Wesley Theological Seminary

God's call is bold. Your seminary should be, too.

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  • About Wesley Innovation Hub
  • The Source Collaborative
  • Engaging Young Adults
  • Bringing Church Home

A Collaborative Community of Imaginative Faith Leaders

The Hub for Collaborative and Imaginative Ministry envisions a dynamic, Spirit-inspired church that responds to God and neighbor. To that end, we catalyze faith communities and leaders to (re)imagine and enact collaborative and contextual ministry.  

The Gathering- A Space for Collaboration

We offer:

WIH Training

Training: including seminary classes , workshops, and retreats.

WIH Context

Contextual engagement with a larger goal of social change - inside and outside of the church.

WIH Collaborate

Collaborative work across generational, clergy/lay, and denominational lines.

WIH Design Think

Human-centered design thinking as a method for congregational innovation.

 Hub Leadership

Rev. Beth Ludlum, D.Min.
Rev. Beth Ludlum, D.Min.
Co-Director & VP of Strategic Initiatives
Rev. Beth Ludlum, D.Min.
Rev. Beth Ludlum, D.Min.

Co-Director & VP of Strategic Initiatives

Beth Ludlum currently serves in ministry as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Born on a Kansas farm, she completed a B.S. at Kansas State University and an M.Div. at Wesley Theological Seminary. Her career path has included teaching English at a university in China, working for Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), directing programs at a national nonprofit, working in admissions at Wesley, and serving global United Methodist collegiate ministries. Beth is an ordained elder in the UMC. She is passionate about empowering young adults in leadership and revitalizing ministry.

Rev. Emily A. Peck, Th.D.
Rev. Emily A. Peck, Th.D.
Educator
Rev. Emily A. Peck, Th.D.
Rev. Emily A. Peck, Th.D.

Educator

Emily A. Peck is an ordained United Methodist pastor in the New York Annual Conference. She has served churches in Manhattan, Staten Island, and Fort Montgomery. She has a passion for ministry with youth. In her academic life, she has taught courses in Christian education, youth ministry, preaching, formation, and worship. Her scholarly work is interdisciplinary, looking at the writings of the apostle Paul as a resource for Christian formation. Emily sees her teaching as ministry and seeks to partner with the Holy Spirit in transforming students as they journey into or continue in their own professional ministries. She is keenly aware of the formative nature of the classroom, of community living, and of worship. Emily completed her Doctor of Theology degree in 2015 from Duke University Divinity School.

Julie Hagen, M.Div.
Julie Hagen, M.Div.
Director of Programs & Engagement
Julie Hagen, M.Div.
Julie Hagen, M.Div.

Director of Programs & Engagement

Julie Hagen is a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary and staff member of the Office of Strategic Initiatives . Julie is an active lay member in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the UMC with an executive background in business development, non-profit management, and communications and marketing.

Rev. Karen E. Stewart, DMin
Rev. Karen E. Stewart, DMin
Project Director
Rev. Karen E. Stewart, DMin
Rev. Karen E. Stewart, DMin

Project Director

Karen E. Stewart is a licensed and ordained Baptist pastor with a DMin from United Theological Seminary. She serves as the Project Director for the Innovation Hub's Children of Faith Project. With over 30 years of experience in the non-profit and faith community, Dr. Stewart directs her energy to serve on boards and with organizations that align with her passion for the Church, children and families. Dr. Stewart resides in Phoenix, Arizona.

Leah Huggins
Leah Huggins
Program Administrator
Leah Huggins
Leah Huggins

Program Administrator

Leah Huggins holds a BS in Computer Engineering Technology from DeVry University and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management, both in Atlanta, Georgia. Leah’s professional experience includes project management, human resources, and grant writing in diverse fields including the non-profit sector. Leah is a full time MDiv student and candidate for ordained ministry in the South Carolina Conference of the UMC.

Alison Schwarz
Allison Schwarz
Student Research Associate
Alison Schwarz
Allison Schwarz

Student Research Associate

Allison is a third year M.Div. student and candidate for ordained ministry in the Minnesota Annual Conference of the UMC.

Angela Pupino
Angela Pupino
Student Research Associate
Angela Pupino
Angela Pupino

Student Research Associate

Angela Pupino is an MDiv student at seeking ordination in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference of the UMC and Student Ministries Coordinator at National UMC in Washington, DC.

Daniel Kwadwo Akomea-Agyin
Daniel Kwadwo Akomea-Agyin
Student Research Associate
Daniel Kwadwo Akomea-Agyin
Daniel Kwadwo Akomea-Agyin

Student Research Associate

Daniel Kwadwo Akomea-Agyin is a 2nd Year MDiv student at Wesley Theological Seminary and a candidate for ordained ministry in the Virginia Annual Conference of the UMC. He holds a Master of Research in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
Before coming to the Seminary, Daniel had worked for 15 years in the Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Banking/Financial sectors as a Business Analyst, Solution Architect, and Project Manager and in the capacity of an entrepreneur and consultant.
Kristal Neale
Kristal Neale
Student Research Associate
Kristal Neale
Kristal Neale

Student Research Associate

Kris is a second year M.Div. student and candidate for ordained ministry in the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference of the UMC.

