Biography
Neal D. Presa
Photo by Michael Whitman
The Reverend Neal D. Presa
Moderator of the 220th General Assembly (2012) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Neal is a Filipino American, serving as pastor of Middlesex Presbyterian Church (NJ) and Affiliate Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at New Brunswick Theological Seminary.
A committed ecumenist, Neal has served on the executive committees of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) and its predecessor, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). He was the convenor of the Caribbean and North American Area Council from 2006-2011. He represented WARC at the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Plenary Commission and at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity symposium on “Harvesting the Fruits.” Neal has served as a trustee of Princeton Theological Seminary, chair of the General Assembly Special Committee on the Heidelberg Catechism, and vice chair of the General Assembly Mission Council (now Presbyterian Mission Agency). He has also served as vice moderator and moderator of the Presbytery of Elizabeth.
An author, Neal has a forthcoming book, Here I Am, Lord, Send Me: Ritual and Narrative for a Theology of Presbyteral Ordination in the Reformed Tradition (Resource Publications/Wipf and Stock). He has edited two books: That They May All Be One: Celebrating the World Communion of Reformed Churches: Essays in Honor of Clifton Kirkpatrick (Westminster John Knox Press, 2010) and Insights from the Underside: An Intergenerational Conversation of Ministers (Broadmind Press, 2008). He has past and forthcoming essays in Ecumenical Review, Homiletic, Homily Service, The Present Word, The Presbyterian Outlook, Call To Worship, The Living Pulpit, Patheos, and the upcoming multi-volume series, Feasting on the Gospels (WJKP).
Professionally, Neal is a full member of Societas Liturgica and the North American Academy of Liturgy, associate member of the Academy of Homiletics, and serves on the editorial board of the international peer-review journal, Studia Liturgica.
Neal studied at Drew University (Ph.D, M.Phil. in liturgical studies/liturgical theology), Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.M. in pastoral theology), San Francisco Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Westminster Theological Seminary California (graduate theology/history courses), and the University of California, Davis (B.A. in political science summa cum laude and history cum laude).
Born in Guam, raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and now living in New Jersey, Neal and his wife have two sons. Neal enjoys hanging out with his family and friends, traveling, fine wine and great food, working out, reading, and politics.
Contacts:
Facebook/LinkedIn: nealpresa
Twitter: @nealpresa
ndpresa@gmail.com
(888) 728-7228, ext. 5424
Tom Trinidad
Photo by Danny Bolin
The Reverend Tom Trinidad
Vice Moderator of the 220th General Assembly (2012) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Tom Trinidad was born to parents of Swedish and Filipino descent, giving rise to the unwieldy designation “Swedipino-American” according to his wordsmith brother. He is married to Kyndra, a brand-marketing analyst and developer. They have two beautiful children: a daughter Jordan and a son Hutson.
Tom is the pastor at Faith Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, CO. A Springs near-native, Tom came into the Christian fold through Young Life, and was one of the organizing leaders for Wyldlife (Junior High Young Life). He discovered Presbyterianism while interning in music and youth at First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs.
As a music and religion major at the Colorado College, Tom composed a musical (book and music) entitled “Justice”. It is a musical presentation of the so-called “satisfaction theory” of the atonement. Tom continued to write hymns, hymn texts, and songs while a student at Princeton Theological Seminary, serving as Saturday night worship leader at Hopewell (NJ) Presbyterian Church. Much to his regret, his music ministry has taken a back seat.
Tom served as chaplain of Central College (RCA) in Pella, IA for four years, and as presbytery educator for the Des Moines Presbytery.
While a PhD student at the University of Notre Dame, IN, Tom served three congregations as interim pastor, as well as taught theology for then-called prospective Commissioned Lay Pastors. He studied with Nathan Mitchell and wrote his dissertation comparing the theologies of Reformed Karl Barth and Roman Catholic Louise-Marie Chauvet.
Tom has also completed coursework in psychology and is a fan of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Both he and Kyndra are certified MBTI administrators, and use the instrument in classes on leadership, management, spirituality, and marriage.
Tom originally met Neal Presa while serving together on the Sacraments Study Group of the PCUSA commissioned by the Office of Theology and Worship in 2003. Their work culminated in the publication of Invitation to Christ, presently in final production as an extended and ecumenical document.
Beyond family life, liturgical theology, pastoral leadership, and an occasional musical interlude, Tom’s hobbies include reading, writing, physical exercise, and single malt scotch.
Contacts:
Facebook/LinkedIn: tomtrinidad
Twitter: @tomtrinidad
Blog: tomtrinidad.com