The keynote speaker for the 2023 Leadership Academy is Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray:
Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray serves as the Director for Justice and Advocacy Ministry with Disciples Home Missions, where his work seeks to empower Disciples to use our voices and our actions to promote greater justice and mercy. He also serves in a part-time capacity as Director for Mission Support & The Peace Intern Program with Disciples Peace Fellowship, where he has been responsible for strengthening connections with the church while equipping young adults as ambassadors for peace and justice. Prior to his current roles, he served for seven years as Senior Minister at First Christian Church in Scottsdale, AZ, where he was a transformational leader who helped revitalize the congregation for mission and ministry. Rev. Frederick-Gray has extensive experience participating with, and providing leadership to, organizations that do justice and advocacy work. He is a co-facilitator for the Disciples Justice Ministries Working Group; he previously served as part of the Arizona Faith Leaders Public Policy Working Group; he was president of the founding board of Arizona Interfaith Power and Light; and he has served as a Political Fellow with the Center for Progressive Leadership. Brian lives in Cambridge, MA with his wife (the Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray), their 17-year-old son (Henry), and their puppy (Hercules).