Michael Crockett
Michael Crockett
Student Research Associate
Michael Crockett
Michael Crockett

Student Research Associate

Michael is a second year M.Div. student and candidate for military chaplaincy in the United States Air Force.

Simon Lee
Simon Lee
Student Research Associate
Simon Lee
Simon Lee

Student Research Associate

Simon is a second year M.Div. student and candidate for ordained ministry in the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference of the UMC.

Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt
Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt
Clergy Coach
Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt
Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt

Clergy Coach

Tony Hunt is a philosophical theologian and specialist in transformational leadership development. Internationally recognized for gifts and passion for preaching, teaching, thought leadership, building the Beloved Community, transformational leadership development, and facilitating strategic change and organizational turnaround, he is an Ordained Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the UMC, and since 2011 has served as Senior Pastor of Epworth Chapel United Methodist Church in Baltimore, MD, and also currently serves (since 2020) as the supervising pastor of the Beloved Community Cooperative Ministry, comprised of three urban congregations in the Greater Baltimore area.

Rev. Shelley Stanley Smith
Rev. Shelley Stanley Smith
Clergy Coach
Rev. Shelley Stanley Smith
Rev. Shelley Stanley Smith

Clergy Coach

Shelley Smith is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC), having received her training through the Coach Approach Skill Training (CAST). While facilitating coaching for diverse clients, her coaching focus is with individual clergy, clergy groups, and teams of clergy and congregational leaders. Additionally, she coaches new district superintendents and directors of connectional ministries for the Global Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Rev. Smith currently serves as Conference Secretary of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the UMC and the Senior Pastor of the historic Ferry Avenue United Methodist Church, Camden, NJ.

Rev. Dr. Brian Brown
Rev. Dr. Brian Brown
Clergy Coach
Rev. Dr. Brian Brown
Rev. Dr. Brian Brown

Clergy Coach

Brian Brown has been coaching church leaders since 2012.  He was trained in the Coach Approach Skill Training (CAST) for ministry by Chris Holmes. He is also a trained facilitator for the Arbinger Institute in the Anatomy of Peace. Dr. Brown has facilitated training and coaching for pastors, district superintendents, and various districts across the connection; as well as delegates to Jurisdictional and General Conference in the United Methodist Church. Rev. Brown currently serves Woodlawn- Faith UMC in Alexandria, Virginia.

Rev. Melissa Dunlap
Rev. Melissa Dunlap
Clergy Coach
Rev. Melissa Dunlap
Rev. Melissa Dunlap

Clergy Coach

Melissa Dunlap is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church.  She is currently the sole employee of her own church consulting business.  She coaches church pastors and writes grants for new church starts and churches that serve diverse populations. Rev. Dunlap is appointed to extension ministry at The Vine Church in Dun Loring, Virginia.

Rev. Jack Shitama
Rev. Jack Shitama
Clergy Coach
Rev. Jack Shitama
Rev. Jack Shitama

Clergy Coach

Jack Shitama is an author, teacher, speaker and coach. His family systems approach to leadership helps congregational and nonprofit leaders achieve their best spiritually, physically and professionally. He is an avid learner with a passion for taking the most recent secular learnings and applying them to spiritual leadership. Jack is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church and currently serves as the Executive Director at Pecometh Camp & Retreat Ministries in Centreville, MD. He is also the Director for the Center for Vital Leadership.

Rev. Barbara Miner
Rev. Barbara Miner
Clergy Coach
Rev. Barbara Miner
Rev. Barbara Miner

Clergy Coach

Barbara Miner is an ICF certified coach and ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. Barbara received her master’s degree from Wesley Theological Seminary and is pleased to serve on the Board of Governors at Wesley. Barbara serves as Associate Pastor and Worship Leader at Floris UMC in Herndon, Virginia.

Rev. F. Douglas Powe, Jr., Ph.D.
Rev. F. Douglas Powe, Jr., Ph.D.
Advisor
Rev. F. Douglas Powe, Jr., Ph.D.
Rev. F. Douglas Powe, Jr., Ph.D.

Advisor

  1. Douglas Powe, Jr., is a key advisor and partner to The Source Collaborative. He is the Director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership and James C. Logan Professor of Evangelism (E. Stanley Jones Chair) at Wesley Theological Seminary. He is also an ordained UMC Elder and is committed to helping urban congregations and congregations in transitional areas flourish through community partnering. Doug and the Lewis Center staff will help to identify existing resources to build the program and cocreate resources for broad dissemination from what is learned.
Rev. Lorena M. Parrish, Ph.D.
Rev. Lorena M. Parrish, Ph.D.
Advisor
Rev. Lorena M. Parrish, Ph.D.
Rev. Lorena M. Parrish, Ph.D.

Advisor

Lorena M. Parrish serves as a key advisor and partner in curriculum development for The Source Collaborative. She is Associate Professor of Urban Ministries and Director of the Institute for Community Engagement at Wesley Theological Seminary. Dr. Parrish earned her Ph.D., M.Phil. and M.Div. at Union Theological Seminary in New York,  and holds a M.S.S.W. from the Columbia University School of Social Work. Rev. Dr. Parrish is an ordained Baptist minister.

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Wesley Theological Seminary
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
p 202.885.8600
f 202.885.8605
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