Our Staff

Rev. Claudia Aguilar Rubalcava (she/her) is the Director of Engagement at More Light Presbyterians. She grew up in Mexico City, with her parents -a jazz musician and a dentist/psychologist – and her two siblings. Mexico City is still her favorite place in the world, and she hopes to move back there one day.    

Rev. Aguilar believes words and everyday actions have the power to shape people’s lives and the world’s future, a belief that led her to participate as a member of the editorial board of the new Book of Common Worship, co-author of the Connections Worship Companion by WJK, and as author of liturgy and articles for Call to Worship. She has served the church as campus minister, pastor, associate dean of students, and seminary admissions staff. 

Being bilingual, bicultural, and binational is part of her call to build bridges among different groups of people. She is a certified yoga instructor and loves music, dogs, cooking, and baking. She is interested in ecumenical and interfaith efforts to bring justice and peace to every sentient being. When not working, she is spending time in her garden with her husband Doug and their dogs, hiking with friends, or trying to replicate and improve authentic Mexican dishes with limited access to ingredients.

Elder Jesy Littlejohn (they/them) is the Director of Operations at More Light Presbyterians. They were just elected as the first openly LGBTQIA+ Vice Moderator in National Capital Presbytery! Jesy is a ruling elder at Oaklands Presbyterian Church, where they also serve as Clerk of Session and Office Manager. In addition to More Light Presbyterians and Oaklands, Jesy also divides their working time as the part-time office administrator at Arlington Presbyterian Church, the Social Media Producer at Presbyterian Outlook, and a coach with NEXT Church. When not working, Jesy uses their voice and passion as co-host of the podcast Embracing Race: Conversations with Truth and Intention. Jesy lives in Laurel, Maryland, with their wife and two kiddos. They are an avid Pittsburgh Pirates fan, and they hate, vehemently, peas and ham.

Zoë Goode (she/her) is the 2024 MLP Summer Intern! She just completed her Sophomore year at Agnes Scott College where she is majoring in Religion and Social Justice. At Agnes Scott, she is a member of the Ukirk Exec team and Agnes Scott’s Interfaith Council. She has been involved in the PCUSA her whole life, and is a former Young Adult Advisory Delegate (GA22) and youth ministries intern. When she’s not working or away at college, Zoë likes to bake, cuddle her dog, and play board games with her family. She loves a challenge and is currently teaching herself to make chainmail. Zoë is thrilled to be More Light’s summer intern, and is excited to see what the summer will bring!

Our Board of Directors

Elder Shani McIlwain (she/her) is Co-Moderator at More Light Presbyterians. Shani E. McIlwain is a ruling elder at Faith Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC where she also served as Moderator {2022-23) of the National Capital Presbytery (PCUSA). Presently, Shani serves as Communication Strategist with Presbyterian Mission Agency. Known for her candid personal stories she weaves her “messy” moments of life into practical teaching moments for others on Facebook or the podcast she co-hosts, Embracing Race-Conversations with Truth and Intention. As a bestselling author, executive coach and facilitator she helps individuals and congregations dismantle oppressive systems to create a more equitable community.

Jessica Vazquez Torres (she/her) is Co-Moderator at More Light Presbyterians. Jessica is a proven leader with 20 years experience in antiracism, anti-oppression, and cultural competency workshop development and facilitation. Jessica, a 1.5-Generation ESL Queer Latina of Puerto Rican descent, holds a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida, a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary, and a Master of Theological Studies from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Jessica serves as the National Program Director for Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training. Crossroads provides organizing, training, consultation and other support to institutions as they strive to undo racism and dismantle white supremacy. 

Rev. Michael Livingston (he/him) is the recently retired Interim Senior Minister at the Riverside Church in New York City.  He was the National Public Policy Director for Interfaith Worker Justice and worked for the National Council of Churches as Director of its Anti-Poverty Program.  Rev. Livingston began his ministry serving congregations in Los Angeles at St. Paul's United Presbyterian Church and in New York City at the Hollis Presbyterian Church.  He spent fourteen years at Princeton Theological Seminary as first its Director of Admissions and then as Campus Pastor and Director of the Chapel.  Rev. Livingston served as President of the National Council of Church, USA, 2006-07.  Michael is the fortunate husband of Nancy Rucker Livingston.  He is the father of two, Aaron and Megan, and has two amazing grandchildren, Zahahia and Senai.

Elder Kate Davoli (they/them) has the distinction of being first person to have been dismissed from the ordination process of the Presbyterian Church USA for being openly polyamorous.  Their Call remains, however, and Kate ministers to fellow queer folks and ex-vangelical individuals, and to communities as an Elder, a lay preacher, a spiritual director, and a teacher of vocational discernment. They earned their Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and currently they serve on the board of directors of Juniper Formation’s Life ReFramed Ministry, and the ecumenical collaborative LAMP: the LGBTQIA+ Affirming Ministries of Pittsburgh. 

