Faculty

Marjorie J. Thompson, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA), is a widely recognized spiritual formation teacher, retreat leader, and writer. Over the past 25 years, Rev. Thompson has served as adjunct faculty for several seminaries, including McCormick, Auburn, Wesley, San Francisco, Columbia, and Vanderbilt. For several years, she directed the foundations program for Nashville Stillpoint (programs in spiritual direction and contemplative prayer). For 12 years, Marjorie worked on the staff of The Upper Room as director of the Pathways Center for Spiritual Leadership, later called Pathways in Congregational Spirituality. She was the chief architect of Companions in Christ, the highly acclaimed line of spiritual formation resources for small groups. Marjorie authored chapters for several volumes in the Companions in Christ series, including The Way of Forgiveness, The Way of Blessedness, and Exploring the Way, as well as many of the Leader's Guides in the series. Marjorie received a B.A. in religious studies from Swarthmore College and an M. Div. from McCormick Seminary, where she focused on church history and ecumenical studies. She was a research fellow at Yale Divinity School, where she studied Christian spirituality with Henri Nouwen and did independent research in ecumenical traditions of prayer.

In addition to her extensive writing for the Companions in Christ series, Marjorie is the author of Family, the Forming Center (Upper Room Books) and Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual (Westminster John Knox Press). Her writings have also appeared in several books and journals, including Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life. Recently, she contributed a chapter to A Spiritual Life: Perspectives from Poets, Prophets, and Preachers (Westminster John Knox Press), where she writes of her own spiritual practice.

Luther E. Smith, Jr. is professor of Church and Community at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia), where he has served on the faculty since 1979. The title of his teaching position reflects his life’s commitment to social transformation as an expression of religious conviction. While at Emory University, Dr. Smith has served as president of the university senate, president of the faculty council, and associate dean for faculty development. Smith holds a Ph. D in American Studies from St. Louis University, a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in sociology from Washington University (St. Louis, MO). Luther Smith is the author of Howard Thurman: The Mystic as Prophet; Intimacy and Mission; and editor of Howard Thurman: Essential Writings. He serves as senior consulting editor for the Howard Thurman Papers Project. He is active in advocacy for children, persons with intellectual disabilities, and interfaith collaboration. Smith is an ordained minister in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He is married to Helen Pearson Smith and lives in Stone Mountain, Georgia. They have four children and five grandchildren.

Rev. Dr. Shively T. J. Smith is a distinguished New Testament scholar, esteemed preacher, and dedicated teacher, currently serving as Assistant Professor of New Testament at Boston University School of Theology. She earned her Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Emory University, focusing her research on the traditions of Peter, diaspora studies, and African American biblical interpretation.

Dr. Smith is the author of Strangers to Family: Diaspora and 1 Peter’s Invention of God’s Household (2016), a seminal work exploring the concept of diaspora in early Christian communities. She is also contributing to the revision of the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible and has been featured in the History Channel’s documentary series “Jesus: His Life.”

An ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Dr. Smith serves as Resident Scholar at Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C. Her scholarship has been supported by esteemed organizations such as the Ford Foundation, the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion, and the Mellon Mays Fellowship Program.

Dr. Smith is a sought-after speaker and has contributed to various writing projects, including the “Feasting on the Gospels” series and the “Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship.” She regularly contributes to the Working Preacher Lectionary series and the Odyssey Network’s “On Scripture” series.

For more information, visit shivelysmith.com.

Rev. Dr. Elaine A. Heath is a theologian, author, ordained United Methodist elder, and a leading voice in missional spirituality and the future of the church. She has served as Dean of Duke Divinity School, the McCreless Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology (SMU), and the founder of the Missional Wisdom Foundation, which pioneers new forms of Christian community and ministry.

A sought-after speaker and teacher, Dr. Heath is widely recognized for her work in spiritual formation, evangelism, and the intersection of Christian faith with social justice. She co-founded Neighborhood Seminary, a grassroots theological education initiative that equips laypeople and clergy for transformative ministry.

Her extensive writing includes The Mystic Way of Evangelism, Five Means of Grace, and God Unbound, reflecting her passion for contemplative practices, spiritual renewal, and church innovation.

