Workshop Two

About the Workshop: How can our bodies nurture our discipleship to Jesus Christ? How can they support openness and responsiveness to the Holy Spirit, so that we can incarnate prophetic presence and action in this world God so loves? Our human bodies are NOT merely “spirit taxis,” but are a key, integrational component to spiritual discernment, repentance, and transformation. Come and experientially explore some of the God given gifts and tools of our bodies for helping us discern and develop greater leadership presence, healthy boundary setting, and appropriate self-care as authentic, prophetic Christian leaders.

Rev. Dr. Rebecca Letterman served at Roberts Wesleyan University for nearly 18 years, both as Professor of Spiritual Formation at Northeastern Seminary and as the Director of the university’s Intellectual and Spiritual Humility Institute. Rebecca is a certified spiritual director and certified embodiment coach, and is an ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church.

Rebecca earned her BA in English from Roberts Wesleyan University, an MA in Linguistics from Syracuse University with an emphasis in language and culture, a PhD in Linguistics from Cornell University, and an MDiv from Northeastern Seminary. She is a frequent retreat facilitator, podcast guest, and workshop leader, and is co-author (with Dr. Susan Muto) of Understanding Our Story. She is working on a forthcoming book on the integration of the body and Christian spiritual formation. She is a wife and mother, and delights in the gifts of family and friendships, gardening, cooking (and eating!), reading, watching good films, and hiking.

She is the founder of Embodiment Consulting Services – a ministry that seeks to support the church in reclaiming the formative potential of the human body for Christian living – offering workshops, retreats, online classes and other resources, and one-on-one coaching.

About the Workshop: How can our bodies nurture our discipleship to Jesus Christ? How can they support openness and responsiveness to the Holy Spirit, so that we can incarnate prophetic presence and action in this world God so loves? Our human bodies are NOT merely “spirit taxis,” but are a key, integrational component to spiritual discernment, repentance, and transformation. Come and experientially explore some of the God given gifts and tools of our bodies for helping us discern and develop greater leadership presence, healthy boundary setting, and appropriate self-care as authentic, prophetic Christian leaders.

Rev. Dr. Rebecca Letterman served at Roberts Wesleyan University for nearly 18 years, both as Professor of Spiritual Formation at Northeastern Seminary and as the Director of the university’s Intellectual and Spiritual Humility Institute. Rebecca is a certified spiritual director and certified embodiment coach, and is an ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church.

Rebecca earned her BA in English from Roberts Wesleyan University, an MA in Linguistics from Syracuse University with an emphasis in language and culture, a PhD in Linguistics from Cornell University, and an MDiv from Northeastern Seminary. She is a frequent retreat facilitator, podcast guest, and workshop leader, and is co-author (with Dr. Susan Muto) of Understanding Our Story. She is working on a forthcoming book on the integration of the body and Christian spiritual formation. She is a wife and mother, and delights in the gifts of family and friendships, gardening, cooking (and eating!), reading, watching good films, and hiking.

She is the founder of Embodiment Consulting Services – a ministry that seeks to support the church in reclaiming the formative potential of the human body for Christian living – offering workshops, retreats, online classes and other resources, and one-on-one coaching.

About the Workshop: Teaching children to become anti-racist means becoming aware of our own biases so that we can be intentional about not passing them along. Participants will learn about the distinction between being colorblind and color-conscious and discuss how to recognize and participate in systematically dismantling unjust power structures. This workshop is designed for anyone working with or raising children and teens.

Katherine received her BA from the University of Kentucky in psychology and her MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary. She founded the Winton Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Justice Network of the Free Methodist Church. She was ordained a deacon in the Free Methodist Church in 1982 and an elder in 1985. In addition, Callahan-Howell has authored a book on spiritual disciplines as well as articles in publications such as Leadership Journal and Light and Life Magazine. She and her husband Roger have four grown children and three grandchildren.

Rev. Marissa Mattox Heffernan has served in several different contexts of worship ministry for over 20 years. She built and led worship teams, toured as a part of a worship duo, and teaches inclusive practices of worship leadership. The unity experienced in worship has driven Marissa to explore what the culture of Christianity would look like if all people were equally recognized as image-bearers of God. Marissa serves as Co-chair/Director of the Justice Network of the FMC, on the board of the African Heritage Network (FMC), and as Co-pastor at New Hope Free Methodist Church in Rochester, NY. She also leads in the areas of leadership development, and is a trained facilitator in racial justice conversations. Marissa is married to her best friend, Matt, and is mom to three daughters. She loves a good road trip, a good book, and a bag of yarn.

About the Workshop: Teaching children to become anti-racist means becoming aware of our own biases so that we can be intentional about not passing them along. Participants will learn about the distinction between being colorblind and color-conscious and discuss how to recognize and participate in systematically dismantling unjust power structures. This workshop is designed for anyone working with or raising children and teens.

Katherine received her BA from the University of Kentucky in psychology and her MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary. She founded the Winton Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Justice Network of the Free Methodist Church. She was ordained a deacon in the Free Methodist Church in 1982 and an elder in 1985. In addition, Callahan-Howell has authored a book on spiritual disciplines as well as articles in publications such as Leadership Journal and Light and Life Magazine. She and her husband Roger have four grown children and three grandchildren.

Rev. Marissa Mattox Heffernan has served in several different contexts of worship ministry for over 20 years. She built and led worship teams, toured as a part of a worship duo, and teaches inclusive practices of worship leadership. The unity experienced in worship has driven Marissa to explore what the culture of Christianity would look like if all people were equally recognized as image-bearers of God. Marissa serves as Co-chair/Director of the Justice Network of the FMC, on the board of the African Heritage Network (FMC), and as Co-pastor at New Hope Free Methodist Church in Rochester, NY. She also leads in the areas of leadership development, and is a trained facilitator in racial justice conversations. Marissa is married to her best friend, Matt, and is mom to three daughters. She loves a good road trip, a good book, and a bag of yarn.