Presenters

Rev. Dr. William Yoo is Associate Professor of American Religious and Cultural History at Columbia Theological Seminary. He has published books on African American Christianity, Asian American Christianity, Presbyterian history, and the histories of Indigenous rights activism and abolitionism in the United States. His book, What Kind of Christianity: A History of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism in the Presbyterian Church, received the 2023 Award of Excellence from the Religion Communicators Council. His most recent book is Reckoning with History: Settler Colonialism, Slavery, and the Making of American Christianity. He is presently conducting research for a book project on Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement.  

As a teacher, preacher, and scholar, Yoo focuses on the history of racism in American Christianity. Yoo is a professor and public theologian who interprets the most challenging and urgent issues of racial justice with clarity, depth, honesty, and precision. His conviction is that deeper engagement with history aids us in more faithful and effective participation in our present ministries exhibiting God’s love, justice, grace, and righteousness. When studying the development of Christianity in the United States, he is motivated to find both beautiful moments of awe-inspiring faith and ugly episodes where it is difficult to discern the divine presence. He is a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a member of Cherokee Presbytery. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Presbyterian Historical Society and presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Montreat Conference Center. William and his spouse, Sarah, a middle school educator in Atlanta Public Schools, reside in Decatur, Georgia with their two teenage children and two cats.  

Jen James (she/her) is on staff for NEXT Church as the Director of Programs and Operations, where she oversees NEXT Steps Coaching, Antiracism Coaching, Cultivated Ministry, and other initiatives. She is a facilitator, trained coach, and educator who loves working with congregations to help church leaders assess, realign, and strategically transform ministries. Jen is a trained coach, has extensive experience in group and team facilitation, and holds a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. When she’s not working in the church world, Jen is offering unsolicited political commentary, cheering on her twin boys at the pool or baseball/soccer fields, and conjuring up a new house project with her husband, who is a finance entrepreneur and Methodist pastor.

Charese Jordan Moore (she/her) is a Ruling Elder at Knox Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland. In that role, she is passionate about chairing Knox’s Mission and Community Engagement ministry. Her life’s mission is organizing people of faith to act on the values of their faith traditions – knowing that all religions value justice, which should include racial justice. Charese first became committed to dismantling racism in high school when she was elected to serve as the youth representative to the national board of the YWCA USA. Her commitment deepened when she joined Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) in 2004 as director of the Faithful Citizenship Project, an internship program that registered over 20,000 new voters. As Deputy Director, she spearheaded IWJ’s strategic planning efforts and coordinated the work of the organizing, public policy, and communications departments. After relocating to Baltimore in 2009, she led Community for Excellent Public Schools, a national coalition of local community organizations focused on school reform. Charese currently co-chairs the Presbytery of Baltimore’s Dismantling Racism Team and has served in many capacities on antiracism and social justice work at the synod and denominational level.

Rev. Jessie Lowry is the pastor at Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church in Annapolis, Maryland. A Prince George's County native, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Before coming to Christ Our Anchor, she worked as an Interfaith Chaplain at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, New York, where she helped develop a pastoral care program that served people of all faith backgrounds. Passionate about social justice, peace, and inclusive ministry, Rev. Lowry’s faith journey began in a youth group after being raised in a secular household, giving her a grounded, welcoming, and nonjudgmental approach to ministry.

Rourke Moore is a past Moderator of New Castle Presbytery and is a Commission Ruling Elder of New Castle Presbytery and Ruling Elder at Community Presbyterian Church. Throughout his decades of service, he has held numerous leadership roles within the church, including service on the Committee on Ministers and Congregations, chairing the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic’s Jubilee Grant Committee, and serving as a commissioner to the 224th General Assembly. He currently serves as a member of the Montgomery Anti-Racism Advocacy Group. Beyond his church involvement, Moore has dedicated his career to public service, working as a Management Analyst with the Delaware State Housing Authority, serving as a Delaware State Representative, and holding appointments on several state boards and commissions. A Wilmington, Delaware native, he holds degrees from Delaware State University and Clark Atlanta University and remains active in community advocacy, including anti-racism initiatives and nonprofit leadership. Moore is the father of two adult sons, Ian and Justin, and is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and a member of Star in the East Lodge #1 F.&A.M. PHA.