SPEAKER/LEADER BIOS
Barbara Moser, MD
Barbara Moser is a retired board-certified family practice physician who spent the majority of her 32 year medical career providing integrated medical and behavioral health care for college students. For the past 13 years, she has provided training and advocacy in the areas of emotional health and caring for persons impacted by suicide. Barbara is an active member of the Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee coalition, serves on the Executive Committee of WISE (Wise Initiative for Stigma Elimination), and is a board member of Giving Voice to Depression and the AB Korkor Foundation for Mental Health.
Barbara was introduced to the Mindful Self-Compassion Program in 2016. Barbara lives with her own depression and anxiety, and has found Mindful Self-Compassion practices to be key resources for her own emotional regulation and balance, as well as sustaining her compassion for others. In 2019, Barbara became a Mindful Self-Compassion instructor through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion in San Diego, and loves sharing these resources with individuals and organizations.
Rev. Jacki Belile
Jacki is the Founder and Director of Living Well Ministries, a nationwide spiritual coaching and consulting ministry. Ordained in 1999, she has served four congregations: Phoenix Community Church, Kalamazoo, MI (Sabbatical Pastor); Grace Baptist Church, Chicago, IL ; South Church, Mt. Prospect, IL (Sabbatical Pastor); and Eden United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL). Jacki has been a part of the Ministers Council of ABC-USA since seminary days in 1994 and has served on the Metro-Chicago Ministers Council Cabinet since 2013. She is the national Vice-President of the Ministers Council Leadership Team. She is a member of Lake Street Church of Evanston and lives in Chicago with her partner of 30 years. Her “living well” commitments include yoga, gardening, reading and- increasingly – a passion for dialogue encounters across political and religious difference.
Rev. Dr. Marcus Allen
Rev. Dr. Marcus Allen has been serving as pastor of Mt. Zion, Madison since October of 2016. He served honorably in the United States Army for over 10 years, completing three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University with a Masters’ of Divinity. Dr. Allen received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of a new book, I Got Next; 10 Essential Lessons for Effective Pastoral Transition. He is married to the former Terra Cook and God has blessed them with three beautiful children: Alexandrea, MeKiyah and Marcus Jr.
Rev. Kerri Parker
The Rev. Kerri Parker has served as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches since 2017. Under her leadership, the Council has become known nationwide for its leadership in faith-based COVID19 response. Kerri’s professional background includes serving as pastor of McFarland United Church of Christ (McFarland WI), and as Executive Director of YWCA Rock County, an organization with its roots in the social gospel and programs dedicated to peace, racial justice and women’s empowerment. She has also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ. She is a member of Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ. She is married to Shaun, a Naval Reserve chaplain, and has an adult daughter Becca, who is student at Ripon College and outdoor ministry staff member at Pilgrim Center.
Rev. Walter Lanier
Walter Lanier is finishing his 10th year as the pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church of Milwaukee. In addition to pastoring, he is an educational administrator, a lawyer, a mental health advocate and has a deep commitment to building and serving community in pursuit of the “beloved community” popularized by Dr. King based on justice, equal opportunity and love of one’s fellow human beings.
Thomasina Jenkins
Thomasina Jenkins is licensed in the state of Wisconsin as a Clinical Social Worker and certified as a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor and Independent Clinical Supervisor, specializing in assisting individuals who struggle with trauma, grief, and addiction. In 2012, she established Renewed Purpose, LLC, an organization that provides Christian counseling, increases the community’s awareness of mental health, and mentors aspiring Social Workers and Mental Health Clinicians. Thomasina believes that all people were created to have wellness of spirit, soul, and body.
Cathy Muro
Cathy Muro is Executive Director and co-founder of Our TreASures, Inc. where she supports families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorders and provides education to advocate for neurodiversity and help foster a more autism inclusive society. Cathy is a member of Immanuel Church-Brookfield where she leads Children’s Ministry and is part of the Worship Team. She is also on the ABC-WI Board of Managers and serves on the Program Committee.
Rev. Dr. Demetrius Williams
A native of Milwaukee, Dr. Williams has has over 30 years of ministerial experience. He has served as senior pastor of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Dorchester, MA from 1992-1996 and as interim pastor at the Beecher Memorial UCC church, New Orleans, LA from 2000-03. He has also served as a supply preacher for several churches in the New Orleans area. In his pursuit of higher education Dr. Williams received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Comparative Religion in 1986, a Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) in 1988 and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in 1990, both from Harvard Divinity School. He completed in 1997 a Doctor of Theology degree (Th.D.) also from Harvard Divinity School. Formerly an Associate Professor in the Department of Classical Studies and Director of the Religious Studies Program at Tulane University, New Orleans, he has also served as an Adjunct Professor in theology at Marquette University and at the Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Shawnee, KS) at its Wisconsin site. He currently teaches at UW-Milwaukee in the Comparative Literature department and in the Religious Studies program. He has published several books. Dr. Williams has been pastor of Community Baptist Church of Greater Milwaukee since January of 2009.
If you would like to take a look back at Annual Gathering 2020, “Glorious Transformation,” you can see videos of the different sessions by clicking HERE.