Our Keynote Speakers for the 2026 Conference
The Rev’d Dr Benjamin King
Dr Benjamin King is the Academic Dean and Duncalf-Villavoso Professor of Church History at Seminary of the Southwest. His areas of research are the Oxford Movement, particularly the theology of John Henry Newman; the development of the Anglican Communion; and the Episcopal Church's historic entanglement with slavery. He is the author of two books and editor of two more: Newman and the Alexandrian Fathers; The Oxford Movement and the People of God: Enslavement, Education, and Empire; Receptions of Newman; and The Oxford Handbook of John Henry Newman. He has written numerous articles and lectured internationally. He contributed to the cause for Newman to be declared a Doctor of the Catholic Church, and when this occurred in 2025 he was part of the Anglican delegation which met the pope. Dr King has been an Episcopal priest since 2000.
The Rev’d Dr Jarred Mercer
Father Jarred is the rector of St. Paul's in Newburyport, CT. Prior to becoming St Paul's rector, Fr Jarred served for 11 years in the UK where he was a priest in the Church of England and an academic researcher and chaplain at the University of Oxford. Fr Jarred is a member of the Society and was the Kenote speaker for Adorate 2024, hosted by our European province, where he delivered the presentation, "This Is My Body: The Sacrament of Unity and Hope for the World. " His passions include poetry, music, books, books, books, soccer, hiking, and more books. His interests used to include rock climbing and backpacking, but life as a parent has gotten in the way of these things the past 15 years or so.
