Our Team
Rachel Gilmore
(SHE/HER) Rachel Gilmore planted a church in Virginia Beach in 2009 that grew from 10 young adults to over 250 people active in the life of the church. The church plant also started two missional preschools and partnered with local non-profits to provide food to tens of thousands of residents over the past five years. Rachel is committed to helping everyone who feels like a stranger or outsider find a place to belong and use their gifts for the kin-dom. Rachel is a published author and contributor to multiple books on church planting and was most formerly the Director of Recruiting, Training, and Assessing church planters for the United Methodist Church. Rachel lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, two kids and two dogs, where they serve as a clergy couple to revitalize Central United Methodist Church.
Candace Lewis
(SHE/HER) Rev. Dr. Candace M. Lewis is the President and Dean of Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the first Woman to serve in this role in the school’s 138 year history. Candace is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and previously served as a District Superintendent of the Gulf Central area of the Florida Annual Conference. She had oversight of 89 pastors and churches. She also serves as a consultant, coach, and resource person to Bishops, Conference Developers, and Church Planters in starting and maintaining New Churches
Tyler Sit
(HE/HIM) Rev. Tyler Sit is the church planter of New City Church, a community in Minneapolis led mostly by queer people of color. In his book Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers--which Barbara Brown Taylor endorsed saying, “it makes me want a do-over at being Christian”--arises from theology practiced by a community in the same neighborhood of the George Floyd Uprisings. Sit is a second-generation Chinese American, trained community organizer, and United Methodist pastor. He has been featured in the New York TImes, City Lab, Minnesota Public Radio, and more. TylerSit.com
Kris Sledge
(HE/HIM) Kris Sledge is the lead pastor of The Journey Church, a United Methodist Church plant in urban Harrisburg, PA. Kris’ favorite part is collaborating with this intentionally young, diverse, and inclusive team, leaders, and church community in experiencing belonging, justice, and love rooted in the liberation of Jesus. His favorite people include his wife (Hannah) and daughter (Lydia).
Matt Temple
(HE/HIM) Matt Temple is a church planter, Pastor, and coach who currently works co-vocationally as both Associate Director of New Church Starts for the North Texas Annual Conference and a local church pastor. In his role with North Texas his primary focus is on developing and supporting initiatives to establish new faith communities. He is passionate about helping leaders make meaningful connections between the gospel and their local context as they start new faith communities. In addition he gets to serve as the Pastor at Newstory Church in Chicago. Newstory is a fully affirming, multi-cultural faith community located in the Edgewater neighborhood in Chicago.