Building Bridges to Belonging
Curating Spaces of Loving Inclusion
Growing Faith and Seeking Justice in Community
Interactive Trainings & Skill-building Workshops
From "Dialogue Across Differences" and "Healthy Engagement in Diverse Communities" to "Thriving in Ministry as Reverent AND Relevant Congregations" - we're here to equip.
Visioning & Strategic Planning, Mission & Core Value Work
From mission, vision and core value clarity with strategic planning, asset mapping, goal setting, and matrix for evaluation to identifying barriers and accessible, achievable solutions - we're here to empower.
Restorative Justice, Peacebuilding, Conflict Mediation & Nonviolent Communication
From team building retreats and meeting facilitation to policy development and situational accompaniment - we're here to support.
Resource Development & Production
From customized prayers and liturgies to engaging and informative blogs, essays, articles, podcast appearances, and website/social media content - we're here to uplift.
About our Founder / Primary Resource Developer and Trainer
The Rev. Carla Christopher (she/they)
* is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) with standing in the United Church of Christ (UCC), a certified "redevelopment pastor" (Congregational Vitality Specialist), educator with the national leadership team for ELCA Evangelism, and primary curriculum developer and trainer for Racial Justice and LGBTQIA+ Cultural Competency with Kindling Faith at United Lutheran Seminary
* studied Psychology and Education at Columbia University, received a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from United Lutheran Seminary, a graduate certificate in Executive Leadership from Princeton Theological Seminary, and is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) with a focus in Community Engagement from United Lutheran Seminary
* is a former caseworker, community organizer - activist - educator, and inclusion trainer (and Poet Laureate of York, PA!) who currently serves on pastoral staff at Community Lutheran Church, a Reconciling (RiC/Open & Affirming) and unabashedly antiracist, progressive ​congregation and as the synodical coordinator for Justice Ministries in the Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA.
Communities We Have Supported in Loving Justice:
Faith-based Nonprofits
Living Lutheran Magazine, Sparkhouse Publishing, ELCA World Hunger, Sundays and Seasons, Faith+Lead, Faith@Home, Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, World Council of Churches, Stevenson School for Ministry (Episcopal Diocese of Central PA), Life Esteem Ministries, Parish Resource Center of Lancaster, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, ELCA Network Extravaganza, Lutheran Advocacy Ministries of PA, Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, ReconcilingWorks and more!
and Government Agencies
Pennsylvania Human Relations, City of York Human Relations, State of Maryland Department of Corrections, White Rose Community TV, Pennsylvania Commission of LGBTQ Affairs, Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, York County
9-1-1,
and more!
Community
Nonprofits
The New Poor People's Campaign, Put People First - PA, Y.W.C.A. of York, Lancaster, & Adams Counties, York & Adams County Library Systems, United Way of Franklin & York Counties, York County Cultural Alliance, Leadership York, York County History Center, Dreamwright’s Theatre, Theatre Arts for Everyone – York (TAFE), Louis Appell Center for the Performing Arts, Goggleworks (Reading, PA), Pennsylvania Poetry Society, LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania, Hanover Diversity Alliance, Hanover & Lancaster Prides, Rainbow Rose Center of York County, Wellspan Health Network, MD Food and Water Watch, Baltimore Theatre Project, The Pride Center of MD (formerly GLCCB), Baltimore Center Stage, Charm City Kitty Club, Creative Alliance (Maryland)
and more!
Colleges & Universities
Columbia University, Rutgers University, Penn State University, University of Texas, Arizona State University, University of Arizona, York College, Ringling College, United Lutheran Seminary, Luther Seminary, Wartburg Seminary, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
and more!
ELCA Synods
Pacific, Southwest California, Greater Milwaukee, Nebraska, Lower Susquehanna, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Northwestern Pennsylvania, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware-Maryland, Southeast Michigan, Metropolitan Chicago, Allegheny, Upper Susquehanna, Minneapolis Area, Southwest Texas, Southeastern, Northeastern Iowa, New Jersey
and more!
Our Mission
JoyBridge Consulting equips and empowers faith-based (interfaith celebrating, we're not just Lutherans or Christians over here!) and/or justice-desiring communities with peer-reviewed and evidence-based best practice strategies for inclusive, trauma-informed, and accessible action plans that provide tangible results through healthy process.
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We emphasize engaged and relational learning from those with lived experience, prayerful discernment, and commitment to sustainable healing actions that mitigate harm and address root causes to encourage systemic change!
