A multi-day gathering featuring keynote speakers, workshops, and community-building experiences — bringing together hundreds of wisdom workers for transformative learning.
Featured In
An Experience Beyond a Conference
So much more than a conference! Prepare yourself to laugh hard and sigh deep surrounded by a community who gets what it is like to pastor, preach, speak, or lead from the margins in these soul-crushing times.
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Expect to relax. Expect to feel joy. Expect to have your courage and stamina renewed. Expect to be transformed by the spicy wisdom of some of the most profound voices of our time. Expect to form life-long connections. Expect to feel held. Expect to feel seen. Expect to know deep in your bones that you are not alone.
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Since 2017, Nevertheless She Preached has been creating space for spiritual innovators to gather in loving community to explore a reimagined faith and a reimagined church. By centering and elevating voices from the margins, we are making a declaration that the heart of the good news isn’t found at the center and real power doesn’t reside at the top. At NSP we resist and disrupt patriarchy, colonialism, white supremacy, and heteronormativity all for the purpose of birthing something utterly new.
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So whether you are a pastor who is devoted to social justice or a church drop-out who is longing for spiritual home, whether you are a wounded ex-pastor who is trying to heal or a seminarian who is bright-eyed and ready to engage the world, NSP has a place for you. We provide a safe space for intrafaith dialogue between progressive Christians committed to social and religious transformation and post-Christians devoted to shaping a spirituality of integrity and compassion. Many of our participants serve in traditional church settings while some are spiritual entrepreneurs carving a new path for ministry and justice-work. Others are simply individually on a quest to make sense of their tie to the Divine and their responsibility to their neighbors.
Our Commitment to You
We are a trauma-informed community dedicated to serving you with hospitality, kindness, and warmth, no matter where you find yourself on the path to wholeness and liberation. All are welcome in this place where we center the experiences of the marginalized, elevate the wisdom of “misfits” and creatives, and tend to the wounded with reverence and compassion.
Musicians and Artists
Jennifer Knapp
@jenniferknappmusic
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Jennifer Knapp, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, author, speaker, and advocate,
has made a significant impact on the music industry over the last two decades. Her first
three albums, including the Gold-certified "Kansas," collectively sold over one million
copies, earning her four Dove Awards and two Grammy nominations. Known for her
poignant exploration of the human experience and spirituality, Knapp is also a trailblazer
in advocacy, notably discussing LGBTQ+ identity. She founded the non-profit Inside Out
Faith in 2012, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights within faith communities. Recently
completing a master’s degree in theological studies, Knapp remains dedicated to
advancing social justice through music and discourse. Her multifaceted talents and
unwavering commitment to advocacy inspire audiences worldwide with her message of
inclusivity and acceptance.
Teresa Johnson
Spoken Word Artist
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Teresa Johnson is a poet based in Austin, Texas and the 2025 Austin Poetry Slam champion. She has been a member of the team representing Neo-Soul Poetry Lounge at the National Poetry Slam three times, including placing fourth in the nation in 2016. Her work has been featured in seven theatrical spoken word performances in Austin’s Frontera Fest, winning Best of Week six times and Best of Fest seven times. She is the author of six chapbooks with Piecemeal Press and one poetry collection with 310 Brown Street.
Flamy Grant
@flamygrant
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Flamy Grant is a trailblazing drag queen and musician from Asheville, North Carolina with over 1.5 million streams on digital music platforms. Snatching trophies for both songwriting and stage, this powerhouse performer beautifully blends her Appalachian roots, drag artistry, and musical excellence to deliver a fearless and flamboyant show like no other.
Speakers
Rev. Kyndra Frazier
@kyndrafrazier
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Rev. Kyndra Frazier, was recognized by the Root 100 as one of the Most Influential African-Americans for breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations in the field of mental health. She is a licensed therapist and has served as a Baptist clergywoman for over a decade. Kyndra served as the Associate Pastor of Congregational Care and Wellness at First Corinthian Baptist Church, as well as the Founding Executive Director of the HOPE Center, a church-affiliated mental health facility, both located in Central Harlem of New York City from 2016-2020. During her tenure there she was awarded the American Psychiatric Association’s Achievement Award for Innovation in the Mental Health Field. Kyndra is currently the CEO and Personal and Professional Life Alignment Strategist of KYND Consulting Inc., a mental health and wellness boutique that supports individuals, couples, families and organizations in thriving through therapeutic services, coaching, organizational development and change consulting, and trauma-informed training. Kyndra has been featured in multiple print and digital publications including Vice Magazine, New York Times, Sojourners Magazine, and VoyageATL Magazine. Kyndra holds a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, a Master of Social Work from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from North Carolina A&T State University. She is currently a Business Doctoral candidate in Bowling Green State University’s Organization Development and Change program.
