Center for Continuous Learning

Rev. Dr. Phaedra D. Blocker is a preacher, teacher, consultant, spiritual director and retreat leader, and singer. Founder and Principal of The Blocker Group, LLC, she is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations (particularly clergy and congregations) to move toward wholeness and actualize their potential as agents of change and shalom in the world. She is also the Founder and President of the Center for Clergy & Congregational Wellness, a nonprofit organization that empowers ministry leaders to facilitate health and wholeness in themselves, their ministry contexts, and their adjacent communities. In addition, she serves as Affiliate Professor in Leadership & Formation at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University, where she teaches in the Seminary’s Master's and Doctoral programs, as well as in the University's Marriage and Family Therapy Doctoral program. She also serves as a Visiting Professor at Northern Theological Seminary. Her 20-plus years of pastoral ministry experience includes serving both large and small congregations, and she has more than 30 years’ experience in program and organizational development, management, community relations, communications and marketing. She earned a B.A. in Communications from Temple University, a Master of Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer), a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Transformation from Northern Theological Seminary and has done clinical training in marriage and family therapy at the Council for Relationships.

Rev. Jennifer M. Stewart, RN, PhD, MDiv, MFT, is Director for Healing and Transforming Communities with American Baptist Home Mission Societies. She is also President and Founder of Restore Development and Consulting which provides consulting, coaching, counseling and curriculum design services to accelerate change ensure the vitality of churches and faith-based organizations. Restore leverages research and expertise in individual and organizational development, change, and sustainability with ministry, leadership, discipleship and spiritual formation experience to ensure that churches and faith-based organizations achieve their vision.