Plenary Leader

  Rudy Rasmus

Rudy Rasmus is an author, pastor, and urban prophet. For 15 years he has led the St. John’s United Methodist Church with his wife Juanita. In this brief span of time the couple has transformed the spiritual landscape and the face of poverty in Downtown Houston. Pastor Rudy founded the Bread of Life, Inc. which provides 7,000 hot meals to the homeless each month, distributes 9 tons of fresh food to the hungry each week, and provides child care to 125 children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS every day.
Pastor Rudy was featured as a contributor in “O” Magazine’s May, June and July (2007)issues. In this series of articles he shares his unique perspectives on a variety of ethical questions entitled “What Do I Do?”

Plenary Leader

  Marjorie Thompson

Marjorie Thompson is an ordained Presbyterian minister and Director of Pathways in Congregational Spirituality, Upper Room Ministries. She is a gifted teacher, retreat leader, and writer. Marjorie served as the chief architect of Companions in Christ, following Stephen Bryant’s vision. She has been involved in every dimension of the Companions initiative, including writing chapter content for The Way of Forgiveness, and The Way of Blessedness. She is also the author of Family the Forming Center (Upper Room Books, 1996), and Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life (Westminster/John Knox Press 1995).

Worship Artist

  Marcia McFee

Marcia McFee is a consultant on worship and the arts and has preached, led worship and workshops for churches and conferences across the U.S. Europe and Asia. She is a graduate of Saint Paul School of Theology and received her Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies from the Graduate Theological Union. Her hands-on workbook, The Worship Workshop: Creative Ways to Design Worship Together,
guides worship teams through evaluation, study and design of worship.

Host

  Stephen Bryant

Stephen Bryant heads Upper Room Ministries serving as the World Editor and Publisher and Associate General Secretary of the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church. Stephen provided the original vision for Companions in Christ® and assisted in writing portions of many resources in the series.