Laurie Ann Kraus
Education:
- 1978 B.A., Christian Education, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill.,
- 1982 M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.
- 1994 D.Min., Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Ga.
- Rebuilding the Walls: A Narrative-Theological Model for Disaster Relief In the Wake of Hurricane Andrew
- 1998 D.Min Florida Center for Theological Studies, Miami, Fla.
- There is a River: Embracing Diversity in the Multicultural Ministry Setting
- 1982-1983 4 Units of Clinical Pastoral Education
Work Experience
- 1988- Present Pastor, Riviera Presbyterian Church, Miami, Fla.. Urban/Suburban, 170 members
- Co-Pastor, 1988-1993
- 1997- Present Core Faculty and Director of Doctor of Ministry Program, Florida Center for Theological Studies, Miami, Fla..
- Teaching: Preaching, Liturgy, Mentoring, Theological Methods as needed in a multicultural, ecumenical seminary in downtown Miami.
- 1995- 1996 P/T Interim Pastor for the Christ Metropolitan Community Church Miami, 80 mbrs.
- 1983-1988 Assistant/ Associate Pastor, Interim Head of Staff, 1st Presbyterian Church, Utica, N.Y. 500 Members Urban/Suburban
- 1997- Present Founding Member and Trainer, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance National Response Team. I am called out as needed to disaster-afflicted areas, working with presbyteries, congregations, and interfaiths to organize and effect disaster recovery. Recent disasters in which I have been active include Hurricane Andrew (1992) Hurricane Floyd (2000), the September 11 disaster (2001), and Hurricanes Katrina (New Orleans) and Wilma (Florida), (2005).
Publications
- Out of the Depths: Voices of Faith from September 11; content editor and contributor, 2002.
- Various articles in journals (the Journal for Spirituality and Aging, for example) and local magazines (South Florida Parenting), 1990 – 2003, including:
- “Inclusive Congregations: Creating a Welcome Home for LGBT Older Adults” in Aging and Spirituality, the newsletter of the Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging, Vol. 10, Number 1, Summer 2003.
- “Backwards and in High Heels: The Journey of Older LGBT Couples and Communities of Faith” in Aging and Spirituality, Volume 19, Numbers 1-2, Spring-Summer 2007.
- Book: Tuning My Heart: the Melody of the Liturgical Year in Poetry, Prose and Proclamation, Wipf & Stock Publishers, publication date Spring 2007.