Kimberly Bracken Long
Kimberly Bracken Long is currently the editor of Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching, and the Arts, the liturgy journal for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She is also the pastor of two small United Methodist churches: Antioch United Methodist Church and Spedden United Methodist Church. She was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a professor of sacramental and liturgical worship in the tradition of the reformed church at Columbia Theological Seminary. Her work has been influential in turning greater attention towards the meaning and place of sacraments and liturgical language in worship. Her  most recent work focuses on the theology and history of marriage, with a particular emphasis on inclusive marriage liturgy. She is married to professor of preaching Thomas G. Long. Career. Long received a B.Mus. from the College of Wooster (1981), a M.Mus. from the University of Maryland (1985), a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary (1990), and a Ph.D. from Drew University (2005). She was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as she completed her M.Div. (1990) and began working in parish ministry. She served as a temporary supply pastor for Calvary Presbyterian Church in Wyncote, PA (1990–1992) and then as  the pastor for First Presbyterian Church in Bordentown, NJ (1992–2000). Following this she chose to pursue an academic career in teaching. She began as an Adjunct Instructor in worship at Candler School of Theology (2002–2003), but then moved to Columbia Theological Seminary. Here she served as Adjunct Instructor for Worship and Preaching (2003–2005), an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Worship and Ministry (2005–2006), Assistant Professor of Worship and Coordinator of Worship Resources for Congregations (2007–2011), and the Assistant Professor of Worship (2011–2013). She also spent as brief time as the Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology and Worship for  the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (2006–2007). Long currently still serves as Columbia Theological Seminary as the Associate Professor of Worship. Thought. Long strives to help church leaders give serious thought to how they lead worship and the theological meanings behind their actions and language. In one of her most popular publications, "The Worshiping Body: The Art of Leading Worship", she desires that others understand how full of symbols worship is, including the presider as one of them. Long argues the goal of these symbols should be to evoke the worship of the people rather than to call attention to themselves. Her  particular focus is upon the importance of the sacraments of baptism and communion. Long's current work seeks to understand marriage in the church and to create worship resources for marriage that is inclusive of all people. It has been very influential in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as well as the wider religious community. She has written a great deal of research on the relationship between marriage and the church and the shape it takes in today's society. She argues that marriage rites should not be exclusive and that convinced that if the church is going to stay in  the marriage business then it needs to find a way to do it more authentically and with more integrity.