Our Team
Rev. Freeman L. Palmer serves as the Conference Minister for the Central Atlantic Conference United Church of Church. Freeman began this call in February 2019 after serving nine years as Associate Conference Minister, Congregational Development, for the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ. Freeman was ordained at The Riverside Church in 2004 to his call as Associate Minister at Middle Collegiate Church in Manhattan, where he served for five years. He is member of the Reformed Church of Highland Park in Highland Park NJ. Freeman is also an original contributor to the African- American Lectionary, an online worship, scriptural, and cultural resource used principally by African American congregations.
Originally from Washington DC, Freeman is a second career minister, attending Seminary after a fifteen-year career with CBS Inc. He had several positions in television and radio financial management before serving as head of Finance and Administration of WCBS-AM News Radio 880 in New York City. After graduating from Georgetown Day High School in Washington, Freeman’s educational background includes a BA in Economics from Swarthmore College, an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a M.Div. with honors from New York Theological Seminary, where he served as Comptroller while a student and received an award from the faculty for excellence in theological studies. He also served for two years as Chief Financial Officer for the North Jersey Community Research Initiative, one of New Jersey’s largest social service organizations serving people living with HIV/AIDS. Rev. Freeman lives with his spouse, Donal, an ordained minister with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, in Baltimore with their Australian Silky Terrier Pooh.
In his spare time, Freeman enjoys both traditional and contemporary jazz, reading books ranging from biographies to graphic novels, enjoys movies, and as a ‘map geek’ with extensive knowledge of the US highway system, enjoys getting on a road just to enjoy it and see where it leads.
A prayer that Freeman offers daily is Psalm 143:10, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your Good Spirit lead me on level ground (NIV).”
Rev. Freeman Palmer, Conference Minister
Rev. Sheresa Simpson-Rice, Associate Conference Minister
Rev. Sheresa Simpson-Rice serves as the Associate Conference Minister for Leadership Development and the western region of our conference, providing support to churches in West Virginia, Virginia, and western Maryland. A native of south central Pennsylvania, Sheresa has served rural churches in Penn Central Conference and an urban church in Heartland Conference prior to conference ministry. Previous to her role at CAC, she completed an interim ACM role with Minnesota Conference. The product of the small rural church, she has a heart for this ministry and the faithful that uphold Christ’s Call to be a neighborhood church that welcomes all.
Sheresa has a passion for congregational development and the nurturing of our clergy. She has completed Lombard Mennonite Peace Center’s Mediation training and is a trainer for Peter Steinke’s Healthy Congregations program. Her work with Committees on Ministry has a foundation in multiple paths development and the creation of teams to support congregations and clergy in conflict. Additionally, Sheresa has traveled multiple times to Germany as a part of the UCC’s partnership with the EKBO and has developed long lasting relationships with ecumenical pastors both in the cities she has served and abroad.
A graduate of Pennsylvania State University and Lancaster Theological Seminary, Sheresa is married to her husband Karl. She has a son, a daughter by marriage, a beloved dog named Lola, and two grand pups. Serving Christ through the work of the church is the honor of her life.
Rev. Craig Peterson, Associate Conference Minister
Rev. Craig Peterson serves as the Associate Conference Minister for Congregational Development. He works primarily with churches in New Jersey and supports Search and Call efforts in Delaware and NE Maryland as well. Craig also provides ministry for Church vitality and new church development throughout the Conference. Craig served an ecumenical church (PCUSA, UMC, and UCC) in Aurora, CO, and a UCC church in Los Angeles, CA. He has ministered in various settings, ranging from small towns to suburban to urban settings.
In the twenty-one years he spent serving as a local pastor, Craig served on three associations’ Committees on Ministry. These experiences instilled in him a passion for mentoring individuals on the path to authorized ministry, supporting local churches in their efforts to embody the Gospel, and caring for authorized ministers. Craig is a natural bridge builder who thrives when bringing diverse peoples together first to identify shared vision and values and then acknowledge and learn from their differences in experience and perspective.
His early work as an educator and community organizer in the fields of juvenile corrections, public health, and human rights shaped his drive to exhort local churches to lead by example.
Craig received his bachelor’s degree in education from Pacific Lutheran University and his Master of Divinity degree from the Iliff School of Theology. He is single and spends his free time rooting on Houston’s sports teams, having coffee with real and virtual loved ones from around the country, and making music when he can find his way to a piano or keyboard. His infectious enthusiasm and optimism is grounded in his firm conviction that NOTHING can “separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39 NIV).
Rev. Holly R. Jackson, Associate Conference Minister
Rev. Holly R. Jackson serves as the Associate Conference Minister for Justice and Witness Ministries in the Central Atlantic Conference and provides staff support to clergy and churches in both the Chesapeake and Potomac Associations. She feels privileged to work with churches in one of the most beautiful and vibrant areas of our country, connecting with clergy and lay leaders who are intelligent, passionate, and care about the world around them. Within the Conference she helps to organize justice initiatives ranging from anti-racism programs, to faith and democracy initiatives, to peace advocacy, and resources state-led networks focused on housing justice, climate change, human rights and more. Part of her calling includes helping churches to tell the stories of love and transformation that witness to the Good News of how God is moving in their midst.
Holly earned her Master of Divinity degree in 2012 from Wesley Theological Seminary. She also holds a Master of Social Work from Fordham University and a Bachelors in Social Relations and Public Policy from Michigan State University. She was honored to be named as a Fellow in the Resilience in Leadership Program at Chicago Theological Seminary from 2018-2020. With over 25 years of experience in the wider church as a lay and clergy leader within the United Church of Christ, Holly is passionate about the impact that communities of faith can have when they work together. Based on the truth that God is still speaking and active in this world, her ministry focuses on grounding ourselves in scripture, spiritual disciplines, and community as we do the holy work of loving our neighbors. Above all she looks to follow Jesus while listening to the whispers of the Holy Spirit calling us all to an ever-deeper commitment to compassion, service, and liberation.
Holly is married to her college sweetheart, Patrick, and has two young adult children. As a neurodiverse family some of their favorite things to do together involve sci-fi and fantasy, all things Disney, movie watching, and playing board or video games. When not focusing on church or family you will often find Holly singing, crafting, camping, reading, watching baseball, or petting her cats and dogs.
Angela Megna, Administrative Assistant
Angie returned to the Conference staff in 2008. She is the Administrative Assistant to the 5 Association within the Conference and maintains the records for them. She also works closely with Conference staff to ensure records are kept up to date and that correspondence to the churches and clergy is sent out in a timely fashion.
Angie is an avid gardener and animal lover.
Ka Lam, Office Administrator
Born in Hong Kong, Ka moved with her family at an early age and spent her childhood in Washington DC. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Slippery Rock University and also has a certificate in Graphic Design with Digital Tools from Montgomery College. Ka comes to the CAC having served as Parish Administrator at St. Thomas Parish in Washington DC and most recently as Church Administrator at Chevy Chase United Methodist Church in Chevy Chase MD. Ka has experience in several technical applications and has brought great energy and enthusiasm in her role.