Featured Speakers: Lifelong Faith

John Roberto

John Roberto has spent a lifetime working in Christian faith formation—teaching, writing, researching, consulting, and developing program resources. He founded LifelongFaith Associates, LLC in 2006 to continue his work. His publications include: Lifelong Faith: Formation for All Ages and Generations (2022); Faith Formation with a New Generation; Families at the Center of Faith Formation; Seasons of Adult Faith Formation; Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century; Generations Together; and Faith Formation 2020. See more of John’s work at his website, Lifelong Faith.

Canon Wendy Claire Barrie

Wendy is the author of Faith at Home: A Handbook for Cautiously Christian Parents, and is finishing up her second book, The Church Post-Sunday School: How to Be Intergenerational and Why it Matters. She was recently named Canon for Intergenerational Ministries at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle.

Featured Speakers: Racial Healing & The Church

Iyabo Onipede

After last year’s presentation at Better Together, Iyabo led a 12-part series on Racial Healing in the Diocese of Olympia, reaching participants from more than 30 churches. Now she’s back to check-in on what’s been happening here around racial justice and what still needs to be done. Shaped by her biracial and multicultural immigrant background, Iyabo’s number one priority is dissolving the harm that BIPOC, as well as non-BIPOC people experience as a result of racism and white supremacist culture. She is a graduate of Georgetown University Law School (J.D.) and Candler School of Theology at Emory University (M.Div.). She currently serves as the co-director of the nonprofit organization, Compassionate Atlanta. Learn more about Iyabo’s work at her website. 

Ethnic Ministries Circles of Color: Daniel W. Jones

Daniel is an active member of Black/African-American Ethnic Ministries Circle of Color and the PNW Union of Black Episcopalians. While relatively new to Seattle and trying out the various Episcopal churches of this region, Daniel also stays in touch with his prior church, Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Portland, Oregon where he served on the vestry. His background is in business, finance, organizational structure, internet marketing, and procedural documentation.

Ethnic Ministries Circles of Color: Sylvia Sepulveda

Sylvia is the Program Consultant for Adult Faith Formation in the Diocese of Olympia coordinating a wide array of programs. She currently serves on the Bishop Nedi Rivera Latino Ministry Fund Advisory Committee, the Diocesan Nominations Committee, the BIPOC Fund Working Group, the Underhill House Board, and is a member of Ethnic Ministries Circulo de Color. She also develops Spanish language congregational resources for both clergy and lay leadership.

Ethnic Ministries Circles of Color Allies: The Rev. Nat Johnson

Nat is both the Interim Rector and the Interim Pastor for Children & Families at St. Paul, Seattle, enjoying the opportunity to cultivate Christian formation for all ages. Nat serves in leadership as part of the Circles of Color Allies and has hosted the Diocese-wide discussion on LGBTQ+ book selections since July, 2021.

Featured Speakers: Spirit Runner

Noé Álvarez

Noé is the author of the 2021 inspirational book Spirit Run: A 6,000 Mile Marathon Through North America’s Stolen Land, published to broad acclaim and selected as a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice. Noé was born to Mexican immigrant parents and raised working-class in Yakima, Washington. He holds degrees in philosophy and creative writing from Whitman College and Emerson College, respectively. Read more about Noé’s journey at his website.

The Rev. Rich Weyls

Fr. Rich is Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Seattle. He is also a board-certified chaplain with expertise in palliative care as well as a spiritual care educator, researcher, and writer. He and Noé are family friends.

Workshop Panelists and Presenters

Dianne Andrews (Morning Workshop: “Beyond Sunday: Creating Meaningful Worship & Devotions”) has served as rector of St. Paul’s, Port Townsend since 2013. Rev. Dianne has created and facilitated compelling contemplative practices for many years, including “Quiet Day with Dame Julian of Norwich” and the daily offering, Three things in Kairos Time.

Lindsay Bell (Afternoon Workshop: “Becoming People of Refugia: Adapting Our Faith for the Age of Climate Crisis: Roundtable with Young Adults”) is a member of the Seattle Service Corps, an Episcopal service year program connected to Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle. She currently works at Earth Ministry/WA Interfaith Power & Light where she helps mobilize people of faith to take action for environmental justice. Lindsay enjoys connecting with the Divine in nature and contemplation, especially through hiking and farming.

Bryan Bliss (Afternoon Workshop: “Letting Go of Bad Theology In A New World: Theodicy For Teens”) is a veteran youth worker, writer, and curriculum designer. He is the author of five books, including We’ll Fly Away, which was longlisted for the National Book Award. His latest book is Bad Things, Good People, and God: A Guide for Teens. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Public Theology.

Tom Cashman (Morning Workshop: “Spiritual Direction: An Invitation to Deeper Discovery and Connection”) has been a spiritual director in the Northwest, working primarily with clergy, for over 30 years. Formerly on staff with the Pastoral Leadership Program at Seattle University, he retired from The Seattle School for Theology & Psychology after 9 years as adjunct professor. Tom was part of the founding group of trainers for the Diocese’s College for Congregational Development.

Josh deLacy (Afternoon Workshop: “Becoming People of Refugia: Adapting Our Faith for the Age of Climate Crisis: Roundtable with Young Adults”) works with books as a marketing manager for HarperCollins. Within the Diocese of Olympia, he serves on the board of Underhill House, builds websites, helps with communications projects, and serves as a trail guide for the Creation Care/Wilderness pilgrimages. Whether skiing, hiking, mountaineering, or climbing, he spends as much time as he can in the mountains.

