I’m currently pursuing a Ph.D. in religious studies in the joint program at the Iliff School of Theology and University of Denver. My focus is on religion and social change.
My prior educational background includes:
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J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law, where I received membership in the prestigious Order of the Coif
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M.A. in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin, where I held a University Fellowship
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B.A., with highest honors, in French and English, from the University of North Texas
Before starting into the religious studies Ph.D. program, I practiced law as a Texas attorney for 25 years. From 1991 to 2009, I was a board certified specialist in civil appellate law, and I had a private law practice devoted to civil appeals and complex motions. Prior to that, I worked as senior staff attorney to the Supreme Court of Texas, where I drafted judicial opinions and study memoranda, presented cases to the court in conference, recommended case dispositions, and trained and supervised briefing attorneys and judicial interns. I also spent one year as a briefing attorney myself, and I worked for a private law firm in which I provided legal advice for governmental entities. (If you would like to know more about my prior legal career, this pdf shows a sampling of some of my cases and of some of my publications in legal journals.)
Nowadays, I write and speak on topics related to Baptist clergy sex abuse and on clergy accountability systems. My book, a combination memoir and exposé, was published in 2009. It’s called This Little Light: Beyond a Baptist Preacher Predator and His Gang.
I also had a short story published in 2004. It’s ”Starting at Stacy,” and it appears in the Waterloo Press book called Writing Austin’s Lives.
My columns and articles have been published in the Dallas Morning News, EthicsDaily, Associated Baptist Press, and Religion Dispatches.
You can read more of my columns on the StopBaptistPredators blog, and I also maintain the StopBaptistPredators.org website, which compiles media reports on Baptist clergy sex abuse cases. Contact: christa[at]StopBaptistPredators[dot]org.
I’m the mom to an extraordinary daughter who is all grown up now. My husband and I live in Colorado, and whenever I can, I’m out hiking in the majesty of the Rocky Mountains.
