Our presenters

The Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker brings to Candler two decades of experience in religious education and church mission. As the former Executive Director of Global Mission Connections at The General Board of Global Ministries she was responsible for leading five regional offices and two global offices in leadership development and scholarships, as well as overseeing the placements and supervision of 200+ missionaries. Prior to that, Valdez Barker served as the Chief Connectional Ministries Officer for the Connectional Table of The United Methodist Church, responsible for coordinating the mission, ministries, and programs of The United Methodist Church (read more).

Rev. Dr. Byer-Thomas has served as a senior pastor in the United Methodist Florida conference since 2011. In her work, she preaches prophetically and is unafraid to address social ills through contextual Biblical lenses. Her personal mission is to know God and make God known, living fully, the life she has. She is driven by her deep love for her family and God’s justice.

Dr. Richard Manly Adams, Jr., known as “Bo” to most of his colleagues, directs the collections, staff, and vision of Pitts Theology Library, one of the premier theological libraries in North America. He also teaches courses at Candler, focused primarily on research methods, the history of reading practices, and the changing tools of ministry in the digital age (read more).

The Rev. Dr. Brett Opalinski is an ordained United Methodist Elder from the Florida Annual Conference. He has served in local churches for over twenty years, as well as chaired the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Florida Annual Conference. He is a Candler graduate (98T) and has a Ph.D. in New Testament and Early Christianity from Iliff School of Theology/University of Denver. He has been a long time social-justice and civil rights advocate working in issues related to anti-racism, LGBTQ+ rights, poverty, and criminal justice reform and is committed to helping local churches (and the General Church) engage the world in a way that makes the Kingdom of God visible (read more).

: Bryan Ellrod is the Postdoctoral Fellow in Leadership and Character in Pre-Law at Wake Forest University.  His research engages questions of identity, membership, and responsibility at the intersections of law, religion, and politics.  His dissertation, "Can These Bones Live," adopts the southwestern borderlands as a context for theological reflection, asking what it would mean to become neighbors to those who have lost their lives attempting to enter the United States through the Sonoran Desert.  He holds a Ph.D., Th.M., and M.Div from Emory University and a B.A. from Florida Southern College.  Ellrod resides in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with his wife, Courtney, and their border Collie, Ekko.

Cristha Edwards is a recent graduate of Candler School of Theology receiving her Master in Divinity degree in the Spring of 2021. Prior to her time at Candler, she studied evolutionary biology at Spelman College earning her Bachelors in Science degree in the Spring of 2018 (read more).

Don E. Saliers returned to Candler in 2014 as Theologian-in-Residence after retiring in 2007 as the William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship. For many years he directed the Master of Sacred Music program at Emory, and was an organist and choirmaster at Cannon Chapel for 35 years. Before joining the Candler faculty in 1974, Saliers taught at Yale Divinity School, and has taught in summer programs at Notre Dame, Boston College, Vancouver School of Theology, St. John’s University, and Boston University School of Theology (read more)

Elizabeth "Ebby" Arnold is the post-doctoral fellow for The Candler Foundry. She holds a PhD in New Testament from Emory University and her dissertation focused on the wilderness in Luke-Acts.

In The Candler Foundry, she teaches Courses in the Community as well as Candler School of Theology. Ebby is currently creating Candler Foundry's Foundations in Faith and Leadership, an on-line certificate program for community- and church-based theological education (see more).

Dr. Elizabeth Corrie’s teaching draws on commitments to both peace with justice and the education of young people, particularly the development of teaching and ministry that empower people for global citizenship. She joined Candler’s faculty in 2007, and is also the director of the Religious Education Program (read more).

Rev. Dr. Gary Mason is a Methodist Minister and holds a PhD from the school of Psychology at the University of Ulster. He was also awarded an honorary Doctorate in Divinity for his role in peace building in Ireland, from Florida Southern College. He completed his theological studies at Queens University and holds a Bachelor’s in Business Studies from the University of Ulster (read more).