Center for Continuous Learning

Rev. Kathryn Palen serves as associate executive minister for elder care ministries for the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island. In that role, she has innovated programs and resources for people navigating the third third of life and those walking alongside them, After a first career as a journalist, she has served congregations in Rhode Island, Iowa, Washington, D.C., Kentucky, and Connecticut. She also has worked for the Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty, Alban Institute, and several educational institutions. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University and a master of divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School. She is working on a graduate certificate in spiritual direction at Saint Meinrad School of Theology.

The Reverend Betty Wright-Riggins is an American Baptist ordained minister. She is the Principal (CEO) of TrustOne Ministries, a ministry of Spiritual Direction/ Spiritual Formation, Church Consultancy and Congregational Transformation.  She currently serves as Chaplain and Director of Religion and Spiritual Life at Ursinus College. She is adjunct professor at Eastern University, teaching Christian Spirituality. She is a spiritual director on staff at the Middleton Counseling Center in Bryn Mawr, PA and provides spiritual direction at the Common Place in Philadelphia, PA. Rev. Betty has lectured and was facilitator of practice at Oasis Ministry for Spiritual Development.  She was spiritual director to staff and students at Princeton Theological Seminary. Rev. Betty served as lead pastor cohort facilitator in partnership with the Lilly Endowment Inc. and Mission Seminary. The partnership emphasized the enhancement and enrichment spiritual practice, wellness and collegial relationships for pastors ministering in the urban context of Philadelphia.  She is a contributor to the recently published book, “Kaleidoscope: Broadening the Palette in the Art of Spiritual Direction,” and the classic, “Those Preaching Women, Volume 1." She often teaches and lectures in the areas of spiritual direction practice, spiritual formation, spiritual disciplines and African American Spirituality. Rev. Betty engages an active spiritual director practice and leads retreats. She is a founding member of Rhythms of the Spirit, a spiritual formation retreat experience for laypersons and clergy. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of American Baptist Women in Ministry (American Baptist Churches, USA). Rev. Betty is married to the Rev. Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins, Mayor of Collegeville, PA. They have three adult children and three grandchildren. They are raising their college-age granddaughter and her beloved dog Paisley. 

The Rev. Cody J. Sanders, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Congregational and Community Care Leadership at Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, MN. An ordained Baptist minister, Cody was previously pastor of Old Cambridge Baptist Church in Cambridge, MA, and American Baptist Chaplain to Harvard University. He has published a number of books, including, Corpse Care: Ethics for Tending the Dead (Fortress, 2023), and Spiritual Care First Aid: An All-Hands Approach for Church and Community (Fortress, 2025).