#109: Executive Director of Chrisitan Associates of Southwest PA, Liddy Barlow is our guest.

In April 2014, Rev. Liddy Barlow became the first woman to be installed as Executive Minister of Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania. She reports to the Council of Bishops and Judicatory Executives, who represent 28 Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox church bodies throughout greater Pittsburgh. As Executive Minister, Rev. Barlow sets a vision for Christian Associates and manages all of the organization's projects and relationships.

​​Rev. Barlow is a key organizer of public worship services and events, including interfaith services after the earthquake in Turkey, the outbreak of war in Ukraine, and standing against bigotry after the demonstrations in Charlottesville, VA. She edits Christian Associates’ publications, including The Call newsletter, The Word in Our Voices series of sermon collections, and worship resources produced in partnership with community organizations.

​In the aftermath of the anti-Semitic massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018, Rev. Barlow offered a clear voice of compassion and hope, representing the Christian community at numerous interfaith and civic events. With partners of many faith traditions, notably the Center for Loving Kindness and Civic Engagement at the Jewish Community Center, she convened interfaith spiritual leaders from 9 world religions and 24 Christian denominations for the "We Have to Talk" initiative, which continues to promote collegiality and healing.

 Through Christian Associates' ministry of connectedness, Rev. Barlow holds a variety of leadership roles in local organizations, serving as a member of the City of Pittsburgh's Commission on Human Relations, chair of the Allegheny County Emergency Food & Shelter Board, and board member for the Foundation of HOPE. She formerly served as secretary of the Western PA Regional VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters), steering team member for All for All, and board member at Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute. She has been active in the International Association of Women Ministers since 2007, and served as Program Chair for the 2019 Centennial Assembly. In 2015, she traveled to Israel and Palestine in the inaugural journey of Interfaith Partners for Peace.

 Rev. Barlow frequently preaches and speaks at churches and community organizations throughout our region. Her publications include a chapter in the 2022 book Explore: Vocational Discovery in  Ministry, columns in The Christian Century and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and a sermon featured in a Sojourners project.

​On June 24, 2019, Rev. Barlow received an Antoinette Brown Award for trailblazing leadership in the United Church of Christ. She was recognized as "40 Under 40" leader by Pittsburgh Magazine. She received a Circle of Courage award from BCC Ministries, a Dialogue Award from the Turkish Cultural Center, and the Volunteer Mitzvah Award from the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh recognized her as one of the “Righteous Among the Neighbors.”

​Rev. Barlow is ordained in the United Church of Christ, and is a member of the national Manual on Church working group and the state-wide Keystone Working Group. She is the Assistant Moderator of the Penn West Conference Board of Directors. She also served six years as chair of the Pittsburgh Association Committee on Ministry, and was a member of the Habakkuk Group, a national United Church of Christ task force that rewrote the church's Manual on Ministry.

She grew up in Keene, New Hampshire and attended Mount Holyoke College. After teaching sixth grade in Rocky Mount, North Carolina with the Teach for America program, she earned a Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School. Prior to her ministry at Christian Associates, Rev. Barlow served congregations in downtown Pittsburgh and North Huntingdon. She lives in Pittsburgh with her husband Gregory, a robotics entrepreneur, and their two children.