidyah Christian Church in Norwalk, California as an associate minister. Yedidyah Christian Church envisions a multi-ethnic church community of worship and arts created by God’s beloved people and God-loving people. I also serve as a member of the Church Transformation Committee of the region.
Lynette Li
Lynnette Li (she/they) began their first year of doctoral studies at the University of Denver-ILIFF School of Theology’s joint PhD program in the study of religion and social ethics this year. During her program, Lynnette hopes to develop their grounding theories on Christian social ethics, postcolonial and political theologies. For the past six years, Lynnette has been involved with theological consultations, research, and program development with the Council for World Mission. Their denominational involvement includes serving on the General Board of the General Assembly, the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, and participating in the youth programming team for the General Assemblies of 2013 and 2015. Lynnette is a proud member of Central Christian Church (Indianapolis, IN). They currently serve on the board of the Disciples Home Missions. They hope to contribute their scholarship, advocacy, and research to energize the ongoing work of the Disciples’ work towards being a movement for wholeness in a broken and fragmented world.
Shelly Tilton
Shelly Tilton is a PhD candidate in religious studies at the University of Virginia. Her work explores how societies remember, the role of film as a medium of cultural memory, and what religious groups as communities of memory can contribute to ethical questions arising from the use of history and ritualized memories in identity formation and moral action. She holds a BA in philosophy from Freed-Hardeman University, an MDiv from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and an MA in religious studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School. She was ordained as a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at Vine Street Christian Church in Nashville Tennessee in August 2014.