Workshops & Leaders

Canon Katie Forsyth serves as canon for communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, a role she’s held since August 2024. Prior to joining the staff, Katie served as canon for evangelism and networking for the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan, helping facilitate their merger into what is now the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. Prior to her call as a joint staff member, she served as director of communications and networking for the Diocese of Eastern Michigan. She is a leader at the denominational level of The Episcopal Church, consulting for churchwide leaders and serving on various boards and task forces. Katie holds a B.S. in Political Science and Public Administration from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. Katie and her girlfriend, Anny live in Cincinnati with their dogs, Kiefer and Prudence. 

Faithful Activism (TBD)

Led by Derrick Weston

Derrick Weston is a writer, filmmaker, podcaster, speaker, and educator whose most recent work has focused on the intersection of food and faith. He is the co-host of the Food and Faith podcast and producer of Spoon, Spade, and Soul, a podcast highlighting food and land-based ministries in the Episcopal church. Additionally, he is the producer of the short film series “A Wilderness Like Eden” highlighting the work of churches engaged in food justice work. After two decades of being a pastor and community organizer, Derrick is a strong believer in the potential of local congregations to enact change in their communities. Derrick received his B.A. in film studies from the University of Pittsburgh and his Masters of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He also has a certification in health ministry from Wesleyan Theological Seminary and was a part of the Re:Generate fellowship on food, faith, and ecology through Wake Forest Divinity School. Derrick is the co-author of the book The Just Kitchen: Invitations to Sustainability, Cooking, Connection, and Celebration and has written numerous articles for several publications. He and his wife Shannon have four children and live outside of Baltimore, Maryland.

Hot Garbage: Composting for All 

Led by Jerusalem Greer and Wylie Greeson

This workshop will look at a variety of ways communities of faith can begin a compost ministry, no matter the size of their land, membership, or the age of participants. This workshop will also include resources for spiritual formation lessons and activities for children through adults centered around the spiritual practice and wisdom of composting.

Jerusalem Jackson Greer is Co-Executive Director and Agrarian Minister for the Procter Center, an Episcopal Farm, Camp, and Retreat center in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. As former Manager of Evangelism and Discipleship for The Episcopal Church under Presiding Bishop Curry, she co-founded the Good News Garden movement and oversaw Way of Love and Evangelism initiatives for the wider church. She is also the author of two books, At Home in this Life: Finding Peace at the Crossroads of Unraveled Dreams and Beautiful Surprises and A Homemade Year: The Blessings of Cooking, Crafting and Coming Together, as well as multiple Episcopal curricula, including the Abundant Life Garden Project for Episcopal Relief & Development. Jerusalem holds a MA from Wartburg Theological Seminary with an emphasis on Rural Ministry, and a Certificate in Creation Care from Lexington Theological Seminary. Jerusalem is co-host of the Spade, Spoon, Soul podcast and lives with her husband and Procter Co-Executive Director Nathan at camp.

 Wylie B. Greeson is the Residential Assistant to Farms and Programs at Procter Camp & Conference Center. Growing up in the military, every new place was an adventure to Wylie where he could experience new customs and ideas, and that love of adventure has stayed with him into his adult life. With two Bachelors from The College of Wooster – one in Environmental Geosciences and the other in English Literature – Wylie tries to breathe the spirit of adventure into every Farm Camp & Camp Wild program that Procter offers. Whether it be giving a tour of the farms, making scale model lakes, or camping out in the woods, Wylie aims to bring attention to every acre of Procter and teach others how it can be understood and loved. With a history of growing up in the Episcopal Church, creation care flows through him like water, and every moment in nature brings out in him his spiritual grace. Wylie also sits on the 2026 Planning Committee for Buckeye Leadership Workshop, where he works alongside other Outdoor Educators to develop skills in young leaders, and provide a chance to learn new skills for those young at heart. If you see him walking around Procter, give him a holler and say hello!

True Noticing: building new relationship with the more-than-human

 In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the deep connections between humans and plants through the lenses of relationality and reciprocity. In prayer, contemplation, and discussion, we will challenge the supposed “purposes” of plants and ask what valuable  lessons the more-than-human world may teach us in our time of ecological uncertainty.

Megan has a Background in environmental education, contemplative and biblical studies and Waldorf education. She has spent most of her adult life in gardens and forests, cultivating and facilitating place-based programs and experiences for children and adults. She recently graduated from the Center for Action and Contemplation and is the Minister for Land Justice at Church of the Advent in Walnut Hills. She also runs Terra Divina, an outdoor contemplative prayer gathering that meets in Price Hill, Cincinnati.

