Lisa Belcher Hamilton

The Rev. Lisa B. Hamilton (www.lisabhamilton.com) has lived into her call of listening to and sharing faith stories -- and facilitating others to tell theirs -- in some surprising ways. Lisa's work as a parish priest (she currently serves as Priest-in-Charge at St. Edmund the Martyr Episcopal Church in Arcadia, FL) isn't surprising, but while a member of the staff of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," she also "portrayed" Purple Panda. In a completely different corner of the television world, Lisa has been a writer, producer and director for CBS News' Religion Unit, The Episcopal Church Center, Trinity Wall Street and Church World Services. She's also served as a chaplain in hospitals and hospices and as a retreat leader.

Lisa's theological work has appeared in "Christian Century," "Journal of Biblical Storytelling" and "Spirituality & Health." Her writing for parents has been published by "Redbook," "Family Circle" and over two dozen parenting publications. Winner of the 2011 "Pockets" Magazine Fiction Award, Lisa's work for children has also been published by "Cricket," "Humpty Dumpty" and "Cobblestone" and "Faces." Her poetry has appeared in "The Laurel Review," "The Midwestern Review," "The Kentucky Review" and "Indiana Review."

Lisa holds degrees from DePauw, Indiana and Yale Universities. She is currently working toward a doctorate in homiletics. Widowed when her 32-year-old husband, Scott, died of cancer, their son is now working toward becoming a chef. Lisa remarried after over 16 years of widowhood, and she and husband Jim are avid travelers with a home base of Venice, Florida, where they are supervised by a cairn terrier named Zipit E. Doodah.