Matt Braddock has been pastoring churches since 1997. Before coming to Silver Spring, he served churches in Massachusetts, Western New York, and Connecticut.
He seeks to share relevant, reflective, and theologically progressive sermons that connect the Gospel to life and life to the Gospel. He invites worshipers to identify the intersections of faith and life as they seek ways to enact their common wisdom and mission.
Matt earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in congregational studies from Hartford Seminary. He graduated with a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School and also holds a B.A from Gordon College. Pastor Matt has completed a broad number of continuing education programs, including, Helping Survivors of Catastrophic and Unexpected Loss, Interfaith Leadership, and Family Systems Leadership. He has extensive experience with youth programming and he is also a certified Bereavement Facilitator through the American Academy of Bereavement. He is a member of the Center for Progressive Christianity and also serves on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Parish Clergy, an international organization of clergy serving in faith communities who value honest dialogue, collegiality, and continued enhancement of pastoral skills.
Pastor Matt lives with Chris, his wife. Their Ethiopian-American trans-cultural family includes four children.
Amy L. Lewis comes to CCC after serving as a health care chaplain for almost 15 years. Amy grew up in Texas and has a B.A. in Social Welfare from Texas Tech University. Upon graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1994 with a M.A of Religious Education and a M. A. of Marriage and Family Counseling, Amy began to serve as a Hospice Chaplain and completed her Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
For 4 years, Amy served as the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Chaplain for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. In addition, she has served as chaplain for a long-term care facility. Just before coming on staff at CCC, Amy served as chaplain at The Children’s Inn at NIH. During her almost 4 years at The Inn, Amy created Spiritual Wellness Programs for children, teens, young adults, and their families from all around the world, who are on treatment for rare and often life threatening illnesses at the National Institutes of Health.
Amy is serving as Minister for Adults at Christ Congregational Church. Her areas of focus include pastoral care, adult ministry and adult Christian education. In 2002, Amy was ordained at Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. Affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists. Oakhurst is a congregation with a strong history of social justice, inclusivity and Christian faith. Amy has been recommended by CCC to the Potomac Association for the Privilege of Call process within the United Church of Christ.
Amy and her partner, Tricia, live in Silver Spring with their two children.
Nae Pearson came to serve Christ Congregational Church as Director of Music and Organist in July of 2006. Prior to coming to CCC, Nae served at Millian Memorial United Methodist Church in Rockville, Maryland, for five years and during that time earned his Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Holding also a Master of Sacred Music from The Catholic University of America, which he completed while serving at St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia from 1990 until 2000.
Nae recently completed an 18 month residency at The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, Maryland, and continues to lead workshops and retreats for Group Contemplative Prayer.
In January of 2009, Nae began his candidacy for the Doctor of Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary and after completion of his dissertation, graduated in May of 2011.
