A trial lawyer, turned standup comedian and Baptist minister, Susan Sparks is America’s only female comedian with a pulpit. After ten years as a lawyer moonlighting as a standup, she left her practice and spent two years on a solo trip around the world, including working with Mother Teresa’s mission in Calcutta, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and driving the Alaska Highway. Upon returning home, she entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City where she earned a Master of Divinity and wrote an honors thesis on humor and religion.

Currently, the Senior Pastor of the historic Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City (and the first woman in its 160 year history), Susan has been featured in the New York Times, on such networks as ABC, PBS and CNN, as a regular guest with country music star Naomi Judd on“Naomi’s New Morning” on Hallmark Channel, and in numerous comedy clubs, includingCarolines in New York City. Her new book, Laugh Your Way to Grace: Reclaiming the Spiritual Power of Humor, was released in May 2010. She is the recent recipient of an award from Intersections International for her interfaith work to promote justice, reconciliation and peace among diverse communities. Susan is also a cancer survivor.