2023 Regional Conference

Kevin Hale

Kevin is the pastor of Christ Church Conway (PCA) and author of What is Presbyterian?. He is married to Annie, and they have six wonderful kids.

Scott Keith

Scott Keith is the Executive Director of 1517. He is a co-host of The Thinking Fellows Podcast and a contributor to 1517 and Christ Hold Fast. He is also the author of "Being Dad: Father as a Picture of God’s Grace." He earned his doctorate from Foundation House Oxford, under the sponsorship of the Graduate Theological Foundation, studying under Dr. James A. Nestingen.

Matt Popovits

Matt Popovits serves as Lead Pastor of St. Mark Houston, in Houston, Texas. Prior to serving in Houston, Matt was the planting and Lead Pastor of OSNY, a family of neighborhood parishes in New York City. Matt has also served as a staff writer for Homiletics and is a frequent speaker at churches and events around the country. Prior to entering ministry Matt studied acting at the University of Michigan department of Theatre and Dance; and later received his MDIV from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Blake Flattley

Blake Flattley is an accomplished singer-songwriter and the head of 1517 Music. He holds a BA in Humanities and an MA in Theology from Concordia University, Irvine and has served as a Worship Director for churches in Southern California, Houston, New York City and the Phoenix area. Blake currently lives with his wife Tara and their three girls, Amelia, Olivia, and Willa in Southern California.

Gretchen Ronnevik

Gretchen loves writing about rich theology rooted in real life. She is a mom to six kids that range in age from preschooler to teenager. She works as a homeschool mom, writer, and speaker. She’s the author of Ragged: Spiritual Disciplines for the Spiritually Exhausted. She is also the co-host of the weekly podcast, "Freely Given." She enjoys knitting, reading many books at the same time, and embarrassing her teenagers in public. She and her husband, Knut, live in Minnesota on the family farm.

Chad Bird

Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master's degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He has contributed articles to Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Modern Reformation, The Federalist, Lutheran Forum, and other journals and websites. He is also the author of several books, including The Christ Key & Limping with God.

Steven Paulson

Senior fellow at 1517.org, featuring two weekly podcasts Outlaw God and Preaching the Text.  Former pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Washington Island, WI.  Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia College, Moorhead MN, Luther Seminary, St. Paul MN, and Luther House of Study.  Writer of many books and articles, including Luther's Outlaw God,  Lutheran Theology, Luther for Armchair Theologians.

Daniel Emery Price

Daniel Emery Price is the 1517 Operations Executive. He is also an author, church and conference speaker, and co-host of the podcasts 40 Minutes in the Old Testament and 30 Minutes in the New Testament. Daniel has served as a church planter, pastor and worship leader and currently lives in Northwest Arkansas, with his wife and two daughters.

Erick Sorensen

Erick Sorensen is in charge of Church Partnerships in the Development Department at 1517.  His B.S. in Organizational Leadership is from Biola University, and his M.Div. is from Lutheran Brethren Seminary. Erick has served as a pastor in Fontana, California, Staten Island, New York and Roxbury, New Jersey. In 2015 he planted Epiphany Lutheran Church in New York City, New York. Erick is host of the  Law & Gospel Devotional, co-host of the 30 Minutes in the New Testament and Field Guide to the Bible podcasts, and is co-author of Scandalous Stories: A Sort of Commentary on the Parables. 

The Arcadian Wild