John Burgess is a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (and a Presbyterian, of all things) who has spent years covering the revival of Orthodoxy in Russia.

The Rev. Dr. Karyn Wiseman is an associate professor of Homiletics at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. She blogs, and she also contributed a “preaching reflection” about the death of Michael Brown to Odyssey Networks.  

Valerie Bridgeman is a poet, dancer, and performer, and she serves as a visiting associate professor of Homiletics and Hebrew Bible at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. She also founded the WomanPreach! ministry. She contributed a “preaching reflection” about the death of Michael Brown to Odyssey Networks.  

Eric Barreto is an associate professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary. Among works he has authored, Barreto has written on ethnicity and race and their intersection with the Bible. He also contributed a “preaching reflection” about the death of Michael Brown to Odyssey Networks.  

Leah Gunning Francis is associate dean for contextual education and assistant professor of Christian education at Eden Theological Seminary. She is based in St. Louis and was present in Ferguson, Mo., during the unrest in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death.