The Team
Founder / CEO REVEREND DR. C. ANTHONY HUNT
Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt is the Founder, CEO, and Managing Director of the Baltimore Institute for Urban Leadership. He is responsible for overseeing the project’s planning, design, and implementation with the aim of developing transformational leaders serving in urban ministry contexts across North America and the Caribbean.
He is the Senior Pastor of Epworth Chapel United Methodist Church in Baltimore, MD, and is also appointed as the Supervising Pastor of the Beloved Community Cooperative Parish in Baltimore, which is comprised of Epworth Chapel, Sharp Street Memorial, and Martin Luther King Memorial United Methodist Churches. He is a former District Superintendent in Baltimore, serving in that role from 2004-2012. During this time, he was the founding superintendent of the Baltimore Metropolitan District while also serving as Executive Director of Hope for the City, an urban initiative to strengthen churches and communities in Baltimore.
He teaches Urban Ministry and Transformational Leadership in several academic and ecclesial settings. He is Professor of Systematic, Moral, and Practical Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, where he is a Permanent Dunning Distinguished Lecturer, and he is Professor of Practice, Black Church, and Wesleyan Studies at Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA. He also teaches at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, OH, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN, and the Graduate Theological Foundation, Sarasota, FL, where he is a Faculty Fellow and the E. Franklin Frazier Professor of African-American Studies.
A graduate of the University of Maryland (BA in Economics), he holds advanced degrees from Troy University (MBA), Wesley Theological Seminary (MDiv.), Bethel Theological Seminary and University (DMin. in Transformational Leadership), and the Graduate Theological Foundation, in affiliation with the University of Oxford, UK (DMin. and Ph.D. in Theological Studies. He has also completed the Executive Leadership Program at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK, and post-doctoral studies at Harvard University and Princeton University. Among other awards, in recognition of his service to the church and academy, he is an inductee into both the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers and Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA.
Our Team
Rev. Dr. William Butler
Rev. Dr. William Butler is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to Maryland at an early age. He presently serves as Senior Pastor of Queens Chapel United Methodist Church in Beltsville, MD. He retired in 2018 with 41 years of service as a U.S. Army Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel. Dr. Butler was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System and graduated from Harford Technical High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophical Theology from Coppin State University in 1996 and his Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. in 2001. He completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio December 2019. His dissertation is entitled “A Model for Congregational Unity for the Purpose of Developing Disciples.”
Min. Shawn Elbert
Min. Shawn Elbert has over 25 years of experience serving in the human services and education fields. He has served as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Spiritual Life Coordinator, and Program Director for youth residential settings, and currently serves as the Program Support Coordinator for a non-public school in Baltimore County, MD. He has over 15 years of experience designing and facilitating training for educators and local school districts, residential youth facilities, county and state programs, the Baltimore City Housing Authority, and community-based organizations. His area of expertise is trauma awareness and prevention, and he is a certified Trauma Informed Care Trainer Instructor with the Child Welfare Trauma Training Toolkit (CWTTT) and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).
Dr. Deborah Haskins
Dr. Deborah Haskins is a retired Counselor Educator (25 years) and has close to 40 years of experience as a professional counselor with expertise in cultural humility, health equity, social justice-attuned services, community wellness, and advocacy. She received her Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling (Loyola College, Maryland), Dr. Haskins is a national/international gambling disorders leader/specialist and Master Addictions Counselor. She specializes in trauma, including homicidal trauma, and expands community wellness to faith/spiritual communities. Dr. Haskins is a Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University and founder of MOSAIC Consulting and Counseling Services. She is an active laity for the Baltimore-Washington United Methodist Church.
Rev. Rodney Hudson
Rev. Rodney Hudson is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, and currently serves as senior pastor of the Resurrection West Cooperative Parish, comprised of Ames Memorial United Methodist Church, Metropolitan United Methodist Church, and the Ames Community of Shalom (CDC) in Baltimore, MD. An Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, Rev. Hudson is a graduate of the College of Charleston, Virginia Union University (Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology), and the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.
Rev. Dr. Rachel Livingston
A third-generation minister, Rev. Dr. Rachel Livingston is a provisional elder in the United Methodist Church and currently serves as the Pastor of Congregational Care at National United Methodist Church. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University and a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. A scholar, Dr. Livingston completed her Doctor of Ministry at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, in May 2022. Her research explores connecting to young adults and communities through activism and community organizing. She is devoted to issues that seek out justice and build the Beloved Community that is rooted in the love of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Dr. Terri K. Williams
Rev. Dr. Terri K. Williams is the pastor of the Crossroads Charge, a two-point charge in Baltimore, MD, consisting of Milford Mill UMC and Salem UMC of Hebbville. A graduate of Coppin State University, Loyola University of Maryland, St. Mary’s Seminary and University, and Wesley Theological Seminary, Rev. Williams earned her Doctor of Ministry in 2024 from United Theological Seminary after defending her doctoral dissertation: “A Model for Radical Inclusivity in Multicultural and Multi-church Contexts.” As a King Scholar, Rev. Williams believes that creating the Beloved Community through radical hospitality and inclusivity is the key to creating impactful change within congregations. The greatest example of Christian love the church can give is sharing with everyone willingly, lovingly, and openly.
Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt
Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt is the Founder/CEO of the Baltimore Institute for Urban Leadership and the Managing Director of Hope for the City: Transforming Urban Leaders. He is the Senior Pastor of Epworth Chapel United Methodist Church in Baltimore, MD, and is also appointed as the Supervising Pastor of the Beloved Community Cooperative Parish in Baltimore, which is comprised of Epworth Chapel, Sharp Street Memorial, and Martin Luther King Memorial United Methodist Churches. He serves on the faculties of St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Gammon Theological Seminary, Wesley Theological Seminary, United Theological Seminary, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN, and the Graduate Theological Foundation, Sarasota, FL. A graduate of the University of Maryland (BA in Economics), he holds advanced degrees from Troy University (MBA), Wesley Theological Seminary (MDiv.), Bethel Theological Seminary and University (DMin. in Transformational Leadership), and the Graduate Theological Foundation, in affiliation with the University of Oxford, UK (DMin. and Ph.D. in Theological Studies. He has also completed Executive Leadership Programs at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK and Harvard University, and post-doctoral studies at Princeton University. Among other awards, in recognition of his service to the church and academy, he is an inductee into both the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers and Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA.
Rev. Dr. William Butler
Rev. Dr. William Butler is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to Maryland at an early age. He presently serves as Senior Pastor of Queens Chapel United Methodist Church in Beltsville, MD. He retired in 2018 with 41 years of service as a U.S. Army Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel. Dr. Butler was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System and graduated from Harford Technical High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophical Theology from Coppin State University in 1996 and his Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. in 2001. He completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio December 2019. His dissertation is entitled “A Model for Congregational Unity for the Purpose of Developing Disciples.”
Min. Shawn Elbert
Min. Shawn Elbert has over 25 years of experience serving in the human services and education fields. He has served as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Spiritual Life Coordinator, and Program Director for youth residential settings, and currently serves as the Program Support Coordinator for a non-public school in Baltimore County, MD. He has over 15 years of experience designing and facilitating training for educators and local school districts, residential youth facilities, county and state programs, the Baltimore City Housing Authority, and community-based organizations. His area of expertise is trauma awareness and prevention, and he is a certified Trauma Informed Care Trainer Instructor with the Child Welfare Trauma Training Toolkit (CWTTT) and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).
Dr. Deborah Haskins
Dr. Deborah Haskins is a retired Counselor Educator (25 years) and has close to 40 years of experience as a professional counselor with expertise in cultural humility, health equity, social justice-attuned services, community wellness, and advocacy. She received her Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling (Loyola College, Maryland), Dr. Haskins is a national/international gambling disorders leader/specialist and Master Addictions Counselor. She specializes in trauma, including homicidal trauma, and expands community wellness to faith/spiritual communities. Dr. Haskins is a Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University and founder of MOSAIC Consulting and Counseling Services. She is an active laity for the Baltimore-Washington United Methodist Church.
Rev. Rodney Hudson
Rev. Rodney Hudson is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, and currently serves as senior pastor of the Resurrection West Cooperative Parish, comprised of Ames Memorial United Methodist Church, Metropolitan United Methodist Church, and the Ames Community of Shalom (CDC) in Baltimore, MD. An Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, Rev. Hudson is a graduate of the College of Charleston, Virginia Union University (Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology), and the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.
Rev. Dr. Rachel Livingston
A third-generation minister, Rev. Dr. Rachel Livingston is a provisional elder in the United Methodist Church and currently serves as the Pastor of Congregational Care at National United Methodist Church. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University and a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. A scholar, Dr. Livingston completed her Doctor of Ministry at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, in May 2022. Her research explores connecting to young adults and communities through activism and community organizing. She is devoted to issues that seek out justice and build the Beloved Community that is rooted in the love of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Dr. Terri K. Williams
Rev. Dr. Terri K. Williams is the pastor of the Crossroads Charge, a two-point charge in Baltimore, MD, consisting of Milford Mill UMC and Salem UMC of Hebbville. A graduate of Coppin State University, Loyola University of Maryland, St. Mary’s Seminary and University, and Wesley Theological Seminary, Rev. Williams earned her Doctor of Ministry in 2024 from United Theological Seminary after defending her doctoral dissertation: “A Model for Radical Inclusivity in Multicultural and Multi-church Contexts.” As a King Scholar, Rev. Williams believes that creating the Beloved Community through radical hospitality and inclusivity is the key to creating impactful change within congregations. The greatest example of Christian love the church can give is sharing with everyone willingly, lovingly, and openly.
Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt
Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt is the Founder/CEO of the Baltimore Institute for Urban Leadership and the Managing Director of Hope for the City: Transforming Urban Leaders. He is the Senior Pastor of Epworth Chapel United Methodist Church in Baltimore, MD, and is also appointed as the Supervising Pastor of the Beloved Community Cooperative Parish in Baltimore, which is comprised of Epworth Chapel, Sharp Street Memorial, and Martin Luther King Memorial United Methodist Churches. He serves on the faculties of St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Gammon Theological Seminary, Wesley Theological Seminary, United Theological Seminary, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN, and the Graduate Theological Foundation, Sarasota, FL. A graduate of the University of Maryland (BA in Economics), he holds advanced degrees from Troy University (MBA), Wesley Theological Seminary (MDiv.), Bethel Theological Seminary and University (DMin. in Transformational Leadership), and the Graduate Theological Foundation, in affiliation with the University of Oxford, UK (DMin. and Ph.D. in Theological Studies. He has also completed Executive Leadership Programs at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK and Harvard University, and post-doctoral studies at Princeton University. Among other awards, in recognition of his service to the church and academy, he is an inductee into both the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers and Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA.
The Baltimore Institute for Urban Leadership | 2026