Author: 1stexistentialist

“Dialogue across Difference: Healing the world one conversation at a time”

McKenzie Wren is a skilled facilitator who honors the power of community to solve its own problems. Her particular areas of focus are helping businesses and non-profits create cultures of collaboration and inclusion. Through her independent practice called Culture on Purpose, McKenzie helps groups and organizations increase their sense of community specifically by assisting with communication flow and increasing engagement. She brings an asset-based approach to all that she does and uses collaborative and participatory tools to make sure all voices are heard. She excels in helping teams and coalitions thrive by supporting participants in creating shared vision and processes. Underlying all of her work is a commitment to social justice and racial equity. Her work around diversity, inclusion and equity is rooted in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s expression of the Beloved Community.

McKenzie earned her master’s degree from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health where she also taught students on leadership and community engagement. She is VP of membership of the Southeast Association of Facilitators, Director of Education at National Association of Women Business Owners and President of Congregation Bet Haverim where she also sings in the chorus. She is passionate about her family, gluten free chocolate chip cookies and her electric bicycle.

• Facilitator: Robert Stewart
• Musician: William Chelton

“What Shall We Remember? The Past, the Present, and Our Quest for Self”

Anthony Knight is the President & CEO of The Baton Foundation—a Georgia nonprofit organization that serves the emotional, intellectual and cultural needs of Black boys in grades five through nine. Before founding the Foundation, Mr. Knight worked for twenty-two years as a museum educator and consultant. Mr. Knight has extensive experience with and interest in African American history and culture, public and living history, informal education and Black youth. Mr. Knight’s work with The Baton Foundation reflects his ongoing interest in the issues and practices related to the collecting, preservation and interpretation of information about and material culture from the African Diaspora. Mr. Knight’s undergraduate work was in Spanish and English (Ohio Wesleyan University), and his graduate work was in museum education (The George Washington University). Mr. Knight also holds a degree in Spanish-to-English translation from the Núcleo de Estudios Lingüísticos y Sociales, Caracas, Venezuela. Mr. Knight is a New York City native.

• Facilitator: Rev. Marsha Mitchiner
• Musician: William Chelton

“The Stranger”

Franklin Abbott has been a practicing psychotherapist in Atlanta for nearly forty years. He is also a poet, musician, community organizer and amateur oral historian. His connection to the Congregation and Old Stone Church goes back more than 40 years to early urban radical faery gatherings held in the sanctuary before First E became its steward. He has spoken at First E many times, performed music and poetry there, and coordinated events and memorials.

• Facilitator: Lorraine Fontana
• Musician: Susan Ottzen

“Using Now to Move Through”

*Existentialist Discussion Group to follow the Celebration of Life*

• Facilitator: Jan Lister
• Musician: Dr. Jean Heinrich

“Making Amends”

Reverend Joan Armstrong Davis is a Unitarian Universalist minister and religious educator having served congregations in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Wisconsin.  She is a 1989 graduate of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University where she returned in 2003 for a residency in pastoral care at Emory University Hospital.  

Joan currently serves the Northwest Unitarian Universalist congregation in Sandy Springs, GA as their Affiliated Community Minister where she facilitates the work of their lay led pastoral care ministry team.  

• Facilitator: D. Patton White
• Musician: Kathy McGuire

“When Men Stop Fighting: My Memories of a Pacifist”

Dr. Jon Herman is an associate professor of religious studies at Georgia State University, where he teaches classes in Asian religion, comparative mysticism, and critical theory in the study of religion. He is the author of Taoism for Dummies, and several articles on topics such as interfaith dialogue, contemporary conceptions of “spirituality,” Holocaust studies, religious studies and public education, environmentalism, Neo-Confucian mysticism, and the late science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin. He is currently researching for a book on the Jewish existentialist author Martin Buber’s unpublished lectures on the Taoist classic, the Tao Te Ching.

Jon’s wife Ellen has recently retired as the coordinator of Threshold Ministry, an organization providing assistance to the homeless and those suffering other effects of poverty. She had previously worked in religious education, and university, prison, and hospital chaplaincy. Jon and Ellen are the parents of two daughters, both adopted from China.

• Facilitator: Rev. Marsha Mitchiner
• Musician: Alan Dynin

“Existentialism and Spiritedness”

Dr. Jean Heinrich is a founding member of our Existential Congregation. She works as a musician, a clinical psychologist, a philosopher and producer of the arts, creating and carrying out trash. She is inspired by Søren Kierkegaard who wrote, “To dare is to lose ones footing momentarily; to not dare is to lose oneself;” and by Harry Emerson Fosdick, who said, “Nothing else matters much – not wealth, nor learning, nor even health – without this gift: the spiritual capacity to keep zest in living.”

• Facilitator: M. Charlene Ball
• Musician: Mick Kinney
• Special Acrobat/Dancer: Rose Shield

Rose Shields is from Atlanta, GA and is working with Core Dance as a Dance Artist. She also is an acrobat and aerial artist working with local Atlanta circuses. She loves experimenting with different movement and performance styles to create and perform thoughtful, fun, and enticing work.

“Embracing Your Life’s Story”

Rev. Kim Sorrells is a graduate of Candler School of Theology (Emory University) and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. They are now beginning a position with Atlanta Pride as the Programs and Partnership Manager and will be continuing ministry part time within the UCC. Prior to joining Atlanta Pride, Kim served as Georgia Field Organizer for Reconciling Ministries Network, focusing on faith-based advocacy around Georgia laws affecting the LGBTQ community. Kim has also served in local congressional, as Minister for Spiritual Formation and Youth at Saint Mark UMC, and as a hospital chaplain. They have worked in homeless services through their time in Americorps. Kim has special interest in using spirituality and contemplative practices to equip us with the inner peace to be justice makers in the world. Kim is also a Registered Yoga Teacher and draws on this and other spiritual traditions to inform their ministry.

• Facilitator: Robert Stewart
• Charli Vogt