Carol Howard Merritt is a pastor of Western Presbyterian Church, an intergenerational congregation in Washington, D.C. Western’s deep commitment to serving the poor in the city has helped to initiate programs like Miriam’s Kitchen, a social service program for the homeless which provides a hot, nutritious breakfast for over 200 men and women; Project Create, which teaches art to children in transitional housing; and HIPS which stands for Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive.

Carol is the author of Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation, which was published by The Alban Institute in September 2007. The Tribal Church is one that cares for young adults, understands their context, makes room for their beliefs, and supports their search for faith, meaning, and love. Carol's newest book, Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry in a New Generation is in publication and will be available in mid-August, 2010.