The Academy of Preachers is a fresh initiative, underwritten by the Lilly Endowment, designed to identify, network, inspire, and support young people who sense a call to Christian preaching.

David R Thomas, Doctoral Student, University of Bristol (and formerly Pastor, Centenary United Methodist Church) Lexington KY

Mary Seeger Weese, Pastor, Midway Presbyterian Church, Midway KY

Mike Reed, Pastor, Fishers United Methodist Church, Fishers IN

David Emery, Pastor, Middletown Christian Church, Middletown KY

Richard Gaines, Pastor, Consolidated Missionary Baptist Church, Lexington KY

Heather Daugherty, Director of Church Services, Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville TN

Tom Smith, Director of Ministerial Services, Kentucky Conference, United Methodist Church, Crestwood KY

Don Gillett, Pastor, East Second Street Christian Church, Lexington KY

Gwendolyn Brown-Felder, Director of the Wesley Foundation, Fisk University, and Pastor, Ernest Newman United Methodist Church, Nashville TN

T. Vaughn Walker, Pastor of First Gethsemene Baptist Church, Louisville KY and WMU Professor of Christian Ministries and Professor of Black Church Studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville KY

Martin Linebach, Associate Pastor, Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville KY

Lawrence Carter, Dean of the Chapel, Morehouse College, Atlanta GA