Covenant Conversation: Mid-South
An Open Table: Living Into Who We Claim to Be
We often gather as people of faith at tables – for nourishment and fellowship, for decision-making and learning, and to share sacramentally in the presence of the risen Christ. On Saturday, October 17, we joined as friends and congregations across the Mid-South for Covenant Conversation: Mid-South — An Open Table: Living Into Who We Claim to Be.
It was a time of worship, learning, fellowship, and honest conversation about deepening the church’s welcome of LGBTQIA+ people. We explored the terms we use when talking about people’s identity, creating genuinely safe spaces, navigating divided congregations, and healing church hurt. We shared a meal together, had plenty of time for connection, and joined in worship which invited all to the table with expansive prayer, music, and liturgy.
Registration was $25 and included lunch (free for students and anyone with financial need, using discount code FREE), with childcare available upon request. Whether our congregations had been at this work for decades or were only beginning to ask the questions, there was a place for everyone at our table.
This event was presented by the Covenant Network of Presbyterians in partnership with leaders and congregations of Idlewild Presbyterian Church and the Mid-South region. Read below for more details about workshops, worship and more. Resources from the event will be added here as available:
Expanding Our Welcome: Practical Help for Congregations with the Rev. TJ Remaley and the Rev. Julia Watkins - Click here for PowerPoint
Schedule
9:00 Registration opens / Coffee (T.K. Young Hall, second floor)
9:30 Welcome and Prayer (Chapel)
9:45 Plenary/Panel discussion (Chapel)
11:00 Workshop session #1 (Jones Building 3rd Floor, rooms TBA)
12:15 Lunch (Montgomery Hall)
1:30 Workshop Session #2 (Jones Building 3rd Floor, rooms TBA)
2:45 Discussion Groups / Thinking About Next Steps (Gather in Montgomery Hall)
3:15 Closing Worship (Chapel)
4:00 Go in peace
Panel Discussion: An Open Table
Our day begins with a panel discussion moderated by the Rev. Brian Ellison with the Rev. Julia Watkins, co-moderator of the CNP board of directors and chaplain at Davidson College; Vaniel Smmons, Evergreen Presbyterian Church; Kimberly Baker, Shady Grove Presbyterian Church; and the Rev. Mark Howland, Balmoral Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. Julia Watkins (she/her) serves as College Chaplain and Director of Religious & Spiritual Life at Davidson College, her alma mater, where she returned in August 2023. She holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science from Davidson College. Prior to her current role, she served as a pastor with PC(USA) congregations in Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Greenville, S.C., focusing on local justice initiatives and community building. Watkins has served for several years on CNP's Board of Directors, where she has been instrumental in organizing the Covenant Fellows program and mentoring young leaders in the PC(USA).
Rev. Mark Howland (he/him/his) has served as pastor of Balmoral Presbyterian Church in Memphis since 2022. Ordained in 1997, Mark has served congregations in central Nebraska and south-central Iowa, as well as serving as the UKirk coordinator for the University of Memphis and Rhodes College. He lives in Germantown with his husband, Paul, and their two dogs, Belle and Loki. Drawing from his experiences as a gay man, a Teaching Elder, and a pastor to individuals and families within the LGBTQIA+ community, Mark brings a personal and pastoral perspective to the joys, challenges, and experiences of faith, identity, and belonging within the church.
The Rev. Brian Ellison (he/him) has served as Executive Director of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians since 2012, preaching, teaching and providing overall strategic leadership in implementing the organization’s mission. Brian also serves as Stated Clerk of the Synod of Mid-America. He has served previously as pastor of Parkville Presbyterian Church (near Kansas City, Missouri) and as stated clerk of Heartland Presbytery. He is a host/contributor at KCUR, the NPR affiliate in Kansas City, where he lives with his partner Troy and their two dogs, Willoughby and Sage.
Workshops
Steering the Ship Through Choppy Waters: How Church Leaders Navigate Difficult Conversations with Susan Young Thornton
Conversations are a daily occurrence – they can be casual, planned, unexpected, one-on-one, in a group, among friends and colleagues, or among persons known and unknown in more structured settings. No matter the context, some conversations are difficult, because they touch on subjects on which our conversation partners might hold differing values and beliefs.
Best practices and practical tools for guiding difficult conversations will be offered with particular emphasis on the fraught discussions that we might encounter in congregations, in Session and Presbytery meetings, and in community organizations. Participants will consider a case study, offer scenarios of their own, and think together about what kind of response best suits each situation.
