Speakers

Presenter	Bio
The Rt. Rev. Craig Loya Presider and Keynote	The Rt. Rev. Craig Loya was consecrated the X Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota on June 6, 2020. Bishop Loya served as Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Omaha, Nebraska from 2013-2020, and was the Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas from 2009-2013. He received his Master of Divinity from Yale University and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale in 2002.
Eréndira Jiménez Esquinca Keynote	Eréndira Jiménez Esquinca, Founder of Spirit School Eréndira works as a spiritual companion, decolonizing coach and consultant, and educator focusing on justice, equity, decolonizing, healing, and liberation through a mystical, contemplative, and metamodern lens. Her professional background includes social work, university chaplaincy, and experimental community building and congregational development in the Episcopal Church. She holds an M.A. in Spirituality from Bellarmine University, a Masters of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, and is currently engaged in personal study of decolonizing conceptions of time and space, expanding conceptions of Divine love through polyamory and queerness, and the ways metamodernity can support the transformation of spiritual communities. You can find more about her at www.erendirajimenez.com
The Rev. Stacy Alan Workshop Leader and Circle Convener	The Rev. Stacy Allen (she/her) has been chaplain at Brent House, the Episcopal Center at the University of Chicago since 2005. She has a particular interest in discernment, having been particularly inspired by Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. She is an alumna of Seattle University and Union Theological Seminary, including studies at the Universidad Bíblica Centroamericana (San José, Costa Rica), General Seminary, and Loyola University Chicago.
Kelsey Davis Workshop Leader	Kelsey Davis (she/her) is a former professional athlete, collegiate coach, and international soccer coach. She currently serves in the Episcopal Diocese of WNC as Director of Blue Ridge Service Corps and Campus Missioner at UNCA & WCU. She is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Christian Athlete Circles and holds a M.Div. from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She lives in Asheville, NC with her wife, Heather and daughter, Noah.
Brother James Dowd Workshop Leader, Circle Convener, and Chaplain	Brother James Dowd, OSB (he/him) is the Founding Prior of The Benedictine Way, and has been a monk for many years. Before serving in Nebraska, he served at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY and at Mariya uMama weThemba Monastery in Grahamstown, South Africa. Brother James is passionate about exploring the intersection of the quest for Christian social justice and the contemplative life. Before his years in monastic life, Brother James had a career in theater and television.
The Rev. Jess Elfring-Roberts Workshop Leader and Circle Convener	The Rev. Jess Elfring-Roberts, Executive Director at Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers Jess (she/they) is an award winning improv comedian from Chicago, IL and the new executive director of Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers. Jess spent over 15 years serving in various roles at Episcopal camps. Her educational background includes a BA in Acting (focus in comedy), a Masters in Education (EdTech and coaching) and the Diocese of Chicago school for deacons. Jess was ordained a vocational deacon in January of 2013. She is passionate about camp ministry and finding ways to connect people, creation, and God. She is a founding member of Improv for Change, an improv skills workshop for businesses and nonprofits. In her spare time Jess enjoys riding bikes with her wife and two kids, writing and directing movies (Urban Pebble Productions), and is an avid Chicago Sky (WNBA) fan.
Will Harron PreConference Leader and Workshop Leader	Will Harron (he/him) is Network Organizer for the Young Adult Ministry Network in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts as well as Province Coordinator for the Episcopal Province of New England. Will got his start in young adult ministry serving as an Episcopal Service Corps fellow in the Life Together Community, and then studying for his Master’s in Divinity at the Boston University School of Theology while working with Boston-area campus-ministries. In his spare time he loves backpacking, singing with the Sacred Harp community, and engaging in theological mischief.
The Rev. Ryan Kuratko, PhD Workshop Leader	The Rev. Ryan Kuratko, PhD, Campus and Young Adult Missioner for Harlem, Uptown, and the Bronx. My ministry currently centers on growing the campus ministry at Columbia University and Barnard College, and expanding our Episcopal campus ministry footprint in the northern part of NYC.
