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 COMING SOON for 'Slave Catechism'

SLAVE CATECHISM is a new collection of poetry from Carla Christopher uplifting the complicated relationship between Christianity and slavery and features voices from the underground railroad to the Black Lives Matter movement.

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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. She specializes in areas of creative writing and storytelling, community-based advocacy and activism, survivor empowerment, trauma-informed care and mindfulness, diversity, and cultural competency.

Carla currently serves as Assistant to the Bishop in Charge of Justice Ministries, Lower Susquehanna Synod (south central PA region) and as a renewal pastor. She also writes regularly for Disrupt Worship, ELCA World Hunger, Sparkhouse, Faith@Home, 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 dogs, rabbit, and beloved goldfish.

Blog

Trauma-Informed Summer Programming for Youth Ministry

A tale of two confirmation camps, both planned and executed with the best of intentions. One group of caring youth leaders used a sensitive and

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Have a question, comment, want to work together, or want to book me? Use the form to get in touch!

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Testimonials

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.

Dan Powers, Member of Heidelberg UCC

When Carla preaches, doors open. Not just doors, but interior doors, closet doors, basement doors. Whether it's spontaneous or planned, scriptural or poetry, perhaps both, it's an invitation to personally examine and evaluate where you and your soul stand. Sometimes I feel in congruence, while at other times, challenged. Each time, a journey. And, I feel safe. I feel safe that that path I am following Carla on with all of it's traps and triggers in the end, will find me in a place of decision and direction. Carla's preaching gives us a beautiful metaphorical compass. One that empowers each and everyone of us to decide what needs to be done, and how much. And yet, Carla applies proper urgency to the continuum, and we find ourselves motivated to make heaven on Earth, knowing that we shall return for more. Carla is good for the mind, body and soul.

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.

Jade Darling

Carla Christopher doesn't just preach her beliefs from the pulpit she lives her convictions. Putting pen to paper is only one avenue she excells at bring her convictions to people. She has shown so many the path to finding their voice. Whether their through art or their activism or through their faith. She has shown people a way to make a difference & to find value in themselves.

Helen Knapp, York Area Poet & Elementary School Teacher

Cultural Competency, Poetry & Creative, Testimonials

Helen Knapp, York Area Poet & Elementary School Teacher

I just love the way Carla connects with people. Some people speak, some people lecture...Carla 'communicates'. There is a passion, a concern, an interest and a fascination in her every conversation. Whether it's mentoring children and young adults, talking openly with a class of college students or a reporter or performing on stage before a handful or a hundred - Carla has the same energy, enthusiasm and total engagement.

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.