Brian McLaren Speaking Fee: $10,000 to $20,000

Brian D. McLaren is an American author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. Born in 1956 in Rockville, Maryland, he was raised in the conservative Open Brethren tradition. In the 1970s, he was drawn to the countercultural Jesus Movement, which influenced his evolving spiritual perspective. McLaren earned both a B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Maryland, focusing on medieval drama, Romantic poets, modern philosophical literature, and the novels of Dr. Walker Percy. In 2004, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Carey Theological Seminary in Vancouver, and in 2010, a second honorary doctorate from Virginia Theological Seminary. In 1982, McLaren co-founded Cedar Ridge Community Church in Spencerville, Maryland, an innovative, non-denominational church. He served as its founding pastor from 1986 until 2006, during which the church grew to include 500 members. After leaving the pastorate, McLaren focused on writing and speaking, becoming a prominent figure in the emerging church movement. He has been active in networking and mentoring church planters and pastors since the mid-1980s, assisting in the development of several new churches. McLaren is a popular conference speaker and a frequent guest lecturer for denominational and ecumenical leadership gatherings across the U.S. and internationally. His public speaking covers a broad range of topics, including postmodern thought and culture, Biblical studies, church leadership and spiritual formation, pastoral survival and burnout, inter-religious dialogue, and global crises. He is primarily known as a thinker and writer. His books have been translated into many languages, including Korean, Chinese, French, Swedish, Norwegian, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. He has written for or contributed interviews to many periodicals, including Leadership, Sojourners, Tikkun, Worship Leader, and Conversations. He is an active and popular blogger, a musician, and a songwriter, offering a variety of resources through his website. A frequent guest on television, radio, and news media programs, McLaren has appeared on "All Things Considered," "Larry King Live," "Nightline," "On Being," and "Religion and Ethics Newsweekly." His work has also been covered in Time, New York Times, Christianity Today, Christian Century, the Washington Post, Huffington Post, CNN.com, and many other print and online media. He has taught or lectured at many seminaries and at denominational and interfaith gatherings. McLaren is married to Grace, and they have four adult children and five grandchildren. They live near the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida. His personal interests include wildlife and ecology, fly fishing and kayaking, music and songwriting, and literature.