2023 Program
50 Years of Lenten Discovery
50 Years of Lenten Discovery
KEYNOTE SPEAKER on March 1, 2023
The Rev. Becca Stevens
Becca Stevens is a speaker, social entrepreneur, author, priest, founder, and
President of Thistle Farms. As an entrepreneurial leader, she has established 10
justice initiatives and has raised over $65M in funding. Stevens leads important
conversations across the country through speaking, advocating, preaching and
writing. She walks the line between pragmatism and poetry in her message that love
is the strongest force for change in the world.
Stevens founded Thistle Farms in 1997 with a single home for survivors of
trafficking, and addiction. Almost twenty-five years later, it is a global
movement for women’s freedom. Today the Nashville flagship includes a
residential program that serves as a national model for women’s recovery, and
three justice social enterprises that provide jobs to survivors—amounting to
$4M in earned income last year. Stevens developed the Thistle National
Network to provide tools, workshops, and conferences to support young
organizations wanting to follow its holistic model of recovery. There are now 92
organizations, providing over 500 beds to survivors, in its network. She also
created Thistle Farms Global Shared Trade which supports 1,400 artisan
survivors through 39 partners in 21 countries.
Additional enterprises Stevens has helped establish include the Center for
Contemplative Justice and Larkspur Conservation in the U.S., as well as Escuela Ann
Stevens and Sibimbe in Ecuador, Moringa Madres in Mexico, and Love Welcomes in
Greece.
Stevens has been featured on PBS NewsHour, The Today Show, CNN, ABC World
News and in The New York Times. Her many awards include CNN Hero, White House
Champion of Change, Humanitarian of the Year by the Small Business Council of
America, Tennessee Human Rights Outstanding Service Award, and induction into The
Entrepreneur Center’s Hall of Fame, and Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame. Becca
attended the University of the South and Vanderbilt Divinity School, receiving
alumnae distinction awards from both. Stevens has also been conferred multiple
honorary doctorates.
Stevens speaks to a broad range of non-profit, religious, and business
audiences—often in bare feet to show solidarity with those she serves. Drawn from
25 years of leadership in mission-driven work, the courageous stories of women
survivors, and wisdom from nature and healing traditions, Stevens inspires and
motivates audiences everywhere with practical and loving steps to inspire change in
individuals and communities. Her latest book, “Practically Divine,” released
September 2021 on Harper Horizon.
PANEL DISCUSSION on March 8, 2023
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Reflections on 50 Years of the Thorne Sparkman School of Religion
The Panel will reflect on 50 years of Thorne Sparkman and the future of theological education. The Very Rev. John H. Bonner, III has served for 35 years as a priest in 3 parishes. He served as Dean of the Albemarle Deanary in East Carolina and on The Standing Committee. He retired from Holy Trinity, Hertford, NC in 2015 and now does Supply in East Tennessee. He is married to Deborah and they have 3 children and 5 grands. Mr. Joel King served as the Chair of the Thorne Sparkman School of Religion committee for 13 years. He is a resident of Chattanooga and has been an Episcopalian for 50+ years. The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Abts Wright is the C. K. Benedict Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew at Sewanee. She is an ordained United Methodist minister who loves to teach. For more than 25 years she has been going to Chattanooga weekly to conduct bible study groups with members of the parish. The Very Rev. James F. Turrell was appointed vice provost and dean of the Sewanee School of Theology on July 1, 2020. He was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) in 1996. After parish work, he studied history at Vanderbilt University. Turrell joined the faculty of the School of Theology in 2002. He has served on the Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music and on the House of Bishops Theology Committee. |
KEYNOTE SPEAKER on March 15, 2023
Bishop Kevin Strickland
The Rev. Kevin L. Strickland was elected Bishop of the Southeastern Synod on June 2, 2019. Prior to the
election, he served in the ELCA Churchwide office since August of 2014 as the Assistant to the Presiding
Bishop, Executive for Worship of the ELCA.
