2026 Program
Comfort, comfort my people
Isaiah 40:1
Comfort, comfort my people
Isaiah 40:1
KEYNOTE SPEAKER on February 24, 2026
Barbara Brown Taylor
Barbara Brown Taylor is the author of four New York Times Bestsellers including An Altar in the World, Learning to Walk in the Dark, Holy Envy and Leaving Church. She is Professor Emeritus at Piedmont College and a retired Episcopal priest and was voted a Top 10 preacher by TIME Magazine. She has also served on the faculties of Emory University, Mercer University, Columbia Seminary, Oblate School of Theology, and the Certificate in Theological Studies program at Arrendale State Prison for Women in Alto, Georgia.
Keynote Speaker March 3, 2026
Rev. Patricia Lyons, D. Min
Patricia “Tricia” Lyons is a seminary professor, parish priest, author and ministry farm co-founder. She is Senior Lecturer in Theology at Virginia Seminary, teaching and mentoring in theology and evangelism since starting at VTS in 2004. She works with the VTS Lifelong Learning Department, extending the teaching and learning from the Seminary walls to the world. Tricia was a lay chaplain and teacher of religion in Episcopal
Schools for 20 years before being ordained a priest and then serving urban parishes in Washington, DC. Eventually Tricia served as Canon for Evangelism in the Diocese of Washington with Bishop Mariann Budde. Tricia currently serves as a non-stipendiary priest at the Church of Saint Clement in Alexandria, VA.
Tricia served on the Presiding Bishop’s Cabinet on Evangelism and was one of the writers of the “Way of
Love” church-wide program to evangelize the Episcopal Church. She is an honors graduate from Harvard
College, the Harvard Divinity School and received her doctorate from the Virginia Theological Seminary.
Tricia also directs a five year, one million-dollar grant from the Lilly Foundation, Inc., to study models of
mutual ministry across the country. She is the author of five books on faith formation, “The Soul of
Adolescence,” “Teaching Faith with Harry Potter,” “What is Evangelism?” “The Evangelist’s Breviary,” and
“Thirty Days: A Devotional.” Her upcoming publications in 2026 include, “From Rome to Home: A 30-Day
Devotional for those traveling from Roman Catholicism to the Episcopal Church,” and “Observant Christian: A
Manual for 21st Century Seekers.”
Schools for 20 years before being ordained a priest and then serving urban parishes in Washington, DC. Eventually Tricia served as Canon for Evangelism in the Diocese of Washington with Bishop Mariann Budde. Tricia currently serves as a non-stipendiary priest at the Church of Saint Clement in Alexandria, VA.
Tricia served on the Presiding Bishop’s Cabinet on Evangelism and was one of the writers of the “Way of
Love” church-wide program to evangelize the Episcopal Church. She is an honors graduate from Harvard
College, the Harvard Divinity School and received her doctorate from the Virginia Theological Seminary.
Tricia also directs a five year, one million-dollar grant from the Lilly Foundation, Inc., to study models of
mutual ministry across the country. She is the author of five books on faith formation, “The Soul of
Adolescence,” “Teaching Faith with Harry Potter,” “What is Evangelism?” “The Evangelist’s Breviary,” and
“Thirty Days: A Devotional.” Her upcoming publications in 2026 include, “From Rome to Home: A 30-Day
Devotional for those traveling from Roman Catholicism to the Episcopal Church,” and “Observant Christian: A
Manual for 21st Century Seekers.”
KEYNOTE SPEAKER on March 10, 2026
Dr. Jacob Wright
Jacob L. Wright serves as professor of Hebrew Bible at Candler and as an associate faculty member at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory. He is the author of many essays, articles, and books. His most recent work, Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and Its Origins, has won multiple awards, including the 2024 PROSE Award, and was included in The New Yorker’s “Best Books we read in 2023.”
KEYNOTE SPEAKER on March 17, 2026
The Rev. Barkley Thompson
Since September 2022, Barkley serves as rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Previously, Barkley served as rector of Church of the Holy Apostles in Collierville, TN, and St. John’s in Roanoke, VA. Immediately before coming to St. Mark’s, he served for a decade as the dean of Christ Church Cathedral, in Houston, Texas.
Barkley’s ministry is one of preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. His great joy is being among the people of God who yearn to know and serve God. Barkley’s theological passion is Celtic Christianity. In addition to teaching the Celtic Way, he regularly leads spiritual pilgrimages to Ireland, Scotland, and Northern England.
Barkley is an avid writer and has published essays in The American Journal of Philosophy & Theology, The Journal of Pastoral Theology, The Anglican Digest, The Living Church, Ratherview, and The Journal of the West. His first book, Elements of Grace, was published in 2013. His second book, In the Midst of the City: The Gospel and God’s Politics was published in 2018 and won an Illumination Award Gold Medal and an Independent Book Publishers Award (“IPPY”) Silver Medal. Barkley’s third book, How Can We Know The Way?: Reflections on Belief, Salvation, and Eternal Life, was released in August of 2023 and quickly became Amazon’s #1 New Testament Meditation new release. In 2025, Barkley’s fourth book was released: The Ache for Home: Stories and Sermons of Family and Place.
Barkley earned a bachelor of arts in philosophy and religion from Hendrix College, a master of arts in religious studies from the University of Chicago, and a master of divinity from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. He is also a Certified Professional Chaplain through WSHO. Barkley serves on the board of St. Francis House, a social service center in Little Rock for veterans and those on the margins. Barkley is deeply interested in interfaith dialogue and is the immediate past president of the North American Committee for St. George’s College in Jerusalem, the Anglican Center in the Holy Land. He is also a member and past treasurer of the Urban-Suburban Clergy Conference.
Barkley is married to Jill, and they have two grown children.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER on March 24, 2026
The Rt. Rev. Robert Wright
The Rt Rev. Robert Wright became the 10th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta in 2012. Since his election, he has been a vocal and active leader in the community, addressing the Georgia legislature about gun control, advocating against the death penalty, and supporting programs for underprivileged youth. He teaches about the importance of love and of justice and continues to lead the diocese to be one of service and faith and always on the mission for the Kingdom of God
