2026 Workshop Speakers
The EAD 2026 National Gathering will feature speakers and preachers with a range of national and international experience discussing the intersection of theology, ethics, policy, and advocacy.
April 21, 2026 - Morning (11:30 a.m.)
Workshop #1: Churches and Affordable Housing & Homelessness
Andrew Fuller, Program Director of Economic Policy and Chair of Domestic Policy, ELCA
Andrew Fuller serves as Program Director of Economic Policy and Chair Domestic Policy at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Witness in Society office, where he has dedicated over a decade to addressing critical policy issues including hunger, homelessness, and economic justice.
Lindsey Delks, Policy Advisor, The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations
Lindsey Delks is a domestic policy advisor in the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations, where he oversees all the church’s domestic policy initiatives, including anti-poverty, gun reform, education, and more.
Workshop #2: From Congregations to Capitol Hill: A Christian Response to U.S. Immigration Policy
Kate Parsons, Program Director for Migration Policy, ELCA
Kate Parsons is Program Director, Migration Policy for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.
Galen Fitzkee, Legislative Associate for Immigration, Mennonite Central Committee
Galen Fitzkee is Legislative Associate for Immigration for Mennonite Central Committee and co-chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.
Workshop #3: Advocacy 101
Alex Parker, Advocacy Coordinator, ELCA
Alex Parker serves as the Advocacy Coordinator at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Witness in Society office, where he works closely with the engagement team to mobilize ELCA members and supports the policy team on intersectional issues. His background is in international peace and conflict resolution with an emphasis on interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding.
April 21, 2026 - Afternoon (1:30 p.m.)
Workshop #1: Creation Groans for Repair: Current State of Environmental Policy and Tangible Community Solutions
Madison Mayhew, Advocacy Manager, Creation Justice Ministries
Madison is the Policy and Advocacy Manager of Creation Justice Ministries. She brings extensive experience in faith-based environmental federal advocacy work and a deep commitment to climate justice. Madison has a Master's Degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor's of Social Work from Lipscomb University.
Christine Moffett, Program Director for Environment and Energy, ELCA
Christine Moffett (she/her) serves as the Program Director for Environment and Energy Policy with the Witness in Society, D.C. office-based team of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Christine also serves as the co-chair of the Energy and Ecology Working Group (EEWG) of the Washington Interfaith Staff Community (WISC).
Drake Starling, Senior Government Relations Advocate for Energy and Environmental Policy, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Bio COMING SOON
Derrick Weston, Director of Theological Education and Formation, Creation Justice Ministries
Bio COMING SOON
Workshop #2: Coming soon (focus on Hunger issues)
Sammi Goldsmith, Deputy Director of Public Policy, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Bio COMING SOON
Ruby Zimmerman, Legislative Assistant, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Bio COMING SOON
Luke McCann, Policy Analyst for Basic Needs, The Salvation Army
Luke McCann has a background in the healthcare field and pivoted to the non-profit sector to shift his lens to macro-problem solving. For the last 3 years, he has been the policy analyst for basic needs at The Salvation Army National Headquarters and his portfolio includes food insecurity/nutrition, energy and utility assistance, and emergency disaster services.
Workshop #3: Coming soon (focus on Democracy/Civic Protections)
Min. Christian Watkins, Senior Government Relations Advocate for Criminal Legal Systems, Democracy Reform, and Reparatory Justice, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Min. Christian S. Watkins, M.Div., currently serves as the Senior Government Relations Advocate for Criminal Legal Systems, Democracy Reform, and Reparatory Justice at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, where he works to end racial disparities and advance transformative legislation on the federal level. He is also a Certified Candidate for ordained ministry in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC), serving and Minister of Social Justice through Asbury UMC in Washington, D.C. and Secretary of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations.