Facilitator: Elaine Heath

Abbess | Theologian | Author | Farmer

The East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences are honored to welcome Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath as the Facilitator for the Second All-Ohio School of Ministry, held August 31 – September 2, 2026, at Kalahari Resorts and Conference Center.

Rev. Dr. Heath is a visionary leader at the intersection of theology, spiritual formation, and missional renewal. An Abbess, theologian, author, and farmer, her work embodies a holistic and deeply incarnational expression of Christian faith—one that integrates contemplation, community, and creation care into the life of the Church.

She brings a compelling voice to what she describes as a “new reformation”—a movement of the Holy Spirit that calls the Church beyond the harmful legacies of patriarchy, racism, classism, and exclusion, toward a more generous, hospitable, and equitable expression of Christianity. Her work invites leaders to participate in God’s healing mission, addressing the wounds inflicted by Christendom so that the Gospel may once again be experienced as good news for all people.

With a distinguished background in both pastoral and academic ministry, Dr. Heath has served as the McCreless Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology and as Dean of Duke Divinity School. She is a prolific author of thirteen books, including Trauma-Informed Evangelism (with Charles Kiser), Loving the Hell Out of Ourselves (with Jeanine B. Heath-McGlinn), God Unbound, and The Mystic Way of Evangelism. Her scholarship and writing are widely respected for their depth, clarity, and transformative vision.

As Abbess and Lead Farmer, Dr. Heath lives out her theology in daily practice, cultivating communities rooted in prayer, justice, sustainability, and belonging. Her leadership offers a lived witness to the kind of Church emerging in this new era—one shaped by healing, liberation, and the reconciling love of Christ.

Participants in the School of Ministry will be guided by her wisdom, challenged by her prophetic insight, and nurtured through her deep commitment to spiritual formation and the renewal of the Church.

The School of Ministry will include:

• Inspiring sessions on the future of the Church in Ohio
• Interactive networking and fellowship opportunities

We invite you to be part of this historic moment of unity, vision, and connection—an opportunity to nurture community, strengthen shared identity, and dream courageously about the Church we are becoming.