Dr. Paige Rawson
@drpaigerawson
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Dr. A. Paige Rawson (she/they) is an author, speaker, life coach, and interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner devoted to spiritual healing and liberation. A survivor of five years of reparative therapy, Paige knows firsthand the harm inflicted by toxic theologies and exclusivist ideologies—and the transformative power of reclaiming one’s inherent belovedness.
Paige spent more than a decade in ministry as a youth and teaching pastor before obtaining an MDiv, MA, and, ultimately, a PhD, engaging the Bible and theology through feminist, queer, and postcolonial lenses. They later taught religion and philosophy at Wingate University, The New School, and Seton Hall University.
Today, Dr. Rawson accompanies individuals—particularly LGBTQ+ people and those healing from religious trauma—as they reclaim their voice, dignity, and authority. Through coaching, teaching, and writing, Paige invites others to resist dehumanizing systems and embody lives rooted in compassion, authenticity, and the radical, liberating practice of joy.
Rev. Dr. Mia Sloan
@mia_sloan
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Rev. Dr. Mia Hash-Sloan is a Spiritual Strategist, ordained minister, and healing-centered thought partner for faith leaders and organizations navigating seasons of change, renewal, and re-alignment. With over 28 years of experience in congregational and organizational leadership, she is the founder of the Transformations Healing Project and a certified Sawubona Healing Circle Facilitator.
Rev. Dr. Hash-Sloan curates spiritually grounded spaces that foster holistic well-being, resilience, and systemic transformation across diverse traditions. A third-generation minister, she bridges the gap between theological depth and organizational wisdom, empowering ministries to move from survival to sustainability and from burnout to balance.
Her scholarly work centers on religious trauma and spiritual healing. Her doctoral project examined the intersection of religious trauma, the silencing of Black women living with HIV in the American South, and the restoration of faith community dynamics. Dr. Hash-Sloan is committed to providing non-judgmental, inclusive support, honoring the sacred dignity of every individual, regardless of belief or background.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Winston-Salem State University, a Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University School of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry from Drew University. When she is not facilitating healing spaces, she practices the art of living well through meditative hiking, African tie-dyeing, and curating life’s sweet moments with those she loves.
Kat Armas
@kat_armas
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Kat Armas is a Cuban-American author, speaker, and theologian. She holds a ThM from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary, where she received the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing. Kat speaks and leads workshops at universities, churches, and organizations across the country, engaging the intersections of empire, decolonization, and the Bible. She is the author of Abuelita Faith, Sacred Belonging, and her most recent book, Liturgies for Resisting Empire.
Kaitlin Curtice
@Kaitlincurtice
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Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker.
An enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi Nation, she writes and teaches at the
intersections of spirituality and identity for audiences committed to truth-telling
and healing.
Her newest books are Spring’s Miracles: An Indigenous Celebration of
Nature (March 2025), the latest title in her Four Seasons children’s series with
Convergent/Random House, and Everything Is a Story (adult nonfiction, October
2025), which continues her exploration of spirituality, identity, and belonging.
Previous titles include Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering
God (Georgia Author of the Year, Religion, 2020); Living Resistance: An
Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day (2023); and the earlier
books in the Four Seasons series—Winter’s Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of
Nature (2023) and Summer’s Magic (2024).
As an inter-spiritual advocate, Kaitlin engages topics such as colonialism in faith
communities and the importance of interfaith relationships. She has spoken at
conferences and institutions across the United States, from the Aspen Climate
Conference to the Chautauqua Institution, and she regularly leads workshops,
retreats, lectures, and keynotes for universities, churches, and community
organizations.
Her writing has appeared in Sojourners, Religion News Service, On Being, SELF
Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in
USA Today, and she also writes at The Liminality Journal. Kaitlin lives near
Philadelphia with her partner, two kids, and two dogs
Rev. Dr. Dominique A. Robinson
@Dominiquearesha
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Rev. Dr. Dominique A. Robinson is the John E. Hines Assistant Professor of Preaching at the
Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, where she is the first full-time African American
scholar on the theology faculty; she transitioned to this role after serving as the inaugural Dean
of Chapel at Wiley University (formerly known as Wiley College). She also serves as Grant
Manager for the AME Zion Church’s Lilly Endowment–funded Compelling Preaching Initiative.
Robinson earned her Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary, where she
developed the groundbreaking digital preaching method iHomileticTM. She is currently
completing a PhD in African American Preaching & Sacred Rhetoric at Christian Theological
Seminary, focusing on Black Methodist womanist homiletics and depression among African
American clergy. An ordained itinerant elder in the AME Zion Church, Robinson is also a proud
member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is widely recognized as a preacher,
professor, and justice advocate committed to the intersections of faith, mental health, and the
flourishing of Black communities.
Conversation Host
Cha Barefield
@chabare
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Cha Barefield is a storyteller drawn to the quiet questions that shape a life.
She is the creator and host of The Cha Show, a series of intimate conversations with writers, artists, activists, and thinkers about the experiences that form us—grief, belonging, creativity, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to become who we are.