Tess is an undergraduate student studying theology and literature at Xavier University and is graduating in May 2025. An avid reader and lover of wildlife, her areas of interest lie in the intersections of poetics and localized community-oriented creation care. She has been working at Church of the Advent since 2024 as the Land Justice Intern, helping implement Advent’s Good News Garden and studying rewilding as a spiritual discipline. 

The Groaning and Grandeur of Creation: An Introduction to Ecotheology

Jacob is a resident and student of the Maketewah watershed. A recent graduate of the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, his work focuses on constructive ecotheology and faith practice in the Anthropocene. His experience as an artist, farmer, lay theologian, and food justice educator across southern and central Ohio situates him to work with adults around formation of faith and theology at the crossroads of bioregionalism, radical discipleship, and climate justice. He holds a Master’s of Theological Studies and a Master’s in Practical Theology degrees from MTSO and is currently the Minister for Arts, Media, and Community at Church of the Advent in Cincinnati. 

Picture This: Storytelling. Beloved Community and Creation Care Walk Into a Conference

Led by Miriam McKenney

Using her gift for storytelling and the wisdom of picture books, Ms. McKenney will lead a workshop and discussion around how to use storytelling to to join the ministries of Creation Care and Beloved Community together in any context.

Miriam Willard McKenney is a child of God who fiercely loves her husband, David, and their three adult daughters. Miriam felt God’s call to the ministry of librarianship from an early age. After receiving her Master’s in Library Science at the University of Michigan, she practiced librarianship for over 20 years before joining the staff at Forward Movement as Director of Mission. Miriam now serves as the Missioner forBeloved Community in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. She’s also a professor of children’s literature at Xavier University. Miriam loves to spend time outdoors year-round, as nature has gifts to give us every day.

Nurture & Sustain ~ Action-Based Climate Resilience

Led by Chad Brinkman

As people of faith, we are called to create paths for communities to walk together towards the healing and reconciliation of the world. Making creative connections to the issues of the day, alongside dynamic invitations to work together, builds individual and community wellness and underscores the vital role of belonging. In this workshop, we will examine Nurture & Sustain, a toolkit offering ways to learn about Climate Resilience and care for the earth to help combat climate change. We will also introduce the basics of Asset-Based Community Development, which can help us better observe ourselves, our systems, and how we interact with each other and with the world. We are hopeful and believe that by working together through prayers and action, we can gradually restore God’s very good gift of creation and, in doing so, be better prepared for our future.

 Chad Brinkman is the Director, Faith Fundraising for Episcopal Relief & Development, overseeing fundraising for The Episcopal Church, faith entities and faith influencers with shared values and supporting the organization’s global programs, improving the lives of people around the world. Previously he served the organization as Director, Campaign for Episcopal Relief & Development, overseeing ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE, our grassroots Church-wide campaign dedicated to expanding the organization’s global programs and improving the lives of children worldwide. As well as Program Officer, Engagement, where he worked to “engage”, educate and mobilize local communities, affinity groups and the larger Episcopal Church through the work of Episcopal Relief & Development and he served through the NetsforLife® Inspiration Fund, working to raise awareness and support for Episcopal Relief & Development’s award-winning malaria prevention program partnership.

Chad has worked on five continents in numerous countries. He is a regular contributor of pictures and stories to the organization’s website. He is the father of a fat ginger cat, a regal black cat named Sir Alfred, a precocious boy named Calloway, husband to a beautiful and talented human named Amanda, and an avid cook- skilled in the clandestine art of vegetable butchery. He is also active in the theater having directed, designed, produced, or acted in more than two hundred productions worldwide. Chad has been on staff at Episcopal Relief & Development since 2010.

Jess Kidder will host a roundtable discussion about the Holy Grounds Whole Communities project and cultivating communities of practice.

OTHER VOICES

ECCG is about more than workshops and plenaries – it is also a gathering built for both formal and informal conversations among leaders and practitioners, dreamers and implementors around topics that touch and intersect with the work of Creation Care. At ECCG, you will have the opportunity to gather with other voices from across the Episcopal Church for round-table discussions on topics such as the intersections of creation care, immigration issues, justice, church programming, Good News Gardens, resource round-ups, Season of Creation Liturgies, and more!