Mindful Mondays

Mindful Mondays

Register for each Mindful Monday session by clicking on the title. All sessions start at 7pm on Zoom.

January 2023

23rd- Rev. David Mallory “The Three Ws of the Regional Commission on Ministry: Why, What, Who”

  • Have you ever wondered why we have a Regional Commission on Ministry? Ever wondered what they do? Who they are? Join us for a conversation about the Why, What, and Who of this important arm of the Regional Church.
  • Rev. David Mallory is an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Master’s of Divinity Degree from Texas Christian University. He was the Senior Minister at First Christian Church in Albany, Texas, for seven years before serving fifteen years as Senior Minister at Hillyer Memorial Christian Church in Raleigh, retiring from that position in March 2018. He currently does pulpit supply, clergy coaching, grief counseling, and part-time work for Church World Service. He has served on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Smith County, Chair of the Board of Directors for Youth Mission Co., the Administrative Board of Christmount Christian Assembly, Chair of the North Carolina DOC Commission on Ministry, and on the Board of Trustees at Barton College. He has been a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, Junior Achievement of East Texas, Partners Read of Wake County, Junior Team Tennis of Raleigh, and Big Country Soccer Association. Rev Mallory and his wife, Amy, have two children- Stacey, a speech pathologist for Wake County schools, and Robert, a private business analyst. He is also the proud “Poppy” of three wonderful grandchildren- Violet and Henry and Ava Pearl. Rev. Mallory has published one book- “Preacher Ponderings: Reflections on Life in the Parish.”

30th- Rev. Bruce Barkhauer (Center for Faith and Giving) “Best Financial Practices for Congregations“

  • Rev. Bruce Barkhauer teaches generosity for a living. A noted speaker, educator, consultant, and writer, Barkhauer brings creativity, energy, fresh, and sometimes humorous thought into conversations about stewardship as a practice of faith and spiritual discipline. Barkhauer served as a parish pastor for 25 years before accepting a call to serve as the first Minister for Faith and Giving for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a traditional mainline denomination, headquartered in Indianapolis. He believes that caring for the earth so that it may flourish is a divinely instituted human vocation and that our very lives depend on successfully carrying out this prime directive to manage our resources well. He is married to Laura, and they share three children and three grandchildren.

February 2023

6th- Rev. Monique Crain Spells “DHM Faith Formation and Christian Education”

  • Rev. Monique Crain Spells began as the new Director of Christian Education and Faith Formation-Merger Staff for Disciples Home Missions and the National Convocation in the Fall of 2021. Prior to this role, her primary ministry was theological education administration. She has served two Disciples Seminaries – Christian Theological Seminary and Brite Divinity School. Monique has demonstrated leadership in Local, Regional, and General expressions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Her commitment to Christian Education spans more than twenty years. Designing resources for faith and community partners has been her life’s work. Rev. Crain Spells’ portfolio includes curricula design, conference planning, playwriting, grant writing, and devotionals. As Disciples Home Missions and the National Convocation continue to live into the historic merger of 1969, a structural commitment to collaboration and transformation that established three merger positions in Education, Evangelism, and Women’s Ministries remains at work.

13th- Rev. Dr. Della Owens “Church Security and Safety Post-Pandemic”

  • Do you know how to keep your congregation safe? This workshop will introduce you to ways of 1) Protecting the Flock from unexpected violence, 2) Understanding the common challenges in most places of worship, and 3) Discovering how you and your fellow worshippers can develop an emergency operation plan. Like the rest of society, churches need to ensure the safety and security of their facility, staff, and worshipers.
  • Reverend Dr. Della J. Owens is the Senior Pastor of Saint James Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Wilson, NC. Pastor Owens has over twenty-three years of congregational leadership. Pursuing her educational goals, she attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina, receiving a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice. In May 2002, she received her Master of Theological Studies from Duke University Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry from Apex School of Theology, in May 2011 in Durham, N.C. Her dissertation project is titled: “Evangelism Empowerment: For the Newly Organized Church by a Female Pastor.” She worked for the Garner Police Department and the City of Durham as a Police Officer, Telecommunicator, Police Records Manager, Recruitment Coordinator, and a Crime Scene Technician. She was a Criminal Justice Adjunct Professor at North Carolina Central University. She is the National Director of Safety and Security for Repairers of the Breach, a faith-based social justice organization, and the Poor People’s Campaign who are addressing the five interlocking injustices of systemic racism, systemic poverty, ecological devastation, militarism, and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism.

