Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo
Tony Campolo is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He previously served for ten years on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Eastern College and earned a Ph.D. from Temple University. Dr. Campolo is an ordained minister, has served American Baptist Churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is presently recognized as an associate pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia.
Founder and President of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education (EAPE), Dr. Campolo has worked to create, nurture and support programs for “at-risk” children in cities across North America, and has helped establish schools and universities in several developing countries. More information about this organization can be found online at www.eape.org.
Dr. Campolo is one of the founders of the Red Letter Christian movement and blogs regularly at its website, www.RedLetterChristians.org. He often is sought as a media commentator on religious, social and political matters, having guested on television programs like Faith Under Fire, The Colbert Report, Nightline, Crossfire, Politically Incorrect, The Charlie Rose Show, CNN Dayside, CNN News and MSNBC News. He is the author of 39 books, with the latest release in October 2012, Red Letter Revolution (Thomas Nelson), with co-author Shane Claiborne.
We are pleased to partner with Lake Junaluska Ministry in arranging for Dr. Campolo to participate at this year’s Gathering of the Laity as part of Lake Junaluska’s Centennial Celebration.
Rev. Dr. Arnetta Beverly
Arnetta Beverly is one most sought-after preachers in the Western NC Conference of The United Methodist Church. Since 2008, she has served as pastor of St. Matthews UMC in Greensboro, NC, one of the largest predominantly African American United Methodist congregations in the conference. Before devoting herself to full-time ministry, Dr. Beverly served as a nursing student, bank teller, funeral director and embalmer, and in law enforcement -- first with NYC Police Department then later with the Davidson County (NC) Sheriff’s Department.
Dr. Beverly has served in a variety of local church settings, starting in 1986. From 1998-2001, she served as the Director of Nurturing & Ethnic Ministries in the Western NC Conference, becoming the first African American female to serve on the conference staff. In 2001, she became the first African American female appointed to the Cabinet, serving as Northeast District Superintendent until 2007 and then as the Director of Connectional Ministries until 2008.
She received an Associate of Arts degree from Davidson County Community College (’84) and her Bachelor of Arts from Shaw University (’86). She earned her Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School in 1992 and her Doctor of Ministry from Drew University in 1999.
She is the mother of two adult sons, Russell and Ronald, and a grandmother (8) and a great-grandmother (1). She makes her home in Greensboro with her grandson, Matt, a college student. Her personal philosophy is “To do the best I can for as many as I can in the time that God allows, knowing that through Christ, I can do all things.” Her hobbies include NASCAR racing, football, reading and swimming.
Rev. David Christy
Rev. David Christy was born in Jefferson, N.C., into a “parsonage family”, so he grew up across Western North Carolina. David graduated from Pfeiffer University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts and received his Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School in 1991. He was ordained Elder in the Western North Carolina Conference in 1993. Currently, David serves as Senior Minister of First UMC, Gastonia, N.C.
Prior to Gastonia, David served Franklinville-Rehobeth UMC (Randolph County), Fair View UMC (Mt. Mourne), Epworth UMC (Concord), and Central UMC (Canton). He has served on various boards and agencies in each community where he has lived. Currently, he serves as Chair of the WNC Conference Town and Country Ministry, on the Board of Disciple Outreach Ministries, as Chair of ConstruX through RFD CDC, and on the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Western North Carolina Conference UMC.
David served as a Delegate to the 2008 Jurisdictional Conference as a Delegate to the 2012 General Conference.
David is married to Pam, a First Grade teacher. They have two children: Luke, a student at Appalachian State University; and Maggie, a rising Senior in High School. David enjoys trout fishing, running, golf, and spending time with his family.