Born and raised in Lexington, SC, Bishop Strickland is an honors graduate of Newberry College
(Newberry, SC) with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy and a minor in History. He also
obtained a Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (Columbia, SC). In
December of 2019, Newberry College awarded him a Doctorate of Divinity. In August of 2021, he began
work on a Doctorate of Ministry degree (class of 2024) in Church Leadership and Community Witness
from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Bp. Strickland also holds a certificate in Executive
religious fundraising.
Bishop Strickland served as pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran (Nashville, TN) and St. Paul Lutheran
(Maryville, TN) prior and has served at Incarnation Lutheran (Columbia, SC), St. Philip’s Lutheran
(Newberry, SC), Lutheran Church of Redeemer (Newberry, SC), and Mt. Tabor Lutheran (West Columbia,
SC) in the area of youth and family ministry.
With a heart for justice and advocacy ministry, Bishop Strickland has served on various local and
national non-profit boards. He currently serves on the boards of Georgia Interfaith Public Policy
Council, Inspiritus, Middle East Ready Bench of the ELCA, Ecumenical and Interreligious Committee of
the ELCA, Immigration Ready Bench of the ELCA, 1517 Media, Newberry College, NovusWay, Region
Nine Council, James R. Crumley Archives, Day 1 Advisory Council, and many others.
Bishop Strickland has been published in several worship and preaching journals and books. In April of
2021, he was inducted into Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. College of Ministers. He and his
spouse, Robby, are excited about what God has in store for the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA and
look forward to walking this journey together.
The Rev. Kevin L. Strickland was elected Bishop of the Southeastern Synod on June 2, 2019. Prior to the
election, he served in the ELCA Churchwide office since August of 2014 as the Assistant to the Presiding
Bishop, Executive for Worship of the ELCA.
Born and raised in Lexington, SC, Bishop Strickland is an honors graduate of Newberry College
(Newberry, SC) with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy and a minor in History. He also
obtained a Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (Columbia, SC). In
December of 2019, Newberry College awarded him a Doctorate of Divinity. In August of 2021, he began
work on a Doctorate of Ministry degree (class of 2024) in Church Leadership and Community Witness
from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Bp. Strickland also holds a certificate in Executive
religious fundraising.
Bishop Strickland served as pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran (Nashville, TN) and St. Paul Lutheran
(Maryville, TN) prior and has served at Incarnation Lutheran (Columbia, SC), St. Philip’s Lutheran
(Newberry, SC), Lutheran Church of Redeemer (Newberry, SC), and Mt. Tabor Lutheran (West Columbia,
SC) in the area of youth and family ministry.
With a heart for justice and advocacy ministry, Bishop Strickland has served on various local and
national non-profit boards. He currently serves on the boards of Georgia Interfaith Public Policy
Council, Inspiritus, Middle East Ready Bench of the ELCA, Ecumenical and Interreligious Committee of
the ELCA, Immigration Ready Bench of the ELCA, 1517 Media, Newberry College, NovusWay, Region
Nine Council, James R. Crumley Archives, Day 1 Advisory Council, and many others.
Bishop Strickland has been published in several worship and preaching journals and books. In April of
2021, he was inducted into Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. College of Ministers. He and his
spouse, Robby, are excited about what God has in store for the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA and
look forward to walking this journey together.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER on March 22, 2023
Dr. Catherine Meeks
Awarded the President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement and Service Award in August 2022,
Listed by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the 500 women to watch in Georgia in 2022
Retired Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies, Author, Community and
Wellness Activist and Mid-wife to the Soul
Currently serving as Executive Director of Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing
Educational Background: BA in Speech Education from Pepperdine University (Calif.) ,
Master in Social Work, Atlanta University (Ga.), Ph.D Emory University( Ga). MSW Thesis
focused upon Jung, Afro Centrism and Oncology. Ph.D focus was on Jungian Psychology,
African and African American Women's Literature. Dissertation: The Mule of the World: An
Exploration into Sexist Oppression with Zora Neale Hurston and Alice Walker
Vocational Highlights: Taught African American Studies at Mercer University for 25 years
where an interdisciplinary approach to issues of race, gender and class raised the consciousness
of many students. In addition to this there were many opportunities to engage other issues as a
professor in the Freshman Seminar Program, Senior Capstone Program, Human Services and
Psychology Departments.
