The Ministry Lab: Envisioning Ecumenical Possibilities for Anti-Racism

Clergy, faith formation ministers, other congregational leaders, and the whole United community, are invited to a panel discussion including anti-racism and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leaders from the ELCA, PC(USA), and UCC of Minnesota. Explore approaches to anti-racism work appropriate for diverse settings and leave inspired, with applicable resources for your congregation—no matter where you are in your anti-racism work. This is offered as a collaboration between United’s Anti-Racist Initiatives and The Ministry Lab.

Panel

Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green, Moderator

Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green II is assistant professor of pastoral theology and social transformation and director of anti-racist initiatives at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. He earned his PhD from Brite Divinity School, where he focused on issues related to young African American men through the lens of public pastoral theology. His dissertation, “Playing the Game: Unmarking ‘Beast’ from the Bodies of Young Black Men,” is a project that seeks to humanize young black men by allowing their voices to challenge stereotypical scripts that cast them as “beasts” for public consumption.

Rev. Anna Kendig Flores, Panelist

Anti-Racism Coordinator for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, Presbyterian Church (USA)

Anna Kendig Flores is an educator, writer, and certified interfaith/secular spiritual advisor. Currently working in the realm of systemic ethics and anti-racism, she brings her experience with mental health and evidence-based addiction recovery programming to the context of her various roles.

Manny Lewis, Panelist

Congregational Organizer for Racial Justice for the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Manny Lewis joined the Minneapolis Area Synod as the Congregational Organizer for Racial Justice in March 2023. A North Minneapolis resident for more than 16 years, Manny has seen a lot of things change. He has also benefited from the opportunity of mentorship, which has motivated his mission is to enrich the lives of brown and black communities and bring communities of all kinds together in the hopes of healing racial injustice, and giving people the opportunity for better lives. Prior to coming to the Minneapolis Area Synod, Manny worked with youth and community outreach at the Center for Leadership and Neighborhood Engagement (CLNE) in North Minneapolis.

Rev. Kelly Gallagher, Panelist

Associate Conference Dean of the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ

In January 2024, Rev. Kelly Gallagher began as settled Associate Conference Minister, bringing deep experience in supporting congregations and their leadership and a demonstrated commitment to the work of racial equity.

She received her Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Since 1996 she has served in a variety of roles in local United Church of Christ congregations in Massachusetts, and from 2013–2021 served as Associate Conference Minister with the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, where her experience included ministering to more than 100 local congregations, staffing Committees on Ministry, and overseeing the justice ministries of the Massachusetts Conference.

Note: Please park in the non-gated lot that is on the south side of the Case Building.