Reporter
CurrentBeat: I cover innovation & trends in mainline Protestant ChristianityApproach: I focus on new models, experiments & scaling of solutions to common challenges in congregational lifeTopics: new staffing & revenue models; part-time clergy; equipping laity for ministry; empowering communities; strategic repurposing of assets.Roles: Correspondent for The Living Church (TLC), Religion News Service (RNS) and The Christian Science Monitor (TCSM)Early milestones: First full-time reporting job: Goldsboro News-Argus (1993-94) First statewide beat: Covered the Vermont Statehouse for Burlington Free Press (1995-96)Notable assignments: For USA Today, I covered the Boston Marathon bombing & death penalty trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. For USAT, I covered the federal trial of Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger. For TCSM, I covered the Sandy Hook massacre and church-led efforts to heal Newtown. For RNS, I covered the 9/11 attacks and faith-based responses. Editorship:For RNS, I served as Interim Editor-in-Chief during a four-month EIC search in 2018Awards: Won 19 national awards for religion reporting, including Templeton Award for US Religion Reporter of the Year.Grants:Knight Fellowship: $20,000 Grant for Reporting on Religion in American Public Life led to seven national stories about faith-based mentoring for children of prisoners.BTS Center Compass Grant: $20,000 for reporting on congregations thriving with part-time clergy led to six national stories, a book & four years of learning facilitation programs across the US and Canada. Bylines: TIME magazineThe New York Times The Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe Magazine The Christian Science Monitor USA TodayThe Christian CenturyChristianity TodayThe Living Church
