Pastor Appreciation Luncheon
The 2050 Church: Culture, Technology, and the Call to Lead
Pastor Appreciation Luncheon
Oct. 9, 2025
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Calling all pastors!
Join us for the 2025 Pastor Appreciation Luncheon at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary—a day designed to refresh your spirit, deepen your learning, and connect you with fellow leaders in ministry. This enriching experience offers a time of worship, fellowship, and breakout sessions led by PTS faculty, all centered around exploring the future of the Church. Our preacher for worship will be the Rev. Dr. Edwin Chr. van Driel, Directors’ Bicentennial Professor of Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, who will speak to the challenges of leading in ministry within a post-Christian culture. The keynote address will be delivered by the Rev. Dr. William Curtis, senior pastor of Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, who will explore how technology is shaping leadership in the 21st-century Church. Whether you serve locally, regionally, or nationally, we want you to know that your work matters. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is honored to walk alongside you as a partner in the ongoing call of Christ on your life and ministry.
Presenters
Keynote - The Rev. Dr. William Curtis
A native of Baltimore, Md., the Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis accepted the call to ministry at the age of 17. For seven years, he served as the senior pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in York, Pa.; since 1997, he has served Mt. Ararat Baptist Church (Pittsburgh) as the senior pastor. Mt. Ararat is a large urban ministry and ministers to more than 10,000 members in the community with four well-attended weekend services. Mt. Ararat believes in ministry to the whole community, and under the leadership of Dr. Curtis, the church implemented a Community Tithe Program, which returns more than 10 percent of the congregation’s weekly offerings to small churches, para-church ministries, and non-profit organizations. Dr. Curtis continues as an instructor at United Theological Seminary and has graduated several groups of doctoral students at the institution. In tandem with pastoral instruction, he is co-owner of The Church Online, a successful technology and full-service marketing firm that provides concierge services to ministries all over the world. His board relationships are: United Theological Seminary, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Amachi Pittsburgh, Faithlife Corporation, Diamond Run Golf Club. Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority (PSEA), Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, The Ellis School, Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), Allegheny County Airport Authority, and the Baptist School of Theology. He has served as president of the Hampton University Minister’s Conference from 2007 to 2011, and in 2024, was invited to serve on the inaugural board of advisors for the Hampton University School of Religion.
In 2016, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf assigned him to the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs. His fraternity memberships include: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi, and Jericho Lodge #20. Curtis has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards. In 2009, he was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College. Curtis is the author of FAITH--Learning to Live Without Fear, Dressed for Victory: Putting on the Full Armor of God, Mentor Shift, One Day Closer (a compilation of his mediation during the pandemic shut-in from March 2020 through May 2021), and One Day Closer: Volume 2. Dr. Curtis holds a bachelor's from Morgan State University, a master of divinity from Howard University School of Divinity, and a doctorate of ministry from United Theological Seminary. Dr. Curtis is married to the former Christine Y. Richardson, and they are the proud parents of one lovely daughter, Dr. Houston M. Curtis.
Additional Presenters
Chapel Preacher
The Rev. Dr. Edwin Chr. van Driel, Directors' Bicentennial Professor of Theology
Breakout Session Leaders
The Rev. Dr. Leanna K. Fuller, Joan Marshall Associate Professor of Pastoral Care
The Rev. Dr. Asa Lee, President and Professor of Theological Formation for Ministry
Breakout Sessions
Breakout Sessions
Option 1 – Dr. Scott Hagley – Discerning Mission in Every Season: Listening for God’s Call Through Change
Option 2 – Dr. Leanna Fuller – Leading Through Conflict: Navigating Conflict with Clarity and Care
Option 3 – Dr. Jennifer Carner – The Preacher as an Artist
Option 4 – Dr. Asa Lee and Dr. Jessica Anschutz – Innovations: Mergers and Models for Shared Ministry
Schedule
| 9:30 a.m. | Welcome/Opening and Continental Breakfast |
| 10:00-11:00 a.m. | Breakout Sessions led by PTS Faculty |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. |
Chapel Service Preacher: Dr. Edwin Chr. van Driel, Directors' Bicentennial Professor of Theology |
| 12:30-1:00 p.m. | Networking |
| 1:00-1:30 p.m. | Lunch Served |
| 1:30-2:15 p.m. |
Keynote Lecture Speaker: Dr. William Curtis, Senior Pastor, Mount Ararat Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| 2:15-2:45 p.m. |
Q&A with Dr. William Curtis and Dr. Edwin Van Driel Moderated by the Rev. William Baker, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Continuing Education |
| 2:45-3:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
Questions
Please contact or call 412-924-1345.