Following the Mercer tenure two years were spent serving as a Loaned Executive to the Mayor's
Office in the City of Macon directing the Mayor's Youth Violence Task Force. During this time
the high-profile nature of this volunteer job led to an invitation from Wesleyan College to join
their faculty as the Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies. This
position was held for nine years until retirement in 2008.
Community Involvement: The activities in this section coincided with the 34-year academic
career which is highlighted above. Founding Director of the Lane Center for Community
Engagement and Service at Wesleyan College, Director of Aunt Maggie's Kitchen Table, a
family resource center located in a public housing facility, serving an underserved population and
winner of the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Award for Community and Campus Partnership.
Organizer of Standing on Their Shoulders: A Celebration of the Wisdom of African American
Women, a nine-year project which identified and honored 100 African American Women and
published a coffee table book highlighting their lives. Founding member of the Center for Racial
Understanding, organizer of city-wide marches against violence, organized and implemented
major community wellness fairs and events such as weight loss programs for indigent women
and food and clothing drives. Created a library at Aunt Maggie's Kitchen Table and organized a
project to allow the children in the housing complex to build home bookshelves and fill them
with new books donated by a local bookstore. Along with this funding was acquired which made
it possible for third grade students to participate in a writing workshop and publish their stories
in individual books at the conclusion.
Current Community Involvement: All of my current community work involves running the
Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing and allows me to do a wide variety of work. My
current work includes organizing and implementing spiritual retreats and conducting workshops
on a variety of wellness and spirituality issues, teaching courses on Jungian Psychology, racial
diversity, cultural issues, and spiritual development. This work is done locally, nationally and
internationally.
Partial List of Past and Present Awards : Georgia Sociologist of the Year, Leadership Macon
Alumnus of the Year, NAACP Earl Shinholster Freedom Fund Award, Distinguished Servant
Leadership Award (Wesleyan College) Quillian Outstanding Teacher Award (Wesleyan College).
W.E.B. DuBois Award for Distinguished Community Service, Spencer B. King Distinguished
Teacher Award (Mercer), Career Women's Network Woman of Achievement, WMAZ Television
Straight from the Heart Award for Community Service, Girl Scouts Woman of Achievement,
2022 Bishop’s Cross Recipient from the 10 th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Publications: Author of eight books with a 2022 publication titled The Night is Long but Light Comes
in the Morning: Meditations on Racial Healing; bi-weekly newspaper column for the Macon Telegraph;
daily wellness vignettes which were read on the radio for one year; a bi-weekly blog and podcasts which
are posted on the Center for Racial Healing website.
Awarded the President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement and Service Award in August 2022,
Listed by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the 500 women to watch in Georgia in 2022
Retired Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies, Author, Community and
Wellness Activist and Mid-wife to the Soul
Currently serving as Executive Director of Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing
Educational Background: BA in Speech Education from Pepperdine University (Calif.) ,
Master in Social Work, Atlanta University (Ga.), Ph.D Emory University( Ga). MSW Thesis
focused upon Jung, Afro Centrism and Oncology. Ph.D focus was on Jungian Psychology,
African and African American Women's Literature. Dissertation: The Mule of the World: An
Exploration into Sexist Oppression with Zora Neale Hurston and Alice Walker
Vocational Highlights: Taught African American Studies at Mercer University for 25 years
where an interdisciplinary approach to issues of race, gender and class raised the consciousness
of many students. In addition to this there were many opportunities to engage other issues as a
professor in the Freshman Seminar Program, Senior Capstone Program, Human Services and
Psychology Departments.
Following the Mercer tenure two years were spent serving as a Loaned Executive to the Mayor's
Office in the City of Macon directing the Mayor's Youth Violence Task Force. During this time
the high-profile nature of this volunteer job led to an invitation from Wesleyan College to join
their faculty as the Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies. This
position was held for nine years until retirement in 2008.
