Poetry & Creative

"Artist-activist" Carla Christopher was York, Pennsylvania's fourth Poet Laureate and has toured the globe as a performer and workshop leader. Author of poetry collections; Song, Baby Read Me Something with Rhythm, Made in York, Flowers from A Black Garden, and Slave Catechism, Carla weaves cultural storytelling and history with lyrical and evocative imagery. From written or performance poetry to lively and interactive shows with her funk fusion band, Groove Ink, Carla's original and commissioned work delight in relevant and inspiring ways/

Cultural Competency

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging coach and trainer, Carla Christopher, is an award-winning curriculum designer, dialogue facilitator, restorative justice moderator and public speaker for nonprofits and organizations. Carla specializes in areas of Racial Justice, LGBTQIA+, Disability Inclusion, general cultural competence, and community-based advocacy. She partners with community-oriented clients to create customized trainings, conduct equity audits, utilize restorative justice mediation in times of challenge or crisis, and develop inclusion-based strategic plans.

Ministry

The Reverend Carla Christopher is an ordained congregational vitality pastor who holds dual standing in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the United Church of Christ (UCC). A certified interfaith crisis and trauma chaplain, Carla is also a liturgy and content creator for multiple national faith-based organizations. A "Growing Young" certified trainer and member of the ELCA national Congregational Vitality Leadership Team, Carla has supported multiple congregations engaging in renewed ministry and increased community engagement through long-term "vision and action" residencies.

About Carla

Carla Christopher (she/her/hers) is a poet-activist, cultural competency trainer, and ordained congregational vitality pastor with dual standing in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the United Church of Christ (UCC). Carla was the 4th Poet Laureate of York, PA and has toured the globe as a performer, multiply published and award-winning author, public speaker, and workshop facilitator / trainer. She specializes in areas of community-based advocacy and activism, trauma-informed care and mindfulness, cultural competency and creative storytelling.

Carla currently serves as Assistant to the Bishop in Charge of Justice Ministries, Lower Susquehanna Synod (south central PA region) and on the pastoral teams for Heidelberg United Church of Christ in York, PA. She is adjunct faculty for the Stevenson School for Ministry, Lancaster Parish Resource Center, and United Lutheran Seminary Kindling Faith Institute and writes regularly for Disrupt Worship, Living Lutheran, ELCA World Hunger, Sparkhouse, Sundays and Seasons and others.

When not preaching and teaching, Carla is a commissioner on the Pennsylvania Commission for LGBTQ Affairs and the York City Human Relations Commission, moonlights with the poetry-funk fusion band, Groove Ink, and shamelessly spoils her dog, a Great Pyranees named Bishop Winnie Mandela Love Christopher.

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