Known for her warmth and presence, Cha has a way of creating space where people say the things they didn’t know they were carrying. Her work lives at the intersection of conversation, reflection, and story.
She lives in the Charlotte area, where she works in real estate by day and continues her exploration of the human experience through writing and interviews.
She is currently working on her first book: a work that reflects on memory, family, and the fragile, extraordinary nature of being alive.
Conference Schedule
Nevertheless She Preached 2026
Violet Crown City Church
1300 Morrow Street, Austin, TX
October 18-20
Sunday Night
6:00pm - Doors Open
Appetizers and Beverages Available
6:30pm - Jennifer Knapp and Flamy Grant Concert
(Concert Included with conference
registration or $25 sold separately)
Monday
9:00am - Doors Open
Round Rock Donuts in Juniper Hall
9:45am - Opening, Music, and Preaching
with Rev. Dr. Dominique Robinson
10:45am - Conversation with Cha and
Rev. Dr. Dominique
11:00am - Bathroom Break
11:15am - Discourse with Kat Armas +
Embodiment Practice
12:15pm - Q&A with Cha and Kat
12:30pm - Lunch (Provided)
2:00pm - Break
2:30pm - Discourse with Rev. Dr. Mia Sloan + Embodiment Practice
3:30pm - Q&A with Cha and
Rev. Dr. Mia Sloan
3:45pm-4:30pm - Integration Experiences
Chelsea Kim Long:
Dwelling in Your Sanctuary
Stardust and Clay:
Rage Against the Cage
4:30pm-7:00pm - Dinner On Your Own
7:15pm - Queerly Beloved: Songs, Stories, and Spoken Word with Jennifer Knapp,
Flamy Grant, Teresa Johnson, and More!
Tuesday
8:30am - Doors Open
Breakfast Tacos in Juniper Hall
9:00am - Discourse with
Dr. Paige Rawson
+ Embodiment Practice
10:00am - Q&A with Cha and Paige
10:15am - Bathroom Break
10:30am - Discourse with
Rev. Kyndra Frazier
+ Embodiment Practice
11:30am - Q&A with Cha and Kyndra
11:45pm - Lunch (Provided)
1:15pm - Speaker Panel
2:00pm - Integration Opportunities
Chelsea Kim Long:
Sacred Collage
Stardust & Clay:
ResisDance
2:45pm - Break
3:00pm - Discourse with Kaitlin Curtice
+ Embodiment Practice
4:00pm - Q&A with Cha and Kaitlin
4:15pm - Closing Ritual
4:30pm - Ice Cream Float Bar
in Juniper Hall + DANCE PARTY!
We’re here and we’re queer.
We know the state of Texas is a hostile environment for queer folks. So why hold a conference in Texas? NSP is a national and international conference, but our roots are in Texas, and we are determined to keep showing up in the world boldly. While we continue to take a stand, we also value your safety! Despite Texas’ reputation, Austin has been ranked one of the top 40 most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the country.
YOU CAN JOIN US VIRTUALLY!
Zoom access to Sunday night’s spoken word event and recordings
Zoom access to all worship services and keynote lectures and recordings
Opportunities for conversations with other online participants
Watch Later: Access to recorded events after the conference is over!
Praise for NSP
“The single most guaranteed soul and mind-refreshing conference I attend each year. I learn, I connect; I get nourished, inspired, challenged, tickled, and deeply moved, year in and year out. Keep up this essential, life-giving work, Friends!”
— JAIME CLARK-SOLES
“NSP privileges voices that I need to hear. I come away challenged and inspired.”
— LAURA STEPHENS-REED
Hope. Delight. Worship. Renewal.
— ISABEL DOCAMPO
“Amplifying the voices of women in church/pastoral leadership in a world of hierarchal and patriarchal power structures is courageous and brilliant. This is why I go, support it and love this conference. It is important work.”
— MARTA FIORITI
“I have loved every single year. I walk away refreshed and connected!”
— SARAH MILLER
Safe, sacred space to celebrate and be celebrated.
— MICHELLE SHACKELFORD
“As a (privileged) white cis woman, I have been blessed, challenged and encouraged to hear and experience the voices of my non-white, non-cis sisters. My eyes and heart have been opened. These sisters have embraced my inexperience in being with those in the margins and taught me with grace and patience. NSP is a must for anyone who feels called to do ministry.”
— MANDI HOCKENSMITH RICHEY
Authenticity. Acceptance of my calling as a female minister, without adherence to masculine ministry models. Demonstrations of excellence in ministry.
Unconfined Collaboration!
— TERI COLLEEN
Sponsors
Join us in centering women, BIPOC, and queer voices while dismantling patriarchal structures in faith spaces. Your partnership creates real change.
Hospitality
Planning to join us in person? Find information about accommodations, travel details, and local recommendations to make your NSP experience comfortable and seamless.