Our Team
Adam Gray, Lead Pastor
Rev. Adam Marvel Gray is the Lead Pastor of Riverside Church, a progressive, ecumenical congregation in Jacksonville, Florida. His ministry centers on building communities where faith, justice, and belonging intersect—spaces where people can encounter God, wrestle honestly with Scripture, and work together for the common good of their city.
Adam’s work at Riverside reflects a conviction that the church should be both spiritually rooted and publicly engaged. Under his leadership, Riverside has become a hub for worship, community partnerships, education, and civic engagement. The church regularly collaborates with local organizations and justice networks, working on issues such as affordable housing, immigrant dignity, and neighborhood well-being. Adam believes the church’s calling is not to retreat from the world’s challenges, but to serve as a gathering place where people can seek practical solutions grounded in love for neighbor.
A thoughtful preacher and teacher, Adam’s approach to Scripture emphasizes curiosity, historical awareness, and the transformative power of love. His sermons often connect ancient biblical texts with contemporary questions about community, responsibility, and reconciliation. He draws inspiration from a wide range of Christian traditions and voices, believing that faithful interpretation requires both deep knowing and deep love.
In addition to preaching and pastoral care, Adam is involved in leadership development and theological education. He has helped design training and coursework for pastors in a progressive, ecumenical tradition and regularly leads studies and conversations that invite people to engage Scripture with intellectual honesty and spiritual openness.
Adam is also deeply invested in cultivating intentional Christian community. Through Riverside’s Priory residency program, he supports ministers, students, and young leaders who are exploring vocation, shared life, and spiritual formation in the context of community.
In his family, Adam is a devoted husband to his wife, Samantha, who is a deacon of the church, the administrator of the Priory, and pursuing a career in the medical field. Adam is also a devoted parent who enjoys exploring history, science, and literature with his child. He brings the same curiosity and love of learning to his ministry that he does to his family life—believing that faith grows best where questions are welcomed and wonder is encouraged.
At the heart of Adam’s ministry is a simple conviction: the church should be a place where all means all, where people can be fully known and fully loved, and where communities gather not only to worship God, but to help heal the world together.
Courtney Jones, Executive Pastor and Campus Pastor, Tampa Bay
Rev. Courtney Jones serves as Executive Pastor of Riverside Church at Park and King and Campus Pastor of Riverside Tampa Bay. In this dual role, she helps guide the life and direction of the church while also nurturing the growth of Riverside’s expanding ministry beyond Jacksonville.
As Executive Pastor, Courtney works closely with staff, ministry leaders, and volunteers to translate Riverside’s vision into the everyday life of the church. She helps coordinate the church’s ministries, support staff leadership, and strengthen the systems and structures that allow Riverside to serve both its congregation and the wider community well. Her leadership ensures that Riverside’s mission—building a church where all means all—is not just a value, but a lived reality in the way the church organizes its work and cares for people.
Courtney brings a deeply relational and collaborative approach to leadership. She is known for her ability to bring clarity to complex challenges, support and empower ministry leaders, and help the church move forward thoughtfully and faithfully. Whether working behind the scenes on organizational leadership or engaging directly with congregants and volunteers, she is committed to building a healthy, sustainable church community.
In addition to her executive leadership, Courtney serves as Campus Pastor for Riverside Tampa Bay, helping cultivate a new expression of Riverside’s ministry in a different region. Through worship, pastoral care, and community-building, she is helping create a space where people can explore faith honestly and experience authentic belonging.
At the heart of Courtney’s ministry is a belief that the church should be a place where people can encounter grace, grow in faith, and discover meaningful ways to love their neighbors. Through her leadership, Riverside continues to expand its capacity to be a welcoming, justice-seeking, and community-serving church.
Amber Kearney, Pastor for Spiritual Formation
Rev. Amber Kearney serves as Pastor for Spiritual Formation at Riverside Church at Park and King, where she helps cultivate the spiritual life of the congregation through teaching, discipleship, and practices that nurture deep and authentic faith.
Amber’s ministry focuses on creating pathways for people to grow spiritually at every stage of life. She oversees Riverside’s educational and formation ministries, including Bible studies, small groups, classes, and seasonal programs that invite people to engage Scripture thoughtfully and explore the Christian tradition with curiosity and openness. Her work helps the congregation develop a faith that is both intellectually engaged and spiritually grounded.
With a passion for lifelong learning, Amber designs opportunities that help people move beyond surface-level faith toward deeper reflection and practice. She believes spiritual formation happens best in community—through conversation, shared learning, and the rhythms of prayer, study, and service.
Amber also plays a key role in helping Riverside integrate progressive theology with meaningful spiritual practice. She encourages people to approach Scripture with both honesty and reverence, making room for questions while inviting the community to discover how ancient wisdom continues to shape faithful living today.
Amber is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Central Seminary, continuing to deepen her theological training while serving in ministry. She is also the proud mother of three wonderful children—**Tristyn, Liam, and Asher**—who bring energy, joy, and constant inspiration to her life.
At the heart of Amber’s ministry is a simple but powerful conviction: spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. Through her leadership, Riverside offers opportunities for people to deepen their faith, expand their understanding, and participate more fully in the life of a community committed to love, justice, and belonging.