Community Involvement: The activities in this section coincided with the 34-year academic
career which is highlighted above. Founding Director of the Lane Center for Community
Engagement and Service at Wesleyan College, Director of Aunt Maggie's Kitchen Table, a
family resource center located in a public housing facility, serving an underserved population and
winner of the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Award for Community and Campus Partnership.
Organizer of Standing on Their Shoulders: A Celebration of the Wisdom of African American
Women, a nine-year project which identified and honored 100 African American Women and
published a coffee table book highlighting their lives. Founding member of the Center for Racial
Understanding, organizer of city-wide marches against violence, organized and implemented
major community wellness fairs and events such as weight loss programs for indigent women
and food and clothing drives. Created a library at Aunt Maggie's Kitchen Table and organized a
project to allow the children in the housing complex to build home bookshelves and fill them
with new books donated by a local bookstore. Along with this funding was acquired which made
it possible for third grade students to participate in a writing workshop and publish their stories
in individual books at the conclusion.
Current Community Involvement: All of my current community work involves running the
Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing and allows me to do a wide variety of work. My
current work includes organizing and implementing spiritual retreats and conducting workshops
on a variety of wellness and spirituality issues, teaching courses on Jungian Psychology, racial
diversity, cultural issues, and spiritual development. This work is done locally, nationally and
internationally.
Partial List of Past and Present Awards : Georgia Sociologist of the Year, Leadership Macon
Alumnus of the Year, NAACP Earl Shinholster Freedom Fund Award, Distinguished Servant
Leadership Award (Wesleyan College) Quillian Outstanding Teacher Award (Wesleyan College).
W.E.B. DuBois Award for Distinguished Community Service, Spencer B. King Distinguished
Teacher Award (Mercer), Career Women's Network Woman of Achievement, WMAZ Television
Straight from the Heart Award for Community Service, Girl Scouts Woman of Achievement,
2022 Bishop’s Cross Recipient from the 10 th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Publications: Author of eight books with a 2022 publication titled The Night is Long but Light Comes
in the Morning: Meditations on Racial Healing; bi-weekly newspaper column for the Macon Telegraph;
daily wellness vignettes which were read on the radio for one year; a bi-weekly blog and podcasts which
are posted on the Center for Racial Healing website.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER on March 29,2023
Bishop Brian Cole
The Rt. Rev. Brian Lee Cole was ordained and consecrated fifth bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee on December 2, 2017. A southeast Missouri native, Bishop Cole graduated from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1989.
In 1992, he earned a Master of Divinity at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, with additional studies in Anglican Church History at The University of the South School of Theology, Sewanee, in 2001. He also pursued studies in Art and Prayer at General Theological Seminary (GTS), New York City, in 2006, and studied liturgics In Asheville, N.C., from 2002 to 2005.
In 1998 he married Susan Weatherford, a poet, musician, avid gardener, and graduate of Berea College and University of Kentucky. They have one son, Jess. Cole has served as an instructor in Appalachian Religion, Faith and Practices, and Appalachian Religion and Culture, at Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. N.C.; Wake Forest University School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. Cole is an avid reader and runner, and loves listening to good jazz music.
The Rt. Rev. Brian Lee Cole was ordained and consecrated fifth bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee on December 2, 2017. A southeast Missouri native, Bishop Cole graduated from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1989.
In 1992, he earned a Master of Divinity at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, with additional studies in Anglican Church History at The University of the South School of Theology, Sewanee, in 2001. He also pursued studies in Art and Prayer at General Theological Seminary (GTS), New York City, in 2006, and studied liturgics In Asheville, N.C., from 2002 to 2005.
In 1998 he married Susan Weatherford, a poet, musician, avid gardener, and graduate of Berea College and University of Kentucky. They have one son, Jess. Cole has served as an instructor in Appalachian Religion, Faith and Practices, and Appalachian Religion and Culture, at Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. N.C.; Wake Forest University School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. Cole is an avid reader and runner, and loves listening to good jazz music.
