Image of Rev. Claudio CarvalhaesRev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes
Professor of Worship, United Theological Seminary, USA

Cláudio Carvalhaes, earth thinker, theologian, liturgist and artist, a native Brazilian, completed his Ph.D. in Liturgy and Theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 2007. He earned his first Master of Philosophy degree in Theology, Philosophy, and History at the Methodist University of Sao Paulo in 1997 and a Master of Divinity degree from the Independent Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Sao Paulo, Brazil) in 1992.

In the summer of 2016, Dr. Carvalhaes joined Union Theological Seminary in New York City as the Associate Professor of Worship. Previously, he taught at McCormick Theological Seminary, Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Carvalhaes is an ordained pastor within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Carvalhaes has preached at the Festival of Homiletics, Academy of Homiletics, Wild Goose Festival, Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry, Jubilee 800 Order of Preachers of the Dominican Order in Italy, Societas Liturgica in Belgium, Council of World Mission in Mexico, International Academy of Practical Theology in Brazil, at the Forum of Liturgics and Ethics at Hildesheim Germany and other places. He led worship for the All African Council of Churches in Mozambique, taught at the Global Institute of Theology of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and leads worship and teaches at the Hispanic Summer Program since 2013.


Photo of Padraig O'Tuama in black and white, smiling with hands claspedPádraig Ó Tuama
Theologian, conflict resolution mediator, and poet, Belfast, Ireland

Irish poet and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama’s work centers around themes of language, power, conflict and religion. He is the author of four books of poetry and prose: Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community, In the Shelter, Sorry for your Troubles, and Readings from the Books of Exile. He presents the podcast Poetry Unbound with On Being Studios, where he also has responsibilities in bringing art and theology into public and civic life. He is also the editor of the forthcoming anthology Poetry Unbound (2022), which expands on the On Being podcast and offers immersive reflections on fifty powerful poems. From 2014-2019 he was the leader of the Corrymeela Community, Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation community. He is based in Ireland.


Image of Dr. Kwok Pui LanDr. Kwok Pui Lan
Professor of Systematic Theology, Candler Theological Seminary, USA

Dr. Kwok Pui Lan serves on faculty at Candler Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA as the Dean’s Professor of Systematic Theology in 2020. named Faculty Person of the Year by the student body both years. Before coming to Candler, she served as the William F. Cole Professor of Christian Theology and Spirituality at Episcopal Divinity School. She has also taught  at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Auburn Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, and Yale Divinity School.

Kwok’s research focuses on Asian feminist theology and postcolonial theology. She has written or edited 23 books in English and Chinese, including Postcolonial Politics and Theology (Westminster John Knox, 2021); The Hong Kong Protests and Political Theology (Rowman and Littlefield, 2021); Occupy Religion: Theology of the Multitude (Rowman and Littlefield, 2012, with Joerg Rieger); Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology (Westminster John Knox, 2005); Introducing Asian Feminist Theology (Sheffield Academic Press, 2000); Discovering the Bible in the Non-Biblical World (Orbis Books, 1995); and Chinese Women and Christianity, 1860–1927 (Scholars Press, 1992). Her current research focuses on the practice of postcolonial theology.


Black and white image of Dr. Angel F. Méndez Montoya. Dr. Angel F. Méndez Montoya
Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico

Angel F. Mendez Montoya was born in Mexicali, BC, Mexico. He is a cooperating brother in the Order of Preachers (SouthernDominican Province, USA). He earned a BA in Dance and Philosophy from the University of Texas, Austin, TX; Master of Philosophy at St. Louis University; Master of Theology and Master of Divinities, in Aquinas Institute of Theology. He studied his doctorate in Philosophical Theology at the University of Virginia and wrote his doctoral thesis as a Scholar in Residence at the University of Cambridge, UK.

In 2009 his doctoral thesis was published by Wiley-Blackwell, in Oxford, under the title, The Theology of Food: Eating and the Eucharist. This work has been nominated for the Michael Ramsey Prize for theological excellence 2011, awarded by Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury. 

He currently resides in Mexico City. He is a full-time professor in the Department of Religious Sciences of the Universidad Iberoamericana Mexico City and was coordinator of the Fe y Culture of the same university. He teaches courses, seminars and conferences at various universities and academic institutes both in the country and abroad. He has published in several anthologies and in national and international magazines, among which are, Revista Christus, Anales de Antropología, New Black-Friars, Concillium, CrossCurrents, Wort Und Antwort, Modern Theology, The Bible InTransmission.


Holy Reclamation: Black Identity
During this 90-minute panel discussion, attendees will hear from a group of eclectic voices about how the powerful process in reclaiming the word “Black” within self-identity became a liberating, affirming, and necessary process in the formation of their spiritual and religious distinctiveness. In addition, a deep discussion about how the meaning and interpretation of the word “Black” has evolved, transforming generational interpretations of “Black” and “Blackness” as an affirmation for African descendants around the world.
The panelist include persons from their 20s to their 60s that reside in various places around the world (look out for their bios on the speaker page coming soon):
Rev. Brendan Boone
Lucia Chappelle
Rev. Denise Junious
Monika Lawrence
Rev Jide Macaulay
Rev. Paul Mokgethi-Heath
Chocolatté Miller
AhSa-Ti Tyehimba-Ford
Rev. Dr. Vennece Fowlkes, Panel Moderator