Published: Jan. 11, 2024

After the Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady leaves the pulpit, but before the interim arrives in March, he has invited several of his friends in ministry from near and far to share the gospel message of hope and inclusion. Please plan to join us each week for this exciting series.

January 28, 2024 : Rev. Jess Winderweedle

BIO: The Rev. Jess Winderweedle (she/her) is an elder in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Practical Theology (Homiletics) at Princeton Theological Seminary. Jess’s research interests center on the experiences of LGBTQ+ preachers in Mainline Protestant traditions. Jess grew up in Oklahoma, but she has called the East Coast home now for over 16 years. Before returning to school, Jess served as lead pastor at Kingston UMC where she also founded The Feed Truck, a mobile campus and community outreach ministry. She last preached at Asbury First in October.

February 4, 2024 : Rev. Jackie Nelson

BIO: Jackie, a native of Teaneck, NJ, joined the Asbury First staff in August 2017 as the Minister for Outreach. In September of 2021, Jackie joined the staff of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School as the Director for Student Support Services and Coordinator for Spiritual Care, and has remained a part of the Asbury First team. She remains on staff as Preaching Associate, where she continues to share her gift and passion for preaching with our congregation.

February 11, 2024 : Rev. Bryant Clark

BIO: The Rev. Bryant Clark is a graduate of Boston University School of Theology. He was ordained an elder in 2022 and is currently serving at Marcellus United Methodist Church. Pastor Bryant is passionate about church renewal, lay leadership development, youth ministry and ministries of mercy and justice. His wife, Kristina, serves as Director of Missional Engagement for the Upper New York Annual Conference. Together they have two daughters, Camila and Ella. Pastor Bryant is a lifelong Methodist and believes that our collective faith not only gives our lives meaning but also gifts us with the opportunity to affect the world in profound ways.

February 18, 2024 : Rev. Katie McKay Simpson

BIO: The Rev. Katie McKay Simpson is the Senior Minister of University United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. For eighteen years, she has served as a pastor, community leader, and planter of new ministries among Louisiana congregations located in Bossier City and Lake Charles. She is a graduate of Centenary College of Louisiana and received her MDiv from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL and she is presently working toward a PhD in Organizational Leadership at Eastern University outside of Philadelphia. Katie has been an active voice for inclusion in the Annual, Jurisdictional and General Conference levels of The United Methodist Church. She is married to Taylor and together they have three children—Eva, Jack, and Sam.

February 25, 2024 : Rev. Joe Kim

BIO: The Rev. Joseph (Joe) D. Kim serves as Lead Pastor of Bothell United Methodist Church outside of Seattle, WA. He has served in and with communities of faith for over 15 years, both in the non-profit sector and in the local church. He has traveled around the world as a speaker, preacher, workshop leader and facilitator, encouraging people of faith to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. Joe is the husband to an incredibly talented artist and justice-seeker, Joann; dad to their two amazing children; hiking companion to their dog, Leigh; and caretaker of their four chickens and modest farm (read: garden beds). Joe loves being outdoors and traveling, and enjoys all things music and sports.