MEET THE STAFF

OF ST. LUKE

Dr. William Edward Flippin, Jr. is a luminary of intellectual curiosity and spiritual depth, illuminating the path for others with his profound love of learning and commitment to community. A distinguished scholar, pastor, and franchise expert, Dr. Flippin embodies the pursuit of knowledge as a means to liberate the soul, cultivate the mind, and forge a beloved community.

With a rich academic heritage, Dr. Flippin has walked the hallowed halls of esteemed institutions, including Morehouse College, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Emory University, the Lutheran School of Theology, and Ashland Theological Seminary. His academic journey has been marked by a relentless quest for understanding, a passion for justice, and a dedication to serving others.

As a pastor, Dr. Flippin has served congregations with compassion, wisdom, and prophetic leadership, guiding them toward a deeper understanding of their role in shaping a more just and equitable society. His ministry is characterized by a profound respect for the complexities of human experience and a commitment to empowering others to find their voice and agency. Ordained Baptist in 2002, he has served as Senior Pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran (ELCA), Columbus, GA 2008-13; Emmanuel Lutheran (ELCA) Atlanta, Georgia 2013-19; served as Assistant to the Bishop/Director of Evangelical Mission Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod 2019-21. He was visiting missioner for Church of the Holy Apostles and the Mediator Episcopal Church Philadelphia, PA 2021-22; his most recent calls were Interims in Macon, Georgia and the Atlanta metro area 2022-24. He serves on the Council of the Lutheran World Federation re-elected in 2023. He served on the ELCA Church Council from 2013-19.

Dr. Flippin's expertise extends beyond the pulpit to the boardroom, where he has leveraged his knowledge of franchise development to drive growth, innovation, and community engagement. His work is informed by a deep understanding of the intersections between faith, culture, and economics, and a desire to harness the power of business to build a more just and thriving world.

Through his work, Dr. Flippin seeks to create spaces for dialogue, collaboration, and mutual learning, where individuals and communities can come together to explore, grow, and flourish. His life's work is a testament to the transformative power of education, faith, and community, and a beacon of hope for a brighter future. He has been married to Kedra Shamel Phillips-Flippin for twenty-two years. Kedra is a registered nurse for over twenty-five years and Real Estate Founding Partner and Investor of Phlip Smart Property Solutions, LLC. They both are the proud parents of a daughter Shamel Emani.

Marta Lopez-Flohr began her faith journey as a Catholic and later a Quaker until she met her lifelong Lutheran husband, Tim Flohr. Marta earned her undergraduate degree in Urban Studies/Political Science from Columbia University, New York, NY. As an undergraduate, she spent time volunteering with youth in Washington Heights which led her to join Teach For America where she taught in the South Bronx.

Marta taught at KIPP, New York and was a founding teacher of Bronx Preparatory Charter School. She later pursued studies at The Institute of Culinary Education. She had the privilege of working in catering sales in two of New York's landmark venues, The United Nations and Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Later in her career, she served as an adjunct instructor in Drexel University's Culinary Arts and Food Science program.

She also served in various public, private, independent schools and non-profit organizations. She and her family relocated to Memphis where she worked at the University of Memphis for five years in student services before coming on board at St. Luke. Marta is also a proud Girl Scout Heart of the South volunteer. She is excited to support youth and families with living the St. Luke vision statement, "Seek God, Serve Others, Share Life" and the seven guiding principles. She also is a co-chair of the Diversity & Justice Task Force at St. Luke.

From Arkansas and Texas, Kinsey Healy settled in Tennessee after earning her Bachelor of Choral Music Education and Master of Music from the University of Memphis. Kinsey has taught at Houston High School in Germantown, TN since 2018 and directs a thriving choral program. In addition to her work in the classroom, she is involved in mentoring emerging choral music educators from the University of Memphis.

Kinsey has led seminars on vocal health and technique, including a presentation at the Tennessee Music Education Association Conference. Her choirs at Houston High School are well-known for their performances across the community and recent international tour destinations have included Prague, Vienna, Ireland, and Spain.

Outside of her public school responsibilities, Mrs. Healy has been the music director and pianist at Collierville Presbyterian and Epiphany Lutheran Church. Above all, she loves reading books and exploring outdoors with her toddler daughter Elise and husband Scott.

Danielle is originally from San Diego, CA but grew up in Bartlett. She moved to Jackson, TN to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees at Union University from 2013-2020. Upon graduating with her MSW, she moved to Dyersburg, TN in 2021 and returned to Memphis in 2022 working as a social worker and mental health therapist.

She has 4 years of prior experience working as a Church Administrator for a Baptist church while in graduate school, which she greatly enjoyed, and felt led to return to working in a church setting to use the knowledge and experience she has gained. She enjoys helping others, spending time with loved ones and her 2 cats, traveling, art, and playing video games in her free time.