2024 Regional Conference

Sarah Crowder

Sarah Crowder is passionate about sharing the Gospel with freshmen students as a teacher at Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas, NV. Sarah graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2000, and recently completed a MA in Theology with a focus on Reformation Studies from Concordia University-Irvine in May, 2020. She has been married to her husband, Jason for nearly 20 years, and is the loving mother to Katie and Brendan.

Kelsi Klembara

Kelsi Klembara is the online content manager for 1517 and host of the 1517 podcast/show, Outside Ourselves. She holds an MA in Reformation Theology from Concordia University Irvine. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Doug, and her three children.

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.

Caleb Keith

Caleb Keith is a Summa Cum Laude, and Honors Scholar graduate of Concordia University Irvine, and holds an MA in systematic and philosophical theology from the University of Nottingham. In 2018, he published a translation of Luther's Heidelberg Disputation. Caleb is husband to Erika Keith and father to Esther, Emerson, Edmund, and Euna. He produces the Thinking Fellows and Outlaw God podcasts and oversees the 1517 Podcast network.

John W. Hoyum

John W. Hoyum is a graduate of Bethel University and Luther Seminary, both in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also holds a PhD in systematic theology from the University of Aberdeen. He now resides back home in the Pacific Northwest, serving as the pastor of Denny Park Lutheran Church in Seattle. He is also the co-host of the podcast Preaching the Text.

Jacob Smith

The Reverend Jacob Smith is the Rector of Calvary - St. George. Jake was born on the Navajo Reservation and was raised in Yuma, Arizona. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 2000 with a BA in History, with an emphasis in Near Eastern Studies. He received his M. Div from Trinity Episcopal in May, 2006. Jacob was ordained to the diaconate on June 3, 2006 in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, and ordained a presbyter at Calvary Church on December 3, 2006.

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.

Scott Davis

Scott Davis is a husband, father, magician, and pastor. He and his wife Leigh Anne live in beautiful Hot Springs, Arkansas with their five children, one dog, and one cat. Scott is the pastor of Hope Church Hot Springs, a small church that is affiliated with The Presbyterian Church in America.

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.

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. 

Jon Moffitt