Mary Charlotte Elia

Charlotte is a graduate of Virginia Wesleyan University and Union Presbyterian Seminary. An elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Elia has served congregations as a pastor, educator, and music director. She currently works as Director of Christian Formation at Chester Presbyterian Church and facilitates Big Table, Big Questions at Burgundie’s in Petersburg, VA on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month.

After earning a certificate in church music from VWU’s Center for Sacred Music, Elia remained involved with the program for decades organizing the annual summer conference, hymn festivals, workshops, and webinars. During her studies at Union, Elia helped found and later led the Society for Patristic and Medieval Studies. As a scholar of the earliest centuries of Christianity, she is a frequent presenter at academic conferences and church workshops. Elia previously served as the co-host of After Better on the Inside and as the host of Faith Growth’s How We Do Digital Ministry podcast. She loves to travel but doesn’t like being away from her cats for too long. 

Charlotte is available for preaching engagements, teaching events, retreat leadership, and other appearances. She can be reached at charlotte@heavenlybanquet.com.