Summer Week Nine

Edward Donalson

Professor, author, thought coach, and multi-media personality, Rt. Rev. Edward Donalson III, DMin is a visionary with a dynamic message of empowerment. Born in Philadelphia, PA and cultivated in Seattle, WA as a bi-coastal youth, he developed a heart for diversity and an ability to navigate all socioeconomic, educational, and ethnic spheres. Traveling nationally as a guest lecturer, workshop clinician, and preacher since 1996, he is a constructive theologian with a liberative lens. His scholarship centers intersectional theology as an emerging discipline. With a Bachelor of Theology, a Masters of Art in Global Leadership and a Doctorate of Ministry. Dr. Donalson speaks a life affirming message to all people. The hallmarks of his work include an emphasis on combating imperialist, anti-Black, capitalists, cisheteropatriarchy. Dr. Donalson has authored several books: Moments of Worship; More Moments of Worship; THINK! Retooling Your Mind for Kingdom Success; THINK Again! The Roadmap to Kingdom Greatness; Unlocking the Genius Within: Essays on Greatness; Get Your Life: Affirmations, Inspirations, and Intentions, and In My Own Words; the Contemplative Life of a 21st Century Bishop, and is also the compiler of two anthologies: On Becoming and Yes I’m a Christian; a Practical Theology for an Emerging Generation. Dr. Donalson’s release on Cascade Books: #BlackLivesMatter: Toward an Intersectional Theology is foundational in the discipline of Intersectional Theology. Dr. Edward Donalson, III is the Director of Doctor of Ministry for the School of Theology and Ministry of Seattle University where he serves as core faculty, teaching in multiple degree programs. Currently serving as Senior Pastor of Kingdom Family Worship Center Int’l he is the Presiding Prelate of Freedom Assemblies Worldwide. He is the current Dean of The College of Affirming Bishops while concurrently serving as a Senior Bishop in the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries. Dr. Donalson is also the Bishop of Operations for the P.U.R.E. Ministries International Fellowship Churches and serves both on the Boards of The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and Faith Action Network. In his spare time Dr. Donalson is also a board member of Interconnected Justice: A Pan African world movement.

Wille B. Heard 

A native of Seattle, Wa, Minister Willie Heard is third generation Classical Pentecostal. From a legacy of Bishops and Pastors in the Pacific Northwest, he brings fresh energy to the ancient tradition. He serves the Kingdom Family Worship Center in various capacities and is the curator of www.faww.org. With a BS in Aviation (Minor in Religious Studies) from Central Washington University and a MA in Transformational Leadership from the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University, he is currently working on a MA in Counseling at Seattle University. His passion is for marginalized communities to create and sustain places of healing and wholeness while working to dismantle the hegemony. With an eye toward a more just and humane future, Willie speaks words of affirmation and challenges the hegemonic systems of oppression toward beloved communities.

Kendra Potter

Kendra Mylnechuk Potter (Lummi) is a theatre and film artist, birth+death doula, yoga educator, partner, and mother. Most of her work centers on the mother/child relationship and embodied storytelling, with an awareness that this precious human form is a sacred gift we get to keep learning through again and again. Since 2021, Kendra has delivered keynotes and Q&As at festivals and conferences around the world with “Daughter of a Lost Bird”, a documentary she co-produced and in which she is the protagonist, about being adopted out and reuniting with her birth mother and Lummi community. Through her company Sister Moon Wellness, she shares yoga and doula support, and runs a yoga teacher training and birth doula training. She lives with her husband and 2 children on Bitteroot Salish land in Missoula, MT.

Nic Peñaranda

Rev. Nicolette “Nic” (she/her) is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America serving as the Program Director for African Descent Ministries. Nic is the creator of MONadvocacy, a racial justice resource grounded in play, as well as the “Talks at the Desk” series which celebrates the voices of leaders in the ELCA African descent community. She is passionate about queer Black liberation, cultivating diverse leadership in faith spaces, and the art of creation. She is also the illustrator of God’s Holy Darkness, written by Sharei Green and Beckah Selnick (Beaming Books, 2022). She resides in the Chicagoland area with her spouse, two daughters, and two cats, Penne Pablo and Rigatoni Braxton.

Kristin Ang

Kristin Ang is a Filipino-American who grew up in Pierce County, Washington. She is the Policy Engagement Director for Faith Action Network, Port of Tacoma Commissioner, and Northwest Seaport Alliance Managing Member. She made history as the first person of color elected Port of Tacoma Commissioner, along with the historical endorsement of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. She is on the Port’s environmental, DEI, and tribal liaison committees. She is also on the executive board of the Central Puget Sound Economic Development District.

Tomo Duke

Tomo Duke is serving as an ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow at Faith Action Network in Washington state. She graduated with a M.Div. from Duke University Divinity School in May 2023. She has had varied experience in faith-based advocacy work, with a particular focus on immigration ministry including working with Church World Service, National Farm Worker Ministry, and a migrant shelter at the U.S.-Mexico border. She also served at a Hispanic/Latino congregation as a pastoral assistant and a youth ministry leader in North Carolina before moving to Seattle. She is originally from Japan and came to the U.S. when she was 16.

Billy Jonas

For over thirty years, Billy Jonas — performer, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator — has perfected the art of the neo-tribal hootenanny with audiences around the globe. Using voice, guitar, and industrial re-percussion, each concert is a soul-spelunking, heart-healing, joy-filled journey. He currently tours with the Billy Jonas Band, with Abraham Jam (Muslim-Christian-Jewish trio), and solo. The Billy Jonas Band was honored with an invitation to perform at the White House in 2010.