michael j. kimpan

executive director
Our founding Executive Director Michael Kimpan has a proven history of helping individuals and institutions think critically about matters of faith and culture through his  writing, organizing, teaching and consulting with churches, community organizations, higher education institutions, businesses and not-for-profit organizations. 

He holds a BA in Youth Ministry and Biblical Theology from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Chicago Theological Seminary. The defense of his MA Thesis, “The Reckoning: Reframing America’s Relationship with Race” received a Pass with Distinction.  

His revolutionary work in social justice at the intersection of faith, politics and society has been featured by Relevant magazine, Advocate magazine, Human Rights Campaign, The Huffington Post, CNN and TIME magazine as well as a number of  nationally and internationally syndicated radio and podcast shows, including Shift of the Gaze.​

melinda guerra

executive administrator 
Melinda manages a public relations firm in Chicago, and has run offices for a law firm, a bridge-building non-profit, and a Christian camp and conference center in Michigan. Her most rewarding work has been establishing environments for trusted friends, colleagues, and clients to create substantial positive change in the lives of those on the margins - work which has included projects from creating and facilitating safe spaces for 'Other-ed' teens to coordinating and managing a team of American college graduates combating human trafficking in southeast Asia. She loves detailed spreadsheets and strategic plans, and lives near Dayton, Ohio with her husband, kid, and cat, Midnight.

selected media & writings

02/17/2020
​'Sacramentality and Uncommon Good' (Episode 7) Shift of the Gaze podcast with Dr. JoAnne Marie Terrell

01/15/2020
'Sacramentality and Uncommon Good' (Episode 6) Shift of the Gaze podcast with Dr. JoAnne Marie Terrell

01/01/2020
'Ten Tenets of Art, Episode 5' on Shift of the Gaze podcast with Dr. JoAnne Marie Terrell

11/20/2019
'Ten Tenets of Art, Episode 4' on Shift of the Gaze podcast with Dr. JoAnne Marie Terrell

11/06/2019
'Ten Tenets of Art, Episode 3' on Shift of the Gaze podcast with Dr. JoAnne Marie Terrell

09/30/2019
'Ten Tenets of Art, Episode 2' on Shift of the Gaze podcast with Dr. JoAnne Marie Terrell

09/16/2019
'Ten Tenets of Art, Episode 1' on Shift of the Gaze podcast with Dr. JoAnne Marie Terrell

07/18/2019
'Why One Cannot Follow Jesus and Support Trump' on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

06/26/2019
Kimpan (podcast interview) ‘You Gotta Have Hope’ on QueerVotion with Rae Ingram 

05/08/2019
Kimpan (spoken word video) A Tribute to James Cone at Chicago Theological Seminary (beginning at 9:38) 

04/13/2017
‘They Have Faith Their Church Will Change’ on Daily Beast, ft. Michael Kimpan

09/07/2016
Kimpan (podcast interview) ‘What Difference Does Jesus Make for How We Read the Old Testament?’ with Dr. Daniel Kirk 

07/14/2016
Kimpan (podcast interview) ’Hipness at the Margins’ with Carla Ewert and Danny Anderson

03/02/2016
‘This Do In Remembrance of Me’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

01/03/2016 
Kimpan (Sermon) 'The Empire's Slaughter of Innocence - Are We Complicit?' at LaSalle Street Church, Chicago

01/28/2015
‘American Evangelicals and the LGBT Community’ on HRC, ft. Michael Kimpan

11/10/2015
‘I Am An Evangelical’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

02/26/2015
Kimpan (Phone Interview) with Pete Heck Radio Show 

02/19/2015
Kimpan (Q & A Interview) with The Sojourn

01/07/2015 
Kimpan 'Helping Christians understand the LGBTQ Community' - Off the Highway (Skype interview) with Tony Kriz 

11/4/2014
Kimpan NINES Conference contribution (video)

10/12/2014
Kimpan (podcast interview) 'The Mission of The Marin Foundation' with David Croy

10/08/2014
‘SCOTUS’ Silence & the Way of Jesus’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

07/05/2014
Advocate Magazine ‘Christians Say ‘Sorry’ at Chicago Pride' by Eliel Cruz, ft. Michael Kimpan

07/02/2014 
‘Love is Louder, Still!’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

05/02/2014
‘Missing the Point’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

03/13/2014
‘Pope Hope’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

02/07/2014
‘Let the Games Begin: Brief Thoughts on Sochi and Russia’s Anti-Gay Legislation’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

12/31/2013
‘5 Things You Don’t Want to Miss from 2013’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

12/20/2013
‘Quack, Quack’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

09/19/2013
‘This Pope is a Sinner’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

08/23/2013
‘Gag Me’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

06/26/2013
‘Response to SCOTUS’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

06/03/2013
‘Proximity and Relationship: A Personal Story’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

03/18/2013
'RIP, Rob Bell' on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

03/11/2013
‘Reversing Exclusion of the Other’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

02/08/2013
‘Don’t Tell Anyone’ - Jesus’ warning against always expressing right belief’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

02/04/2013
‘God Isn’t on Ray Lewis’ Side…Or Anyone’s For That Matter’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

01/11/2013
‘The Evangelical Reaction to Louie Giglio’s ‘Change of Plans’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

12/31/2012
‘The Best of 2012’ on Red Letter Christians featuring Michael Kimpan

12/19/2012
‘FBI Report: Hate Crimes Against Gays Outnumber those Against Religion’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

11/21/2012
‘This is Pure - A Tax Collector and Sinner Who Shouldn’t Be Here’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

09/16/2012
‘(Un)Patriotic - Politics are Ugly’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

09/01/2012
‘Me Neither: Jesus Draws His Line in the Sand’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

08/01/2012
'Learning to Speak: Chick-fil-A & our Inability to Dialogue’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

07/16/2012
‘Pray Away the Gay’ No More?’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

07/31/2012
RELEVANT magazine, ‘Being Holy in an Age of Being Right’ by Michael Kimpan 

06/03/2012
‘On justice, marriage, and Obama’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

04/12/2012
‘Offensive Jesus?’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

02/27/2012
‘Jesus For Prez’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

10/26/2011
‘Al Mohler, Mullets and gay Marriage’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan

09/01/2011
‘Anti-Gay?’ on Red Letter Christians by Michael Kimpan