Plenary
Connally Gilliam, Special Counsel-Metro Mission, The Navigators, Washington D.C.
Ms. Connally Gilliam currently works in Washington, DC with The Navigators as a “Special Counsel” to the US National Metro Mission Director, helping to think about theology & culture, while helping to shape the ministry’s national vision. In her position, she brings theological and cultural input to the vision casting, direction setting, and communication of the National Metro Mission of 575 staff. Prior to this role, she spent five years co-developing and leading a pilot ministry, Career Corps, focused on 20-something, young professionals. Recently, Ms. Gilliam has begun to serve on the board of Regent College in Vancouver, BC where she also is pursuing her MA in Theological Studies.
In prior years, Ms. Gilliam has served as the Director of Foundation Relations for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Literature teacher in a public high school and a Writing instructor at the Lancaster Bible College—Center for Urban Theological Studies (CUTS) in Philadelphia, PA. It was at CUTS that Ms. Gilliam met and began discussing with Sherry Jones issues related to racial reconciliation. Ms. Gilliam’s dream is to see leaders from all cultures operate from the conviction that the joy of doing God’s work together would make the cost of it (facing the sin and shame that emerges—in ourselves and others) more than worth it. Together Connally and Sherry have spoken and/or consulted on the topic with churches in Philadelphia and Durham, NC, and for both regional Navigators events and the African-American Congress on Discipleship.
