Carla is an award-winning author, public speaker, and workshop facilitator / trainer in areas of advocacy and activism, community engagement, survivor empowerment, diversity, and cultural competency.

Ministry

Carla is an ordained redevelopment/congregational vitality pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

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PREORDER Slave Catechism

Available now for preorder, (signed copies ship October 1, 2020) BLACK CATECHISM is a new collection of poetry from Carla Christopher from Local Gems Press, Long Island, NY.

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Poetry & Creative

Carla was the 4th Poet Laureate of York, PA and has toured the globe as a performer.

Cultural Competency

Carla is an award-winning author, public speaker, and workshop facilitator / trainer in areas of advocacy and activism, community engagement, survivor empowerment, diversity, and cultural competency.

Ministry

Carla is an ordained redevelopment/congregational vitality pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

About Carla

Carla Christopher (she/her/hers) is a poet-activist, cultural competency trainer, and ordained redevelopment/congregational vitality pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) – one of the first out LGBTQ Black women ordained in her denomination. 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 in areas of creative writing and storytelling, advocacy and activism, community engagement, survivor empowerment, diversity, and cultural competency.

Carla currently serves as Associate Pastor of Outreach and Faith Formation at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Lancaster and co-chair of the Toward Racial Justice Task Force of Lower Susquehanna Synod. She is a congregational coach with L.S.S.’s Transformational Ministries Team and blogs regularly for Disrupt Worship, Reconciling Works, Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries and others.

When not preaching and teaching, Carla co-facilitates a peer-support group for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, moonlights with the poetry-funk fusion band, Groove Ink, and shamelessly spoils her spoiled Great Pyranees dog and beloved goldfish.

Blog

“A Deeper Love”; A Pride Devotional

I love Aretha Franklin and I loved writing this Pride Month devotional for the LGBTQIA+ Lutheran organization, Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. The original post can be

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Testimonials

Carol Clark-Williams, Poet Laureate Emeritus of York

Poetry & Creative, Testimonials

Carol Clark-Williams, Poet Laureate Emeritus of York

Poetry falls naturally from Carla's lips and flows from her pen to paper. She infuses language with power and beauty. Her poetry is spontaneous, open, evocative; her performances of poetry are joyous and charismatic. She has strongly promoted poetry, music and visual arts through every available method of communication in South Central PA, offering many opportunities for expression to novices and accomplished artists.

Pastor Pam Illick, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

I am happy and honored to tell you about my colleague, Carla Christopher. Her work in diversity training is so Christ centered. She is firm in her convictions and always speaks the truth with kindness and respect. I appreciate Carla’s wisdom and her approach to the scriptures. As a person learning how to be an ally for my siblings of color and those in the LGBTQIA+ community, Carla’s coaching and teaching encourages me to be a better listener and to see Christ in all people. I feel safe sharing my feelings and thoughts with Carla because I know that she is listening and that she will speak the truth to me in ways that help me to let go of the negative systemic messages I have been conditioned to believe are true. Her writing speaks a reality that touches my heart and moves me to become a better, more open person.

Sydney CH Benson, Esquire, Benson Legal Services

Challenging in love is what Carla Christopher does. She can confront someone with clear bias or racism in their heart with a compassion that overcomes, not only the individual holding bias, but those within the same space of the confrontation. Her words are carefully chosen and delicately delivered. Yes, she wants to change people views on racism and bias. More than that, she wants to create an atmosphere of unity and connectedness creating an unstoppable diverse team of compassion ninjas, loving people to change and preparing people for battle.

Daina Savage – Former Poet Laureate of Lancaster County and Curator of the Theatre of the Seventh Sister Spoken Word Festival

Poetry & Creative, Testimonials

Daina Savage – Former Poet Laureate of Lancaster County and Curator of the Theatre of the Seventh Sister Spoken Word Festival

Carla is a mesmerizing performer, an inspired organizer, and a galvanizing force for poetry in the region. She invites every voice to the table in such a supportive, magnanimous way that it is impossible to resist.

Christine Lincoln – 5th Poet Laureate of York, PA, Random House Author & O Magazine ‘Phenomenal Woman’

Poetry & Creative, Testimonials

Christine Lincoln – 5th Poet Laureate of York, PA, Random House Author & O Magazine ‘Phenomenal Woman’

Carla Christopher is a poetic tornado, a veritable force that has forever altered the landscape of poetry, spoken word, and the artistic community here in York, PA. Except , instead of devastation, in Carla’s wake minds are opened, spirits renewed, hope restored, passions are reignited. . . Carla rains down love; everyone who comes in contact is saturated to the bone.

Pastor Tanya Brubaker

Carla has been inspiring me with her work since she was poet laureate for the City of York. She has been committed to being a voice for the marginalized through her work with many organizations. Carla revived Juneteenth celebrations in our community, educates organizations such as ELCA and non-profits locally and nationally. Persons from LGBTQIA+, black, Hispanic and other communities whose voices have long been silenced can find hope, encouragement and truth in Carla's writings.