Kay Flores (Afternoon Workshop: “Gathering Community and Growing Relationship through Meaningful Movies”) has been the rector of St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Chehalis, Washington since 2018 after spending most of her life in Wyoming. Kay serves as a trainer for both Godly Play and EfM (Education for Ministry). 

Alida Garcia (Afternoon Workshop: “Sacred Hospitality: Setting the Table for Transformation at Retreats and in Churches”) is the executive director of Camp Huston, an Episcopal summer camp and conference center in the Cascade foothills about an hour east of Seattle. She grew up in a small Texas town near San Antonio. She enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, team sports, water sports of all kinds, traveling, drawing, music, and spending time with her friends, family, and dog Maggie.

Ashley Graham-Wilcox (Afternoon Workshop: “Sacred Hospitality: Setting the Table for Transformation at Retreats and in Churches”) is the Director of Communications and Events at Episcopal Camps & Conference Centers.

Emily Meeks (Afternoon Workshop: “Becoming People of Refugia: Adapting Our Faith for the Age of Climate Crisis: Roundtable with Young Adults”) works in the Medicare segment as director of growth marketing for DUOS. Building connections between faith and nature for people of all ages informs her service on Creation Care at Saint Mark’s Cathedral and the Diocesan Climate Justice Task Force. Emily enjoys hiking, backpacking and kayaking, and through the pandemic, she has discovered a new appreciation of urban walks. 

Anne Miller (Afternoon Workshop: “Gathering Community and Growing Relationship through Meaningful Movies”), Acting Manager, Meaningful Movies Project, is an educator, activist and mother. She is a founding member of the South Seattle Climate Action Network and the Mt Baker Meaningful Movies Group, and currently works as the Interim Manager for the Meaningful Movies Project.

Dan Oberg (Afternoon Workshop: “Sacred Hospitality: Setting the Table for Transformation at Retreats and in Churches”) serves as Executive Director at St. Andrew’s House, a retreat and conference center owned by the Episcopal Church of Western Washington. Dan was previously Director of the Grünewald Guild, an art & faith community near Leavenworth, for 10 years. Prior to that experience, Dan served as a lay minister in a number of nonprofits over the past three decades, as an administrator, counselor, program coordinator, Board member and consultant. 

Carla Orlando, M.Ed, (Morning Workshop: “Spiritual Direction: An Invitation to Deeper Discovery and Connection”) is an educator and spiritual director who teaches discernment, reflective writing, and contemplative prayer at Seattle Pacific University and at the Grunewald Guild for art and spirituality.

Debra Rienstra (Afternoon Workshop: “Becoming People of Refugia: Adapting Our Faith for the Age of Climate Crisis: Roundtable with Young Adults”) is professor of English at Calvin University, where she has taught since 1996. She is the author of four books on spirituality, most recently Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth (2022). She also writes fortnightly for The Twelve–an online magazine connected with The Reformed Journal–writing about spirituality, pop culture, the church, the arts, higher ed, and more.

Hanna Schock (Morning Workshop: “Picture Book Theology for All Ages“) is a church curriculum writer with an unusual background. Her training and experiences as a school psychologist and public-school teacher have evolved into a passion for high quality learning in settings traditionally viewed as sacred or religious. She launched the Picture Book Theology website (www.picturebooktheology.com) in 2014 to encourage the use of picture books in ministry for all ages.

Sylvia Sepulveda (Afternoon Workshop: “Gathering Community and Growing Relationship through Meaningful Movies”), the Program Consultant for Adult Faith Formation in the Diocese of Olympia, is a mother, activist, and fledgling Spiritual Director. She currently organizes and facilitates weekly Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer practices; monthly Mindful Poetry and Contemplative Creativity practices, and organizes Meaningful Movies Offered by The Episcopal Church in Western Washington.

Justin Shelley (Afternoon Workshop: “Becoming People of Refugia: Adapting Our Faith for the Age of Climate Crisis: Roundtable with Young Adults”) is a physical therapist of 12 years, having worked at Movement Systems in South Lake Union (Seattle) since 2019. He enjoys educating and guiding his clients along the path to achieving their goals. He first began attending St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle in October 2021 and has greatly appreciated the warm welcome of the church community. He is excited by opportunities for involvement and is considering where to start.  Justin is delighted by western Washington’s seemingly endless beautiful landscapes and trails; long day hikes are his favorite. He is also a member of Washington Trails Association (WTA) and has volunteered with trail restoration projects.

Hayley Stockwell (Afternoon Workshop: “Gathering Community and Growing Relationship through Meaningful Movies”) serves on the Vestry and Altar Guild of St. Timothy Episcopal Church, Chehalis. She’s obsessed with innovating new ways of doing church, so she’s excited to be working with a team to pilot Messy Church this coming Spring.

Ann Strickland (Music for the Opening & Closing Sessions) leads music in intergenerational communities, notably for over 20 years as Music and Arts Director at Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island. Ann has extensive experience facilitating spiritual retreats and developing curriculum to support people as they explore their own deep inner wisdom. She is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and music teacher. 

Emily Tanis-Likkel (Morning Workshop: “Self-Compassion for Weary Givers”) is ordained in the United Church of Christ and serves as Family Life Minister at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle. She is trained in Nia, a holistic movement practice, as well as Godly Play, Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills for Adolescents, and Our Whole Lives. You can visit Emily at www.emilytanislikkel.com