Shalom Summit - Speakers: Rev. Dr. Erin Beasley and Rev. Dr. Michael Piazza

Shalom Summit is a gathering of people who desire to connect more deeply with their community and actualize the love of God in their neighborhood. Everyone is welcome and will be equipped for community transformation.

Featured speaker: Rev. Dr. Erin E. Beasley, pastor at The Vine UMC in Nashville, TN. Erin Beasley, co-author of “I’m Black, I’m Christian, I’m Methodist,” is an ordained elder of the United Methodist Church. She currently serves as the senior pastor of Burdette United Methodist Church in Memphis, TN and the chair of the Commission on Religion and Race for the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference. She has served in various ministry settings for 11 years. Erin is a graduate of Millsaps College (2010) where she obtained a Bachelor of Accountancy degree, with a minor in Music. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology (2014) and received her Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in 2020. Erin enjoys traveling, running, and playing Animal Crossing in her spare time.

Featured speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael S. Piazza is a spiritual visionary, author and social justice advocate who currently serves as Dean of the Cathedral of Hope, the world’s largest liberal Christian church with a primary outreach to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people. Under Rev. Piazza's courageous leadership, the Cathedral of Hope is making religious history by reclaiming Christianity as a faith of extravagant grace, radical inclusion and relentless compassion.

The Advocate magazine named Rev. Piazza one of the most influential people in the gay and lesbian movement (August 1999). He has five published books, Holy Homosexuals, Rainbow Family Values, Mourning to Morning and Growth or Death, and the recently published Queeries: Questions Lesbians and Gays have for God. Rev. Piazza and his partner Bill have been together since 1980 and have two daughters.

This event is Sponsored by the Transformational Communities Network (TCN), an initiative of the Rio Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Academy for Congregational & Community Transformation (ACCT). It will be held at SYNAGO at Travis Park.

Host or Publisher Abel Vega