Navigating Sermon Pushback During the Election Season
You’re taking up the prophetic call.
You’re telling the necessary truth.
But you’re met with skepticism, discomfort, and sometimes outright resistance. Justice preaching in election season takes as much courage as it takes grace.
The EcoPreacher Initiative invites you to a hands-on workshop where you’ll gain skills and sensibilities so that you can stay open, relational, and resilient with your community.
Thursday, October 1, 2026 • 1:00 – 4:00pm ET • Zoom
Co-hosted by:
What to Expect
Through a blend of teaching, storytelling, and shared reflection, Rev. Dr. Leah Schade and Rev. Dr. Xavier Johnson will offer insights from their own experiences of facing sermon pushback.
While their stories will focus on preaching about environmental justice, the lessons they’ll share are applicable to all sorts of justice preaching.
Participants will engage in scenario planning and role-playing exercises to practice responding with compassion,
clarity, courage, and care.
This is a workshop of “EcoPreacher: Compelling Preaching for a Climate Changed World,” a program partnership between Lexington Theological Seminary, The BTS Center, and Creation Justice Ministries, with support from The Lilly Endowment, Inc. We’re grateful to partner with Center for Earth Ethics and Union Theological Seminary to make this workshop possible.
Presenters
The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade is the Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky. An ordained Lutheran minister (ELCA) for twenty-five years, Leah earned both her MDiv and PhD degrees from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary). She has pastored congregations in suburban, urban, and rural contexts.
She has served as an anti-fracking and climate activist, community organizer, and advocate for environmental justice issues. She is currently the grant director for the $1.25 million project “Compelling Preaching for a Climate-Changed World” at LTS in partnership with The BTS Center and Creation Justice Ministries. She also partners with ecoAmerica’s Blessed Tomorrow, and the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, with whom she writes EcoPreacher 1-2-3 for busy pastors wanting to address environmental issues in their sermons.
Rev. Dr. Xavier Johnson is Assistant Professor in the Practice of Preaching and Black Church Studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Johnson teaches in the areas of homiletics and Black Church studies. His research interests converge at the intersection of clergy leadership, black religion, social justice, and preaching. Dr. Xavier Johnson is ordained in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and he currently serves as the pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio. Prior to joining the faculty at United, he served as Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Contextual Ministry Education at Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, IN.
Shema Roberts is a graduating student at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO), where she is completing her Master of Arts in Social Justice and Theological Studies. She is deeply committed to the intersection of faith and ecology and serves as a volunteer with Creation Justice Ministries within their Theological Education Department. In this role, she actively supports the 2025-2026 EcoPreacher Cohort.
Hosts
Rev. Nicole Diroff is ordained in the United Church of Christ and serves as the Associate Director of The BTS Center. She is responsible for the program design, implementation, and evaluation of the Center’s many initiatives focused on nurturing spiritual leadership for a climate-changed world. She holds expertise in facilitation, data management, group process, and strategic intent.
Nicole is a certified Maine Master Naturalist, serves as Chair of the Spiritual Formation Committee at Williston-Immanuel United Church and volunteers with the Scarborough Land Trust. When she’s not leading programs or facilitating meetings, she can be found exploring tide pools with her son, hiking with her dogs, or reading a novel at a local coffee shop.
Prior to her work with The BTS Center, Nicole served as the Associate Director at Interfaith Philadelphia, where she coordinated the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia and directed the creation and expansion of the organization’s Dare to Understand initiatives. Nicole is a graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and Ohio Wesleyan University.
Rev. Derrick Weston is a writer, filmmaker, podcaster, speaker, and educator whose most recent work has focused on the intersection of food and faith. He serves as the Director of Theological Education and Formation for Creation Justice Ministries. Derrick is the co-host of the Food and Faith podcast and producer of Spoon, Spade, and Soul, a podcast highlighting food and land-based ministries in the Episcopal church. Additionally, he is the producer of the short film series “A Wilderness Like Eden” highlighting the work of churches engaged in food justice work. After two decades of being a pastor and community organizer, Derrick is a strong believer in the potential of local congregations to enact change in their communities. Derrick received his B.A. in film studies from the University of Pittsburgh and his Masters of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He also has a certification in health ministry from Wesleyan Theological Seminary and was a part of the Re:Generate fellowship on food, faith, and ecology through Wake Forest Divinity School. Derrick is the co-author of the book The Just Kitchen: Invitations to Sustainability, Cooking, Connection, and Celebration and has written numerous articles for several publications. He and his wife Shannon have four children and live outside of Baltimore, Maryland.
Storytellers
The Rev. Ryan Cagle (he/they) is the program manager for the Innovative Preaching and Eco-Justice Initiative at Union Theological Seminary and the Center for Earth Ethics with a passion for composting, tabletop roleplaying games and all things related to helping communities of faith navigate the climate crisis. Hailing from the foothills of Appalachia in Parrish, Alabama, Ryan is a spouse, parent, ordained pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and occasional writer at Seeds & Sabotage: Theology for a World on Fire.
Ryan co-cultivates Jubilee House Community, a faith-rooted, inclusive and earth-oriented initiative focused on climate resilience, harm reduction and food sovereignty. Ryan holds degrees in Social Transformation (Master of Divinity) and Eco-Justice (Master of Arts) from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and has trained at the Center for Action and Contemplation and Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction.
Rev. Dr. Gregory I. Simpson is the Managing Director (Interim) of the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary. A scientist turned earth ethicist, he holds a Ph.D. from the University of the West Indies in organic chemistry, as well as M.Div. and S.T.M. degrees from Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
A former Pastor of Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church in Pearl River, New York, Rev. Simpson’s leadership spans public, nonprofit, and private sectors. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Presbyterian Church USA’s SYNOD of the Northeast, overseeing its investment assets with ESG-aligned investment policies. He is a Trustee of SUNY Ulster Community College, and an elected Town Councilperson in Hurley, New York. In the private sector, he was the former Board Chair of Narralytics Inc., an AI analytics company providing social & environmental impact assessments. He now serves as Co-Founder and President of Cuore Inc. a boutique leadership consulting firm where his work centers on AI-based operating systems builds for religious leaders, climate and environmental justice advocacy and responsible technology governance.
With any questions, please contact
Rev. Nicole Diroff at
nicole@thebtscenter.org.
Past Events
This is a workshop of “Compelling Preaching for a Climate Changed World,” a program partnership between Lexington Theological Seminary, The BTS Center, and Creation Justice Ministries, with support from The Lilly Endowment, Inc.