Leonardo De Chirico (Director)
is the pastor of Breccia di Roma, a church that he helped plant in Rome in 2009, and Vice Chairman of the Italian Evangelical Alliance. Previously, Leonardo planted and pastored an evangelical church in Ferrara, Italy, from 1997 to 2009. He earned degrees in History (University of Bologna), Theology (ETCW, Bridgend, Wales) and Bioethics (University of Padova). His PhD is from King's College (London); it was published as Evangelical Theological Perspectives on Post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism. He has published many books, including A Christian Pocket Guide to Papacy ; A Christian Pocket Guide to Mary: Mother of God? ; Same Words, Different Worlds. Do Roman Catholics and Evangelicals Believe the Same Gospel? ; Engaging with Thomas Aquinas. An Evangelical Approach; Tell Your Catholic Friend. How To Have Gospel Conversations In Love. He is a lecturer of Historical Theology at Istituto di Formazione Evangelica e Documentazione in Padova, Italy.
Reid Karr (Associate Director)
is pastor of Breccia di Roma Prati, a church he helped plant in Rome in 2020. He has been employed by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention since June of 2009. He obtained his MTh in Scripture and Theology from Union School of Theology (Bridgend/Rome campus). His dissertation, An Evangelical Assessment of the Holy Spirit of the Synodal Church and its Missiological Implications, explores how Pope Francis had made sinodality the ecclesiological buzzword of his papacy. Francis introduced it as the ecclesiological hinge of much Roman Catholic reflection on how the Church should perceive itself and operate. The dissertation is one of the first evangelical attempts to come to terms with it. It therefore offers fresh analysis on a process that is becoming central in the ecclesiological self-awareness of Rome. Additionally, Reid is the Associate Director for the Reformanda Initiative.
Clay Kannard (Communications Director)
is co-pastor of the church Breccia di Roma. Clay earned a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute, Master of Theological Studies with emphasis in Preaching Pastoral Ministries through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and an MTh in Scripture and Theology from Union School of Theology (Bridgend). His dissertation, Eucharistia Renovavit: The Theological Significance of Vermigli’s Oxford Treatise and Disputation on the Eucharist for an Evangelical Critique of Roman Catholic Eucharistic Theology, examines Peter Martyr Vermigli’s Eucharistic theology in the context of the Oxford debate and its continuing relevance for evangelical engagement with the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. Additionally, Clay serves as the Communications Director of the Reformanda Initiative and as a college professor for Living and Learning International’s study abroad program in Rome.
Twitter: @claykannard
Liberato Vitale (Administrator)
Born in Salerno, he lives in Rome with his family. He graduated in Administration and Organization Sciences from the University of Salerno and in Labor Market, Industrial Relations, and Welfare Systems from the Department of Economics at Roma Tre University, and obtained his GDip from Union School of Theology (Bridgend/Rome Campus). He currently works as an administrator, librarian, and project manager at the Institute of Evangelical Culture and Documentation in Rome. He is married and has two children.
Selena Brown (Digital Content Manager)
serves as the Digital Content Manager for the Reformanda Initiative, where she combines a passion for theology and communication with over a decade of experience in the technology sector. Originally from Tennessee, she transitioned to full-time ministry work with the International Mission Board (IMB) in 2023 and now lives in Rome, Italy, with her husband and two young sons.