Rev. Brooke Scott (she/her) is a Presbyterian pastor of two new worshipping communities in Delaware, Church on Main and Seek Respite. She is also a trained social worker with experience in homeless intervention, mental health, and suicide prevention. She is passionate about the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, mental health, and religion/spirituality. Brooke is an intentionally interfaith practitioner. In her free time, she enjoys reading, music, musical theater, practicing yoga, and traveling.

Rev. Avery Arden (they/ze) is an autistic, genderqueer leftist currently residing in Decatur, Georgia, with zir wife and two cats. Avery's passion for poetry and biblical studies, as well as their Catholic roots and Presbyterian branches, shine through all their ministry, much of which takes place online. Visit linktr.ee/queerlychristian to explore the virtual resources Avery cultivates, including queer-inclusive worship materials; a multifaith podcast of transgender stories; a timeline of gender diversity across Christian history; and YouTube videos on disability theology, queerness, and more.

Rev. Christópher (Ófe) Abreu Rosario (he/him) is a queer second-generation Dominican-American, homegrown in the Bronx borough of New York City currently serving as the pastor for Bethany Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, WA. Previously, he served as the Temporary Pastor of Mission Bay Community Church in San Francisco and as a Press Assistant for the Society of Biblical Literature in Atlanta. He spent about a decade in the film and television industry and has worked with non-profits that utilize storytelling as a tool to better the world. He loves engaging the stories of the Bible through different viewpoints that lift up the lived realities of all people.

Rev. Dr. Pamela Anderson (she/her) is the current interim Head of Staff at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, CA. She has been a PC(USA) teaching elder since 1991 and is active in the life of the LGBTQIA+ community in Sacramento and San Francisco. She has served churches throughout California, New Jersey, Australia and has been a professor of religion with the University of Phoenix.  Additionally, she is an activist and has been an organizer for the state of California with the Poor People’s Campaign. She is married to her partner, Marc, and they have a daughter by the name of “Charlie” and a dog named STELLA! In her off-time Pamela is a security guard with High-Rock Security, goes to Burning Man, is a photographer and travels to Australia where Charlie is studying at university. The work of More Light Presbyterians is imperative to the health and well-being of the PC(USA) denomination and it is Pamela’s pleasure to serve on the Board. 

Rev. Adrian White (they/them) is a writer, a Texan, and a life-long Presbyterian living and serving in Nashville, TN. Adrian embraces a calling to share the good news of God’s extravagant love and seeks to create sacred communities where all people can thrive. They earned their M.Div at Vanderbilt Divinity School. They enjoy board games, crochet, and going for walks with their spouse Wynn and dog Bex.

Rev. Ann Deibert (she/her) grew up in the Pacific Northwest and lived in California, New Jersey, and Maryland before she joined the pastoral staff of Central Presbyterian Church in Louisville, KY in 1996. Central Church became a More Light congregation in 1983 and continues to be a community of remarkable people Celebrating God’s Wildly Inclusive Love. Ann is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University (BS in biology), Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv), Louisville Theological Seminary (homiletic supervision), and San Francisco Theological Seminary (DASD, DMin). She loves learning and going to school. Ann’s DMin work focused on how congregations can encourage and support families (kids and parents) as incubators for spiritual life. Ann is also a member of Empower West Louisville, a collective of Black and White pastors and congregations in Louisville who work together to increase economic and educational opportunities in West Louisville.

Rev. Ashley McFaul-Erwin (she/her) is a lifelong Presbyterian: beginning her journey in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland before moving to the US in 2011. Her move across the ocean has a deep connection to More Light. When it became clear to Ashley that she was unable to serve as an openly queer person in her home denomination, she found the website of More Light and it prompted a journey to Nashville. Ashley pursued theological education and studied at Vanderbilt Divinity School. In 2018 she was the first openly queer person ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee. Ashley currently serves as the Pastor of Lake View Presbyterian Church, Chicago. Ashley is a passionate Irish rugby fan, has a mixed up Larne/Nashville accent, and in the words of her wife “has a laugh that can be heard from miles away.”

Dr. Matt Webb (he/him) grew up in Western North Carolina and has served Baptist, Episcopal, United Methodist, and Presbyterian congregations. He comes to us from the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, New Jersey, where for the past decade, he has guided a large, multi-faceted program of music and the arts. While serving churches, Matthew has also served as a music professor at both Drew and Elon Universities. Matthew did postdoctoral studies in Music and Liturgy at The University of Oxford, UK, after completing doctoral and master’s degrees in conducting from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and an undergraduate degree in music and philosophy from Wake Forest University. As a collaborative pianist and choral conductor, he has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and throughout the US, the UK, and Europe. He currently serves as the Director of Music Ministries at Belmont United Methodist Church. 

Cheri Choy (she/her) is a 4th generation San Francisco Chinese American, who grew up at Donaldina Cameron House Presbyterian Mission from age 5 eventually serving on staff in retirement years. Cheri served 40+ career as nonprofit executive and certified fundraising professional primarily with the YMCA. In retirement in San Diego, she operates a boutique winery & grape farming business and a performing professional musician.