Meet Our Speakers
Rev. Dr. Jim Antal
Special Advisor on Climate Justice to the General Minister + President, United Church of Christ
Author of CLIMATE CHURCH, CLIMATE WORLD, from 2006-2018 Antal led the 350 UCC churches in Massachusetts as their Conference Minister and President. He has preached on climate since 1988 in over 400 settings.
Rev. Dr. Neddy Astudillo
Coordinator Climate Justice + Faith Program, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Venezuelan eco-theologian, Presbyterian pastor and coordinator of the Spanish Climate Justice & Faith online Certification program at PLTS. Neddy earned her Doctor of Ministry in “Greening the Church” from Drew University in 2013.
Rev. Dr. Kip Banks, Sr.
Senior Pastor, East Washington Heights Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Kip Bernard Banks, Sr., Senior Pastor at East Washington Heights Baptist Church, DC, and former PNBC General Secretary, focuses on building a loving, intergenerational disciple community. He holds degrees in economics, public policy, divinity, and ministry.
Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt
Minister for Environmental Justice, United Church of Christ
The Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt is the United Church of Christ’s Minister for Environmental Justice and the author of “Cathedral on Fire!: A Church Handbook for the Climate Crisis.”
Aishah-Nyeta Brown
Climate Storyteller + Social Media Manager, Good Energy Stories
Aishah-Nyeta, a passionate climate advocate, researcher, and storyteller, utilizes diverse talents to drive global environmental awareness. Committed to climate justice, she weaves storytelling into her work, inspiring action against environmental injustice specifically for vulnerable populations.
Dr. Thema Bryant
2023 President, American Psychological Association; Ordained Elder, African Methodist Episcopal Church
Dr. Bryant is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor at Pepperdine University, director of the Culture and Trauma research lab, and past president of the American Psychological Association. An ordained elder in the AME Church, she is the author of the book Homecoming and host of the Homecoming podcast.
Rev. Avery Davis Lamb
Co-Executive Director, Creation Justice Ministries
Avery is a Co-Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries, where he works with Christian communities to protect, restore, and rightly share God’s creation.
Rev. Carol Devine
Director of Blessed Tomorrow, ecoAmerica
Rev. Carol L Devine, Director of Blessed Tomorrow, an ordained pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), founded Creation Care, partnering with ecoAmerica since 2015. Passionate about faith and environmental stewardship, she enjoys outdoor activities and has three children and a beloved dog.
Rev. Kara Foster
Senior Minister, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Kara Foster has served as the Senior Minister of First Christian Church (DOC) in Madisonville, Kentucky since September of 2017.
Rev. Dr. John Frey
Advisor, Green Chalice
John has led sustainability programs for global organizations in the space, aerospace, and technology sectors. He shares his knowledge with faith-based and secular audiences around the world. John is one of the sustainable technology voices featured in the new documentary, Clouded II: Does cloud cost the earth?
Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri
Co-Minister, Green Chalice, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri is Co Minister of Green Chalice and the Director of Bethany Congregations. He is an ordained pastor with the Christian Church (DOC) and has served congregations and environmental non profits in Colorado, Texas, California, North Carolina and Monteverde Costa Rica where he had his climate conversion experience. He is a dad, partner, pastor, woods walker, community builder and story curator.
Rev. Chebon Kernell
Executive Director, Native American Comprehensive Plan The United Methodist Church
Rev. Kernell, an Elder of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, has contributed to global religious efforts, including work with the World Council of Churches and the UN. Of Seminole and Muscogee Creek heritage, he’s received the Religious Literacy Award for his educational work in Indigenous religious practices. He holds a BA in Political Science and a Master of Divinity, is a cultural practitioner, and a family man with five children.
Rev. Michael Malcom
Executive Director, People’s Justice Council
I am a passionate environmental justice advocate who believes that it is our moral obligation to love our neighbor. I am compelled by my faith to love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly. I believe if we help the people, we’ll heal the planet.
Phoebe Morad
Executive Director, Lutherans Restoring Creation
Phoebe works with the grassroots movement, Lutherans Restoring Creation promoting creation care as a critical part of the mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. She also facilitates a global, virtual certificate course at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary encouraging faith-based action as part of the Center for Climate Justice and Faith. She resides where the Massachusetts people continue to be the original care-takers of the land.
Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III
Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ
Preacher, poet, activist, author and filmmaker with an eye toward justice and equality. He founded The Unashamed Media Group, a justice centered, faith-based agency committed to producing and curating stories to inspire the heart and challenge the mind.
Rev. Katie Sexton-Wood
Executive Director, Arizona Faith Network
Rev. Katie Sexton brings extensive nonprofit experience in ministry, leadership, interfaith work, and community organizing, with emphasis on extreme heat relief efforts. She holds advanced degrees and actively serves on various boards, demonstrating a commitment to transformative community building.
Rabbi Dean Shapiro
Beth Shalom: The Progressive Jewish Community of Auckland, New Zealand
Rabbi Dean Shapiro leads Auckland’s sole liberal synagogue. A graduate of Hebrew Union College and Harvard College, he facilitates Blessed Tomorrow’s Ambassador Training for Clergy with Reverend Carol Devine.
Meighen Speiser
Executive Director, ecoAmerica
Meighen is ecoAmerica’s Executive Director, leading since 2008. Formerly Brand Director for (RED), she shaped the (PRODUCT) RED partnership and contributed to brand growth. Previous experience includes roles at Mattel and in financial services. Resides in San Francisco with family.
Sharee Wharton
Director of Education + Community Engagement, Potomac UMC
Sharee Wharton is a provisional candidate for ordained ministry as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. She currently serves at Potomac United Methodist Church as the Director of Education and Community Engagement.
Musical Offerings From
Cesar Almeida
Senior Youth Empowerment Coordinator Faith in Place
Cesar Almeida is the senior youth empowerment coordinator at Faith in Place, an interfaith environmental justice organization that serves environmental justice communities in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
Missioner for Creation Care, Episcopal Diocese of Western MA + S. NE Conf., UCC; Creation Care Advisor, Episcopal Diocese of MA
Episcopal priest and climate activist, Margaret Bullitt-Jonas advocates for creation care in New England, inspiring religious activism to combat climate change, deepen creation reverence, and foster a just, sustainable society.
Sarah Joyce Hack
Actress, Singer, Musician
Kentucky-born Sarah, a BFA in Musical Theatre holder, shone in Atlanta’s theatre scene post-Acting Apprenticeship, loving offstage gigs, yoga, and hikes. Dedicated to her dog Henry, she’s committed to her lifelong passion for performance.
Pax Ressler
Composer and Music Leader, Tabernacle United Church (Philadelphia)
Pax Ressler (they/she) is a Philadelphia-based performer and composer working at the intersection of music, theatre and advocacy. Their compositions have been performed across the country and internationally.
National Faith + Climate Forum 2024 