July 19-25, 2026
Family camp meets continuing education at this conference for all ages. Whether you are ordained or a lay leader, staff, volunteer, choir member, or congregant, we invite you to take part in plenty of opportunities to learn, practice, and worship together.
Registration opens in early December 2025.
Questions? Contact Colleen Earp, Program Director, at colleen@massanettasprings.org.
The 2026 Bible & Church Music Conference is titled, “Pass It On,” and will be centered on Psalm 145. The planning team was looking for joy and hopefulness despite the current headlines and realities; we were drawn to the language of “one generation to another” and “forever and ever,” thinking about the ways God’s goodness persists and how we can actively share this with others, especially those who follow us. The theme is also a nod to the old camp song of the same name, penned by Kurt Kaiser. Join us as we look for sparks of joy together in Bible studies, choirs, workshops, and around the campfire.
The 2026 schedule is anticipated to be released in fall 2025.
Rev. Dr. Aqueelah Ligonde
We are excited to announce Rev. Dr. Aqueelah Ligonde as our 30th Speakman Chair of Preaching! Aqueelah is the Director of Coaching at Ministry Architects. She is an enthusiastic speaker and leader with a passion for today’s generation of youth and women. Aqueelah holds an MDiv from McCormick Theological Seminary and DMin and a certificate in Black Church Studies from Louisville Seminary. She is a member of the Presbytery of New York City, ordained in 2011 as the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, Queens, NY. Since then, she has served and partnered with many organizations, including Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, Fuller Youth Institute, Urban Youth Workers Institute, Youth Specialties, Holmes Presbyterian Camp, PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Program, and GenOn/Logos Ministries. International Coaching Federation (ICF)-certified coach through the Coach Approach Skills Training program. Aqueelah is excited for the opportunity to worship and learn with us here at Massanetta!
HISTORY OF THE SPEAKMAN CHAIR OF PREACHING
Frederick B. Speakman began coming to Massanetta Springs in 1953. Over a forty year period, he inspired young ministers and ministered to many while on the platform at the Bible Conference. Fred graduated from the University of Oklahoma, Harvard University (M.A.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (B.D.), and in 1950 he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA. He served three churches: Central-Brick in East Orange, NJ, Third Church in Pittsburgh, PA, and Westminster Church in Dayton, OH. Fred was also an author and wrote three books of sermons: The Salty Tang, Love is Something You Do, and He Dwelt Among Us.
In 1957 Fred purchased a home in the Cottage Community, on the Massanetta Springs grounds, and in 1983, he and his wife, Zoe, retired and moved to the Cottage Community. With Fred in mind, a family in the Cottage Community began an endowment to which others have added, to ensure that the quality and name recognition of preachers for the Bible Conference will continue to be of the highest quality as has been in the past! This endowment supports the Fred Speakman Chair of Preaching. Each year one or more outstanding preachers are brought to Massanetta during the Bible Conference by the proceeds from the endowment.
PREVIOUS SPEAKMAN CHAIR OF PREACHING RECIPIENTS:
2025: Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow
2024: Rev. Shannon Johnson Kershner
2023: Rev. Dr. Roger Nishioka
2022: Rev. John Bell
2021: Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis
2020: Speakman Online Series: Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis
2019: Bishop William H. Willimon
2018: Rev. Drs. Kimberly Bracken Long and Thomas G Long.
2017: Rev. Dr. Luke Powery
2016: Rev. Dr. Steve Eason
2015: Rev. Michael Lindvall
2014: Rev. Dr. Debra J. Mumford
2013: Rev. Dr. James C. Howell
2012: Rev. Dr. Brian K. Blount
2011: Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes
2010: Rev. Dr. Joanna M. Adams
2009: Rev. Dr. William J. Carl III
2008: Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence
2007: Rev. Thomas G. Long
2006: Rev. Dr. Frances Taylor Gench
2005: Bishop William H. Willimon
2004: Dr. Stephen D. McConnell
2003: Rev. Dr. William Powell Tuck
2002: Dr. Ben Lacy Rose
2001: Dr. Jerold D. Shetler
2000: Dr. Paul T. Eckel
1999: Dr. Myron Augsburger
1998: Rev. Dr. Thomas K. Tewell
1997: Rev. Dr. Ernest Campbell
Rev. Anna George Traynham
Rev. Anna George Traynham is the senior pastor of Shallowford Presbyterian Church, in Atlanta, Georgia, where she has served since the fall of 2019. She is originally from the small town of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, and she studied music and religion at Presbyterian College. She holds an M.Div from Union Presbyterian Seminary, and an MBA from The Citadel Graduate College. Prior to her role at Shallowford, Anna served as a resident pastor and then an associate pastor at Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. She is married to Blake, and they have two young children. Preaching and leading worship are among Anna's favorite parts of her job and ministry.
Rev. Nate Taylor
Rev. Nate Taylor serves as Associate Pastor at Salisbury Presbyterian Church. His distinct appearance and love of bold colors are no accident—Nate believes in being so authentically yourself that everyone around you knows they are safe to be precisely who God made them to be. He invites people to explore faith with wonder and curiosity, trusting that our hardest questions can deepen our love for God, each other, and ourselves. Passionate about the playful, creative nature of God, Nate helps others encounter the divine through collaborative art projects, laughter around a campfire, and the joy of sharing a favorite meal together.
