Abingdon Press

Neil M. Alexander, Publisher, is President of the United Methodist Publishing House since 1996. Previously Neil was Senior Vice President of Editorial, General Manager for Abingdon Press, and Director of the Ministry of the Laity team at the Board of Discipleship for the United Methodist Church.

John F. Kutsko is Director of Acquisitions (Books, Bibles, and Media) for Abingdon Press. He earned his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University. He was an associate editor for the Anchor Bible Dictionary, contributing editor for the SBL Handbook of Style, and author of Between Heaven and Earth: Divine Presence and Absence in the Book of Ezekiel.

Paul N. Franklyn, Project Director, is a publishing executive at Abingdon Press in Nashville. Paul earned the PhD in Old Testament from Vanderbilt University. Since 1983 Paul has acquired, edited, or produced more than 550 books, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and commercial web sites. Paul specializes in planning and launching new business ventures, and his product development emphasis is in Bible, Reference, and resources for leaders of congregations.

Bill Easum is the Vice-President of Easum, Bandy & Associates and is one of the most highly respected church consultants and Christian futurists in North America. Bill has been a pioneer in the church growth movement, with 35 years of pastoral ministry in four churches and two denominations. During his 24 years at Colonial Hills Church in San Antonio, the church grew from 35 in worship to over 1,000...with 2,200 members. His record of service in evangelization and social justice ministries has been acknowledged by the Industrial Areas Foundation in New York as one of the finest records in North America. Bill is a member of the Editors Board of Leadership Network, an editor of On Track E-Magazine, and contributor to Rev Magazine. He is co-editor of The Convergence Series from Abingdon Press. Bill specializes in consulting with local churches, conducting major seminars, small group work, church planting, multiple sites, and mentoring leaders for the ministries of the future. Topics of special interest include: futuring, disciple making, multiple staffing, permission-giving organizations, indigenous worship, lay mobilization, small groups, large churches, church planting, relocation, organizational mergers, and denominational reorganization, church planting, multiple sites, emerging ministries. Bill is a graduate of Baylor University, B.A., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.D., and Perkins School of Theology, S.T.M. He is the author of seven books, the most recent, "Beyond the Box". Bill and his wife Jan have one daughter, Caran. Bill's main vice is he loves to salt water fish and then let the fish go.

Tom is President of Easum, Bandy & Associates. Congregational and denominational leaders regard Tom as one of the leading thinkers and writers today. His personal mission is to help individuals and congregations experience the transforming power of God, and become motivated and equipped to walk daily with Jesus into mission. Tom has been a pastor for over 25 years, in three denominations. He has served urban, suburban, rural, and remote contexts, both in church planting and church transformation roles, in the United States and Canada. For 7 years Tom served as the National Officer for Congregational Mission and Evangelism for the United Church of Canada, developing resources, leading national events, and consulting with congregations of all sizes. He has worked with congregations and regional/national denominations across the theological spectrum of North America. Tom is also the Senior Editor for Net Results magazine, the premier "church vitalization", non-profit magazine in North America. He is the General Editor of the Abingdon Press "Convergence" leadership series. Tom also holds a research, academic doctoral degree in philosophical theology, and has lectured in the theology of culture, ethics, adult faith formation, and future mission. He is a member and long-time participant in the American Academy of Religion. Tom consults with congregations for church growth and transformation using a systems approach to leveraging change. Topics of special interest include leadership development, volunteer empowerment, evangelism, servant empowering organizational models, indigenous worship, cell group development, adult faith formation, designing teams, and vision discernment. He consults with congregations and faith-based non-profit organizations, and has a particular interest in encouraging Hispanic churches. Tom is the author of numerous articles, books and videos on church growth and transformation. His two most recent books are "Roadrunner", and "Fragile Hope". Tom's background reveals his cross-cultural experience. Born in Cleveland, raised in Minnesota, Illinois, Alabama, Ohio, and New Jersey ... ordained in the United Methodist Church in Chicago ... served with Presbyterians in Philadelphia, Methodists in New York, and the United Church in Toronto ... led cross-denominational evangelism teams in Michigan ... he lives in Guelph, Ontario, where his wife is pastor of a nearby church. They have a son and a daughter.