Rev. Dr. Tex Sample

In July of 2018 Tex Sample became pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Kansas City. He is the Robert B. And Kathleen Rogers Professor Emeritus of Church and Society at The Saint Paul School of Theology where he taught for 32 years. A freelance lecturer and speaker in North America and overseas, he has published 14 books. His book, Blue Collar Ministry, was named a “Judson Classic” by the Judson Press, and his book U. S. Lifestyles and Mainline Churches was the bestseller for Westminster/John Knox Press for over two years. His most recent book is Working Class Rage, available from Abingdon Press.

Rev. Juan Carlos Huertas

Rev. Juan Carlos Huertas is lead pastor of Grace Community United Methodist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, and a graduate of Candler School of Theology. A native of Puerto Rico and a spiritual director, Huertas loves writing about discipleship as empowerment to transform our neighborhoods, cities, and world. He is a frequent contributor to Day1.org and MinistryMatters.com. Juan recently co-authored The Marks of Hope through Abingdon Press. He is married to Shannon Perry Huertas and is a father of three.

Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli

Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli is the first woman to serve as Senior Pastor of historic Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC, within blocks of The White House. Foundry welcomes all, worships passionately, challenges the status quo, and seeks to transform the world through God's love. A graduate of Yale University Divinity School, Pastor Gaines-Cirelli is a featured teacher and speaker at local, district, conference, jurisdictional, and international connectional events. She is the author of Sacred Resistance: A practical guide to Christian witness and dissent and contributed and served on the editorial board for The CEB Women's Bible.