Thursday, June 25, 2026 • 1:00 – 4:00pm ET • Zoom • $50
You’re taking up the prophetic call. You’re telling the necessary truth. But you’re met with skepticism, discomfort, and sometimes outright resistance.
The EcoPreacher Initiative invites you to a hands-on workshop where you’ll gain skills and sensibilities so that you can stay open, relational, and resilient with your community.
Through a blend of teaching, storytelling, and shared reflection, Rev. Dr. Leah Schade and Rev. Dr. Xavier Johnson will offer insights from their own experiences of facing sermon pushback. Participants will engage in scenario planning and role-playing exercises to practice responding with compassion, clarity, courage, and care.
The EcoPreacher Initiative invites you to a hands-on workshop where you’ll gain skills and sensibilities so that you can stay open, relational, and resilient with your community.
Through a blend of teaching, storytelling, and shared reflection, Rev. Dr. Leah Schade and Rev. Dr. Xavier Johnson will offer insights from their own experiences of facing sermon pushback. Participants will engage in scenario planning and role-playing exercises to practice responding with compassion, clarity, courage, and care.
Presenters
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Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade
Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky An ordained Lutheran minister (ELCA) for twenty-five years, Leah earned both her MDiv and PhD degrees from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary). She has pastored congregations in suburban, urban, and rural contexts. She has served as an anti-fracking and climate activist, community organizer, and advocate for environmental justice issues. She is currently the grant director for the $1.25 million project “Compelling Preaching for a Climate-Changed World” at LTS in partnership with The BTS Center and Creation Justice Ministries. |
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Rev. Dr. Xavier Johnson
Assistant Professor in the Practice of Preaching and Black Church Studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Johnson teaches in the areas of homiletics and Black Church studies. His research interests converge at the intersection of clergy leadership, black religion, social justice, and preaching. Dr. Xavier Johnson is ordained in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and he currently serves as the pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio. Prior to joining the faculty at United, he served as Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Contextual Ministry Education at Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, IN. |
Hosts
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Rev. Nicole Diroff
Associate Director of the BTS Center and ordained in the United Church of Christ She is responsible for the program design, implementation, and evaluation of the Center’s many initiatives focused on nurturing spiritual leadership for a climate-changed world. She holds expertise in facilitation, data management, group process, and strategic intent. Nicole is a certified Maine Master Naturalist, serves as Chair of the Spiritual Formation Committee at Williston-Immanuel United Church and volunteers with the Scarborough Land Trust. When she’s not leading programs or facilitating meetings, she can be found exploring tide pools with her son, hiking with her dogs, or reading a novel at a local coffee shop. |
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Avery Davis Lamb
Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries Avery has a background in both ecological research and faith-based environmental organizing, studying ecology in various ecosystems and organizing faith communities across the country in support of action on environmental justice. Previously he has worked for Sojourners and Interfaith Power & Light and he currently serves on the board for The Center for Spirituality in Nature. Avery has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Sustainability from Pepperdine University, Master of Environmental Management in Ecosystem Science & Conservation with a certificate in Community-Based Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, and a Master of Theological Studies, with a certificate in Faith, Food & Environmental Justice from Duke Divinity School. |
Storytellers
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Rev. Ryan Cagle
Program manager for the Innovative Preaching and Eco-Justice Initiative at Union Theological Seminary and the Center for Earth Ethics Ryan has a passion for composting, tabletop roleplaying games and all things related to helping communities of faith navigate the climate crisis. Hailing from the foothills of Appalachia in Parrish, Alabama, Ryan is a spouse, parent, ordained pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and occasional writer at Seeds & Sabotage: Theology for a World on Fire. Ryan co-cultivates Jubilee House Community, a faith-rooted, inclusive and earth-oriented initiative focused on climate resilience, harm reduction and food sovereignty. |
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Katie Grosh
Katie is an ecumenically-minded progressive Christian committed to connecting communities of faith to environmental justice. After majoring in geology at Carleton College, she taught environmental education at Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee and received her Masters of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. Katie has experience in camp ministry, non-profits, and Great Lakes research. She currently serves as a hospital chaplain at Trinity Health Ann Arbor, kinship circle facilitator for the EcoPreacher Cohort, and social media assistant for the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology. Katie is pursuing ordination in the United Church of Christ, and often spends her Sundays guest preaching at UMC, PC(USA), ELCA, and UU congregations. |
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Rev. Gregory I. Simpson
Managing Director of the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary A scientist turned earth ethicist, he holds a Ph.D. from the University of the West Indies in organic chemistry, as well as M.Div. and S.T.M. degrees from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. A former Pastor of Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church in Pearl River, New York, Rev. Simpson's leadership spans public, nonprofit, and private sectors. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Presbyterian Church USA’s SYNOD of the Northeast, overseeing its investment assets with ESG-aligned investment policies. He is a Trustee of SUNY Ulster Community College, and an elected Town Councilperson in Hurley, New York. In the private sector, he was the former Board Chair of Narralytics Inc., an AI analytics company providing social & environmental impact assessments. He now serves as Co-Founder and President of Cuore Inc. a boutique leadership consulting firm where his work centers on AI-based operating systems builds for religious leaders, climate and environmental justice advocacy and responsible technology governance. |
Special Guests
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Derrick Weston
Director of Theological Education and Formation 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. |
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Shema Roberts
Seminary Intern at Creation Justice Ministries Shema Roberts grew up in a farming family, has a decade of experience teaching Integrated and Agricultural Science, has served as an Environment Officer, coordinating projects related to national environmental legislation in climate adaptation and mitigation. Her work focused on schools, smallholder farmers and business owners. Currently, she is a volunteer minister for congregational care at Lincoln Park Community Baptist Church where she is dedicated to helping people adopt lifestyles that honor all creation. She holds an MSc. in Agriculture, Climate Change and Food Security from the University of Ireland, Galway, along with Project Management Professional (PMP) and Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) certifications. She is currently pursuing a dual Masters Degree in Social Justice and Theological Studies at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. |
Co-Hosted By:
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