Currently, Dr. Heath serves as Abbess at Spring Forest, an intentional Christian community and farm in North Carolina dedicated to hospitality, racial healing, and ecological justice. Through her teaching, leadership, and activism, she continues to shape the church’s engagement with the world. For more information, visit elaineaheath.org.

Dr. Amy G. Oden is a distinguished scholar and professor specializing in early Christian history and spirituality. She has served on the faculties of Oklahoma City University, Saint Paul School of Theology, and Wesley Theological Seminary, where she also held the position of Dean. Dr. Oden earned her Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Southern Methodist University and a B.A. in Letters from the University of Oklahoma.

Growing up on the prairies of Oklahoma, Dr. Oden finds spiritual resonance under the expansive sky, a connection that profoundly influences her teaching and writing. Her passion lies in introducing ancient spiritual practices to contemporary audiences, aiming to ground and nourish lives committed to justice.

She has authored four books:

• In Her Words: Women’s Writings in the History of Christian Thought (1994) brings together writings from women across Christian history.
• And You Welcomed Me: A Sourcebook on Hospitality in Early Christianity (2001) explores the radical practice of hospitality in the early church and its relevance for communities today.
• God’s Welcome: Hospitality for a Gospel-Hungry World (2008) examines biblical hospitality as a transformative practice for individuals and churches in today’s world.
• Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness (2017) traces mindfulness practices throughout Christian history and offers guidance for modern application.

In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Oden is a spiritual director, accompanying individuals as they discern the presence of God in daily life. Her work consistently brings ancient voices into dialogue with contemporary issues, illuminating pathways for faithful living today. For more information, visit amyoden.com.

Rev. Juan Carlos Huertas is a gifted preacher, teacher, and justice advocate, currently serving as the Minister of Proclamation and Practice of Justice at First-Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion with a minor in Spanish from Louisiana College and a Master of Divinity from Emory University. Rev. Huertas is a trained spiritual director dedicated to fostering liberation through shared wisdom, communal leadership, and contextual action.

Rev. Huertas is a regular presenter at The Academy for Spiritual Formation where he will lead sessions on “Scripture as Liberative Text.” His teachings invite participants to engage with scripture in ways that promote personal and communal transformation.

Beyond his ministerial duties, Rev. Huertas is committed to practices that move communities toward justice and liberation. He is married to Shannon Perry Huertas, a psychotherapist, and together they have three children: Seth, Isabelle, and Lucas.

Ray Buckley is Director of the Center for First Nations Spirituality and is widely recognized as a teacher, preacher, author, artist, and storyteller whose ministry bridges Native traditions and Christian faith. He is the author of numerous books, including Prayer in the Holy Living series, Hard to Dance with the Devil on Your Back, and studies on Native peoples, storytelling, and faith for leaders throughout The United Methodist Church. He has also written and illustrated several children’s books, and his stories, poetry, and artwork have appeared in numerous publications.

An internationally respected speaker and lecturer, Ray has lived and taught in Nigeria and Ghana and has presented throughout North America and around the world, including at the Pontifical Biblical Institute of the Vatican and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Lenten Series. He has also served The United Methodist Church in a variety of leadership roles, including with The United Methodist Publishing House, United Methodist Communications, and the Alaska Missionary Conference.

Ray’s sculptures and artwork are part of permanent museum collections in several countries. He lives in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of Alaska, where he continues his work as a traditional basket maker, wood carver, writer, and spiritual leader.

Julian Davis Reid is an artist-theologian who uses words and music to invite us into the restful lives we were intended to live. A musician, speaker and writer, Julian has created the spiritual formation ministry Notes of Rest to invite people to receive God’s gift of rest through Scripture and Black music. He also makes original music through several projects, including his own ensemble, Circle of Trust, his jazz-electric fusion group, JuJu Exchange, and his ensemble work with Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few. Julian has performed at the Montreal Jazz Fest, Lollapalooza, and the Berlin Jazz Fest. He writes about faith, music, Blackness, and rest on his Substack “Notes of Rest Fellowship.” He and his wife Carmen live in his hometown, Chicago, with their daughter Lydia.