Executive Director, Siburt Institute

Dr. Carson Reed is vice president for Church Relations at Abilene Christian University and executive director of the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry. He serves as dean of the Graduate School of Theology, holds the Frazer Endowed Chair for Church Enrichment, and serves as associate professor for practical theology in the GST. Reed holds a B.A. in English from Oklahoma Christian University, an M.Div. from Harding University, and a D.Min. from Abilene Christian University. Through the Siburt Institute, Carson does consulting work with congregations and church leaders across the country. His teaching and research focus on practical theology with an emphasis on leadership, preaching, and issues surrounding faith and culture.

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Assistant Director, Siburt Institute

Shelby Coble serves as the assistant director for the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry. She holds a B.A. in Bible and Ministry from Harding University and an M.Div. from Abilene Christian University’s Graduate School of Theology. Before serving the Siburt Institute, Shelby spent six years in congregational ministry in Louisville, KY. She has utilized the Church Health Assessment in congregations across the country to assist church leadership teams. She is also a certified Emotional Intelligence coach. Shelby finds joy in mentoring young women navigating ministerial calling and deep pastoral listening of church leaders seeking to be faithful in their ministry context. 

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Associate Dean, Graduate School of Theology

Mason Lee is the Director of Contextual Education, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, and Associate Dean within the ACU Graduate School of Theology. Mason's research and teaching interests focus on the theological foundations of preaching and ministry, and in helping church leaders think constructively and theologically about their roles. As a certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, Mason is also deeply interested in the holistic well-being of Church leaders and systems. His most recent book, Learning to Speak of God, focuses on the influence of one's character in their ability to preach well. In addition to his academic work, Mason has served a number of churches across the country in both full-time and interim roles. Mason is passionate about helping ministers and other church leaders live out their unique callings in life-giving and faithful ways. Mason and his wife, Kelci, have been married for 13 years, and they have two daughters: Addison and Marah. When Mason isn't on the road for the GST or Siburt Institute, he is an active member of the University Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas.

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Associate Professor, Graduate School of Theology, and Vice Provost, Abilene Christian University

Wes Crawford is an associate professor of church history at Abilene Christian University, where he also directs the Center for Restoration Studies and serves as Vice Provost of Abilene Christian University. His research interests center on American religion generally and the intersection of race and religion specifically. His book, Shattering the Illusion: How African American Churches of Christ Moved from Segregation to Independence, examines the relationship between white and Black members of Churches of Christ throughout the 20th century. In addition to his academic pursuits, Wes also served as a preaching minister for 20 years in Texas, splitting time between Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock and Glenwood Church of Christ in Tyler. Wes and his wife, Kim, have been married for over 20 years and have four children.

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Barry recently retired after 23 years as the Senior Minister with the Monterey church in Lubbock, Texas. Prior to his ministry in Lubbock, he preached for churches in Louisiana and Kentucky.  Barry holds both the M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Harding School of Theology; and has a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Management from Lipscomb’s Institute for Conflict Management. He has taught church leadership and conflict management at the graduate level for the past two decades. His academic training and experience in congregational ministry for the past 40 years give him unique perspectives in helping churches assess congregational life, and plan for the future.

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Grady serves as President of HOPE Network (HN).  His ministry life spans fifty years with forty years in congregational ministry in Churches of Christ in Oklahoma and Texas. While with HN he served six years as director of church resources at Oklahoma Christian.

His formal education includes degrees from Oklahoma Christian University (Bachelor of Science in Education); Abilene Christian University (Master of Science and Doctor of Ministry). His ministry passion is healthy leaders, healthy churches rooted in the gospel and missional life.

He and his wife, Karen live in Irving, TX, and are members of the Mansfield Church of Christ. They have two grown children and three grandchildren:  Josh, Carolyn, and Madeline King; Chad, Christin, Sawyer, and Hudson Paradowski.

He enjoys reading, writing, sports, playing with grandchildren, and anything helpful for church leaders.

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Dr. Doug Peters has served in ministry for over three decades. Having previously taught Bible and Ministry at Oklahoma Christian University, Doug now serves as Executive Director of Heritage21 as they help churches Renew, Repurpose, and/or Replant within God’s kingdom. Doug is a certified Life and Ministry Coach. His first degree was in electrical engineering and he worked in the nuclear power industry. Doug later attended Abilene Christian University where he received the B.A., M.S. and D.Min. His doctoral project thesis focused on “Spiritual Discernment and the Selection of Church Leaders.” Doug and his wife, Sheryl, live in the north Houston region.

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Jon Mullican serves as a partner of HOPE Network Ministries (since 2013). He specializes in helping church leaders by providing counsel on governance, group process, and strategy. Jon served as executive minister at Highland Oaks Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas, for more than 12 years. In his free time Jon enjoys reading, running, spending time with his two grandchildren and taking his wife Dana out on dates. Jon and Dana have three grown children. Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s degree in organizational development from Pepperdine University.

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