20th- Rev. Amy Canosa “Leadership Tools and How to Navigate Conflict”

  • Amy Canosa, M. Div., CPE Certified Educator – Amy brings a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion to her work. In past roles, she has been active on diversity teams and was a Riley Diversity Leadership Fellow while working at the Greenville Health System in Greenville, South Carolina. She has deep knowledge of the Enneagram personality framework and connects that to how she cares for people through religious and secular practice, which she also used during her time in Greenville. An ACPE-certified educator, she is a Baptist minister and endorsed for chaplaincy through the Alliance of Baptist.

27th- Rev. Brad McDowell “Would Jesus be Angered by the News?”

  • Rev. Brad McDowell (“Pastor Brad”) grew up in Nashville, TN. After finishing high school, he attended Duke University, where he met his wife, Lisa, and he earned his B.A. in English in 2004. After Duke, Brad spent a year taking part in a fellowship through Duke’s Chapel that allowed him and three other Duke grads to explore community and ministry together. During that year, he interned at a United Methodist church and got to take some amazing trips to Mepkin Abbey, South Africa, and Taize, France, and God made Brad’s call to ministry all the more clear. Brad answered that call by enrolling at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. Brad earned his Master of Divinity and graduated in May 2008. He was ordained as a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in August 2008. Brad lives in Wilmington with his wife, Lisa, sons Isaiah, Bennett, and daughter Clara.

March 2023

6th- Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray “Disciples Peace Fellowship & Summer Intern”

  • For nearly 50 years, Disciples Peace Fellowship has been equipping young adults to serve as ambassadors for peace and justice on behalf of the wider church! Join us for this session to hear from DPF Mission Director Brian Frederick-Gray and learn about what Peace Interns do each summer, how you can request a Peace Intern to be a part of your Church Camp or your Ministry’s work, and discover the wonderful resources that Peace Interns have created to further the work for peace and justice in the world.
  • Brian Frederick-Gray is the Mission Director for Disciples Peace Fellowship, the oldest denominational peace fellowship in the country. An ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he is a leader on issues of peace, justice, advocacy, and movement building. Before his ministry with DPF, Brian served in congregational ministry in Ohio and Arizona. Brian is married to the Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association. They live together in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with their 16-year-old son Henry and their 4-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Hercules.

13th- Rev. Dr. Daynette Snead Perez “How to Develop a Stranger to Neighbor Ministry“

  • Dr. Daynette Snead Perez is an ordained minister, successful business owner, and entrepreneur. She earned graduate degrees from Regent (MDiv) and Gardner-Webb (DMin) Universities. During her years as a missionary pastor for a Burmese refugee congregation in NC, she was honored with the name Pastor Dawtchin, which translates to “love the Chin people.” Her ministry shifted to coordinating long-term disaster recovery with underserved communities after severe area flooding from Hurricane Florence; now, she is a National Disaster Response Manager. Her life’s story makes great strides in areas that often present barriers, even for churches. As a writer, speaker, and preacher, she equips local churches on how to build diverse relationships in their community. Creator of Stranger to Neighbor Ministry ™, Dr. Daynette guides pastors, congregations, and seminary groups toward church growth with inclusive discipleship outreach through her ministry, DIASPRA. Stranger to Neighbor Ministry and Live Your Ministry are registered trademarks.

20th- Rev. Danny Lybarger & Rev. Drake Cromer-Moore “How to Market Your Church as a Truly Welcoming LGBTQIA2S+ Community”

  • Rev. Danny Lybarger is the planting pastor of The Well. His vision for our church began years ago with a simple passion – to create compelling spaces that engage those who feel far from God. Outside of pastoring The Well, Danny also hosts a growing podcast called The Deconstruction Zone, which attempts to take a fresh look at engaging the conversation of deconstruction of one’s faith. Danny and his wife, Annie live in the St. Louis region with their three kiddos (Knox, JoJo & Gracie).
  • Rev. Drake Cromer-Moore Drake is the pastor of First Christian Church of Gainesville, FL and a member of the lead team at Meizon Mission. Alongside FCC and Meizon Mission, Drake is passionate about creating Greater Spaces for people to hear and experience the Good News of Jesus. Drake and his husband, Brent, live in Gainesville with their four dogs, Rudy, Ruby, Roxy, and Reba.

27th- Rev. Beth Burton-Williams & Regional Elders “Pastoral Care Training for Elders and Deacons“