The Rev. Carla Christopher (she/they) is a rostered Minister of Word and Sacrament (ordained pastor) with standing in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and United Church of Christ (UCC). She is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility/Belonging (DEIA/B) Trainer with specialties in Racial / LGBTQIA2S+ / Economic Justice, Trauma-informed Care, Survivor Empowerment, and Restorative Justice Practice and is the primary curriculum developer and trainer for Racial Justice and LGBTQIA2S+ Cultural Competency with the Kindling Faith Institute at United Lutheran Seminary. A certified vital congregation specialist (mission developer/redeveloper), Carla also serves as the primary curriculum developer and project coordinator for “Thriving in Ministry”, the national ELCA congregational vitality and evangelism training program. Carla currently serves as Assistant to the Bishop for Justice Ministries with Lower Susquehanna Synod, ELCA (Central Pennsylvania region &Delaware-Maryland Synod), and regularly offers consulting support to nonprofits, schools & universities, and faith-based organizations developing community engagement strategic plans.


A writer, poet & performer, and former Poet Laureate of York, PA (2011-2014) Carla is a sought-after writer and content creator. having been featured in Living Lutheran, Sparkhouse, ELCA World Hunger, Sundays and Seasons, Faith+Lead, Faith@Home, Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, World Council of Churches, and many other faith-based publications. A deep believer in the healing power of storytelling and creative expression, Carla founded and served as co-director of PoemSugar Press/Community Arts Ink which published more than 50 books by marginalized poets and authors over 5 years, hosted ‘Culture & Main; York County’s Cultural Showcase‘ on WRCTV for 7 years which profiled 1,000+ artists and community activists, produced and hosted multiple poetry and spoken word venues and conferences, and wrote the “OUT & About” LGBTQ Lifestyle column for the York Dispatch newspaper for 2 years. She published multiple collections of poetry, contributed to dozens of poetic periodicals and anthologies, released albums with the ensembles ‘SoulThief’ and ‘Poetic Voices’, and served as a resident teaching artist with York County Library, York County School Districts, the Crispus Attucks YouthBuild program, Creative York, Dreamwright’s Theatre, and the Louis Appell Center for the Performing Arts. Carla has also been a featured guest artist-lecturer at venues such as the Baltimore Theatre Project and multiple colleges and universities across the country.

Before entering the doctoral ministry program at United Lutheran Seminary in 2024 with a focus in Evangelism, Carla received a graduate certificate in Ministerial Leadership from “Iron Sharpening Iron”, a program of Princeton Theological Seminary, and graduated with honors from United Lutheran Seminary’s MDiv Program. Carla previously studied Psychology, Education, and Creative Writing at Columbia University in the City of New York (1996-2000) and served her communities as a case manager and community activist-educator with organizations such as the YWCA, Food+Water Watch, State of Maryland Prison System, and Put People First-PA for 15 years. She has been serving communities as an ordained pastor since 2020.

Carla has been joyfully honored to receive the key to York City twice for her community education initiatives, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Life Esteem Ministries, the FAB Lifetime Achievement Award from the LGBTQ Center of Central Pennsylvania, the York County Community Impact Award from the Rainbow Rose LGBTQ+ Center, the Dorie Leader Community Advocate Award from the York YWCA, a certificate of achievement from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the York City Human Relations Commission, was named a Community Advocate of the Year by the York Daily Record in 2022, and received the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award from United Lutheran Seminary in 2024.

 

Carla’s history of community advocacy and service include:

 

Training and consulting sponsoring organizations include:

  • Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
  • Y.W.C.A. of York, Lancaster, & Adams County, PA
  • York & Adams County Library Systems
  • United Way of Franklin & York Counties
  • York County Cultural Alliance
  • Hanover Pride
  • Hanover Diversity Alliance
  • Lutheran Outdoor Ministries
  • The Network (Extravaganza Mainstage)
  • Stevenson School of Ministry
  • Parish Resource Center – Lancaster, PA
  • ELCA Synods: Pacific, Southwest California, Greater Milwaukee, Nebraska, Lower Susquehanna, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Northwestern Pennsylvania, Delaware-Maryland, Southeast Michigan, Metropolitan Chicago, Allegheny, Upper Susquehanna, Minneapolis Area, Southwest Texas,  and Southeastern.
  • Colleges & Universities:  Rutgers, Penn State, University of Texas, Arizona State, University of Arizona, York College, and Ringling College

 

Carla’s full-length books and recordings include:

  • Song (2000)
  • Baby, Read Me Something with Rhythm (2011)
  • Made In York; Poems from York’s Poet Laureate (2015)
  • Addicted to Relapse (2018)
  • Slave Catechism (2024)
  • Of Water Born with the ensemble Poetic Voices (2015)
  • Poetry from the Ashes with Soul Thief Collective (2017)  

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