The Rev. Kevin Matthews Workshop Leader	The Rev. Kevin Matthews Greensboro Campus & Young Adult Missioner I first attended General Convention as an exhibitor in New Orleans in 1982 while I was in seminary. Through 38 years of ordained ministry in congregation, cathedral, academic, and campus ministries, somehow I kept returning until finally, the Diocese of North Carolina elected me as a deputy in 2009. For the past 17 years, I have served in Greensboro, NC, primarily at UNC Greensboro and Guilford College. This year, I am a member of the GC committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy, & Music.
Sammy McDowell Workshop Leader and Circle Convener	Sammy McDowell is a deacon, a chef, a business owner, and a community leader in North Minneapolis--a Historically Black neighborhood. Motivated by his grandmother's cooking and knack for hospitality, Sammy McDowell set out to create his own cafe where good food and good deeds live harmoniously. After 23 years in the food business, Sammy cashed in his personal savings to open Sammy's Avenue Eatery.
Ryan Mercer Workshop Leader	Ryan Mercer (he/him) is Campus Minister & Creative Director for InterVarsity in Louisiana. Ryan graduated from the University of Illinois and has worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for 12 years, launching campus ministries on campuses in Illinois and Louisiana. He lives in the rural community of Opelousas and in addition to coaching leaders at nearby campuses, directs creative design and social media for InterVarsity Louisiana.
Jeffrey Merrill Conference Lead Musician	Jeffrey Merrill, YACM Conference Musician Jeffrey studied Jazz performance at Temple university for 2 years with faculty like Bruce Barth, Mike Boone, and Tim Warfield. In 2018 he transferred to St. Olaf, working with Dave Hagedorn, Sarah Burk, and Phil Hey. After recovering from a 2 year performance injury in 2021, Jeffrey began gigging around town and started a piano studio in Mahtomedi MN. He now lives in a Christian intentional community in Minneapolis where he continues to learn and grow in his faith, and hone his craft as a musician.
Steve Mullaney Circle Convener	Steve Mullaney serves as the Director of the University Episcopal Community in Minneapolis, MN. Steve loves to ask individuals and groups "Where are we now?; Where are we called to be?; (and) How do we get from here to there?" Inexhaustibly curious and always quick with a joke or a story, Steve loves co-founding new expressions of ministry--including two intentional communities, a house church, a small group facilitator training program and countless formation and retreat opportunities. Steve can't wait to welcome you to Minneapolis where he lives with his husband Joe.
Ellie Singer Workshop Leader	Ellie Singer (she/her) is a young Episcopalian and member of the Daughters of the King. She is a digital media producer and serves as Managing Editor for Podcasts at Earth & Altar Magazine. She is also passionate about ecological justice and served on the Presiding Bishop's Delegation to the UN Climate Conference COP26, in which she led online worship and digital advocacy. As a full-time artist, Ellie crafts hand-sewn stoles using ethically sourced textiles, plushie Book of Common Prayer toys, and other home goods. She brings experience from her previous role as Social Media and Multimedia Specialist at the Diocese of Texas. When she isn't planning Vacation Bible School, her hobbies include baking, tweeting, and PC gaming.
The Rev. Canon Robert TwoBulls Workshop Leader	The Rev. Canon Robert Two Bulls, Missioner for the Department of Indian Work and Multicultural Ministries As the Missioner for the Department of Indian Work (DIW) and Multicultural Ministries, Robert acts as a resource and bridge between ECMN and its eleven DIW Faith Communities. In addition, he serves as a hub for the Multicultural Ministry Network.
The Rev. Allen Wakabayashi PreConference Leader and Workshop Leader	The Rev. Allen M. Wakabayashi (he/him) has served at Princeton for 4 years. Prior to that, he had served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for over 25 years at various campuses including Northwestern University and the University of Illinois - Urbana/Champaign. Originally from Chicago, (Fr.) Allen now lives in the Princeton area with his wife, Diane, and their 2 dogs, Buckaroo and Auggie.
The Rev. Mary Cat Young PreConference Leader and Workshop Leader	The Rev. Mary Cat Young (she/her) has been serving as a campus and young adult minister for over 20 years in the Twin Cities, Boston, New York City, Rock Hill, South Carolina and now Chapel Hill, NC at UNC. Her ministry with Student Athletes began in 2019 in the early stages of discerning a need for mainline Protestant LGBTQ+ affirming community and commitment to meeting the real need for outreach and faith formation opportunities, despite having no collegiate level athletic experience.