Rev. Dr. Aqueelah Ligonde, Speakman Chair of Preaching
Rev. Dr. Aqueelah Ligonde is the Director of Coaching at Ministry Architects. She is an enthusiastic speaker and leader with a passion for today’s generation of youth and women. Aqueelah holds an MDiv from McCormick Theological Seminary and DMin and a certificate in Black Church Studies from Louisville Seminary. She is a member of the Presbytery of New York City, ordained in 2011 as the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, Queens, NY. Since then, she has served and partnered with many organizations, including Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, Fuller Youth Institute, Urban Youth Workers Institute, Youth Specialties, Holmes Presbyterian Camp, PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Program, and GenOn/Logos Ministries. International Coaching Federation (ICF)-certified coach through the Coach Approach Skills Training program. Aqueelah is excited for the opportunity to worship and learn with us here at Massanetta!
Rev. Dr. Ligonde will preach on Wednesday, July 22 and Friday, July 24.
Rev. Dr. Rachel Wrenn
The Rev. Dr. Rachel Wrenn is Interim Dean at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Capital University, as well as an ordained Lutheran (ELCA) pastor. She received her Ph.D. in Religion from Emory University in 2021, with an emphasis on Hebrew Bible (the Psalms and biblical emotions) and a certificate in Religious Practices. Dr. Wrenn has published multiple articles in her field and received multiple grants. A sought-after presenter, she often speaks at pastoral gatherings and lay church conferences. She is the co-host of the podcast "First Reading," an Old Testament lectionary podcast for preachers and teachers of the Bible (https://firstreadingpodcast.com/). Rachel and her family are good friends of Massanetta, having attended our clergy couples retreat for many years with her husband, Rev. Tim Wrenn, and their son and daughter.
Rev. Dr. Wrenn will lead us though a Bible Study on the Psalms. More information coming this winter!
Emily Floyd, Conference and Chamber Choirs
Emily is the director for traditional music at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, where she directs choirs of all ages. She has served as a church musician in Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist churches in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia. Her music career began in public education teaching high school chorus in Florida and Georgia. She is passionate about congregational song and adventurous worship, excellence and artistry in singing, high quality music experiences for all ages, and creative repertoire for adult choirs and orchestras.
She holds a music education degree (voice and piano) from Florida State University and earned certifications from the Presbyterian Association of Musicians and the Choristers Guild. Emily is the co-director of the Choristers Guild Institute, a three-year summer program that certifies church musicians for music ministry with children and youth. Active in leadership roles for professional organizations, she is the president of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians and serves as the Repertoire and Resources Chair for Music in Worship for the Southern Division of ACDA.
Professor Carlos Rivera-Aponte, Handbells
We are pleased to welcome Carlos Rivera-Aponte back for another year of handbell leadership! Regarded as one of Puerto Rico’s foremost handbell masters, Carlos has had a fruitful career of more than thirty years as director of various handbell programs in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Colombia.
Carlos received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in education and music from the University of Puerto Rico. He later received his masters degree in music education with an emphasis on choral music at Florida State University’s College of Music in Tallahassee, Florida.
He served two years as an at-large member of HMA National Board and now is the HMA Area 4 Chair-Elect which serves Georgia, South Carolina, Florida in the USA, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and de USA Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Carlos currently works as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, music professor and choral conductor at the University of Puerto Rico-Carolina.
Lacey Johnson, Jam Choir
Join Lacey to practice figuring out how to build community and music with whoever shows! Based on a model that’s been working wonders in her small congregation, Lacey invites vocalists and instrumentalists to come and put together some contemporary music together.
Lacey is a longtime friend of Massanetta, having accompanied the youth choir at this conference since her eldest son was a baby (and he’s now a high school sophomore!). She serves as Music Director at Bridgewater Presbyterian Church in Bridgewater, VA, as well as a Math instructor at Eastern Mennonite University here in Harrisonburg. She holds a BA Music from Bridgewater College, a Masters of Music from James Madison University, and a Masters of Education in Mathematics also from JMU. She and her husband will also be found participating in other choirs, while their three sons attend the children and youth programs— we usually see them in the annual Stewartstravaganza talent show, too!
Matthew Black, Campfire Choir
Join Matt for simple songs that can be used in worship, children and youth programs, around campfires… anywhere! With an emphasis on song leading without music, Matt will guide youth and adults in folk songs, world music, camp songs, and more.
Matt is an indie-folk singer-songwriter known for incisive lyrics and singable melodies. He’s also an experienced worship leader with deep ties across the PC(USA). He is particularly known in the Young Adult Volunteers (YAV) community, as well as the Presbyterian Church Camps and Conferences Association and Campfire Collective, and Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. The literal son of a preacher man, Matthew left his job as a mild-mannered IT manager in 2022 to make music full-time. Based in Louisville, KY, Matt is often on tour in partnership with friends, music venues, and Presbyterian Churches around the United States.
For questions or to request a scholarship, contact Colleen Earp, Program Director, at colleen@massanettasprings.org or 540-434-3829.
first time attendees
We are pleased to waive the program fee for first time conference attendees. Just notify Colleen that you’re joining us for the first time so we can apply this discount to your registration!
UNDER 40 CROWD
We have a special scholarship fund to support 20- and 30-somethings attending the conference. The fund is limited and will be shared on a first-come, first-served basis.
Our planning team includes:
Rev. Kelly Kaufman, Tabor Presbyterian Church, Tabor, VA
Alex Pickell, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Arlington, VA
Tucker Samuelian, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, NC
Zach Bowyer, South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC
Click below for a folder including recordings and slides from Bible Study with Rev. Dr. Sam Adams, bulletins, liturgy, and sermon recordings from worship throughout the week, and more.