Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D.

Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D., is an author and biblical scholar with a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has served as a minister in churches across the country, from the Pacific Northwest to the Florida Gulf, and from the Desert Southwest to the Eastern Seaboard. While Eric has been active in the environmental movement throughout his 30-year ministry, including serving nearly a decade on EcoAmerica’s “Blessed Tomorrow” Advisory Board, his environmental sensibilities date back to his childhood, exploring the waters and mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

As an advocate for both the environment and Christian Pluralism, Eric helped lead a former congregation in Omaha, Nebraska, to become the Christian partner in Omaha’s Tri-Faith Initiative (www.trifaith.org), alongside a Jewish synagogue and Islamic mosque on a 38-acre Commons. There, his congregation built a new church facility that integrates cutting-edge sustainability technologies, including a geothermal HVAC system.

Dr. Elnes’s books include The Phoenix Affirmations: A New Vision for the Future of Christianity and Gifts of the Dark Wood: Seven Blessings for Soulful Skeptics (and Other Wanderers), which won “Best Book in 2015” in the category of Christian Life/Spiritual Living. Many also know Eric as the host of Darkwood Brew – the world’s first interactive, broadcast-quality internet television program that explores faith and values from a Christian Pluralist perspective.

Eric and his wife, Melanie, live in Oregon with their dog, Roe. They are proud parents of two adult children, Arianna and Maren. Eric’s hobbies include hiking, fly fishing, cooking, beachcombing, reading, writing, and bike riding.