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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Testimonials

Helen Knapp, York Area Poet & Elementary School Teacher
Pastor Pam Illick, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Carol Clark-Williams, Poet Laureate Emeritus of York