Susan Young Thornton has served congregations in the Presbytery of Los Ranchos for over 30 years with a focus on education, nurture and formation. She reads widely in spiritual formation, theology, social justice, church history, and current and future trends. She lives in Portland, OR with her Cocker Spaniel puppy, Gracie.
Language for Learning: Gender & Sexuality 101 with the Rev. Alex Hendrickson and the Rev. Abigail Trautmann
Join this foundational session designed to build essential vocabulary, self-awareness, and cultural competency surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community. Participants will explore key distinctions between assigned sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, along with practical guidance on inclusive pronoun usage. Grounded in shared covenants of unconditional respect and active listening, this workshop provides a safe, supportive space to deepen empathy and foster welcoming environments.
The Rev. Dr. Alexandra M. Hendrickson is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She has previously served as a congregational minister and hospice chaplain. Since 2012, she has been the College Chaplain and Director of Religious & Spiritual Life at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. She lives with her husband, her three children, and several pets. Alex serves on the Board of Directors for the Covenant Network of Presbyterians.
The Rev. Abigail Trautmann, who goes by Abigail or Abby, serves as Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of Western New York. She began this call in January 2025 after years of ministry in California’s Central Valley, where she developed a deep love for ministry that is grounded, collaborative, and oriented toward real community need. Abigail’s work centers on strengthening congregations, supporting pastoral leadership, and helping the church navigate seasons of change with clarity, courage, and care.
Sharing Stories: Caring for Families of LGBTQ People, moderated by the Rev. Noah Quinton
When a friend or relative, at any age, welcomes us into their full identity, by coming out, we have an opportunity to respond in a variety of ways. Hear the stories of parents, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who navigated this experience, and consider how we can all do a better job of caring when a family member or friend welcomes us in. We'll also talk about what those families need from their faith communities in those moments. Join the conversation as a panel from different generations share their experiences.
Panelists are Jan Kaplan of Balmoral Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Byron Forester, Christi Brown and Phyllis Brown of Covenant Presbyterian Church of Germantown.
The Rev. Noah Quinton found a place of welcome in the PC(USA) in 2025 after 10 years of ordained ministry in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Noah serves as a hospital chaplain at a pediatric oncology hospital and finds deep meaning in journeying with children and families who are navigating devastating cancer diagnoses. Outside of work you will find Noah cheering on the Memphis Grizzlies or spending time with his dog Admiral.
Expanding Our Welcome: Practical Help for Congregations with the Rev. TJ Remaley and the Rev. Julia Watkins - Click here for PowerPoint
Many churches proclaim, “All are welcome,” but how can churches demonstrate that commitment in the broader community? In a truly inclusive community, participants are not just invited to the table, but empowered to help shape it. This session offers concrete strategies for churches to fully embrace LGBTQIA+ people inside and outside the church walls.
The Rev. TJ Remaley (he/him) is the pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho, and has previously served congregations in South Carolina and Florida. He currently serves as Co-Moderator of the Covenant Network board. In life and in ministry, TJ is a bi+ advocate, cat lover, news junkie, theatre fan, enneagram enthusiast, amateur foodie, and wannabe barista.
See bio for the Rev. Julia Watkins above.
Joining Our Mind & Heart: Biblical & Theological Foundations for Inclusion with the Rev. Brian Ellison
Through in-depth study of a few of the texts that have been used to condemn the LGBTQIA+ community, we will be reclaiming the Bible as a tool of inspiration rather than a weapon of domination and exclusion. We will reassert the good news of Jesus Christ and God’s expansive and inclusive love grounded in God’s vision of a diverse, abundant, beautiful world rooted in peace and justice.
See bio above.
Healing Church Hurt & Religious Trauma with the Rev. Mark Howland
Throughout history, the church has not always been a place of safety and acceptance for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who have too often experienced judgment, condemnation, hurtful words, and messages that diminish their identity, worth, and participation in the life of the church. This workshop seeks to acknowledge and address the hurt and trauma caused by these experiences through sharing examples and engaging in honest conversation. Together, we will reflect on our responses and identify ways to communicate a different message—one that embodies Christ’s love, provide space for healing, affirms the dignity of every person, and creates a church where all are welcomed, belong and encouraged to fully participate.
See bio above.
Worship
Our time together in worship will lift up expansive prayers, music, and liturgy with preaching by the Rev. Carol McDonald.
The Rev. Carol McDonald (she/her) retired from, and was named Executive Emerita by, the Synod of Lincoln Trails in August, 2014. Currently, she serves as a Parish Associate at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. She has held many leadership roles in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is a longtime member of the Board of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians.