Benjamin Durheim, PhD is an assistant professor of theology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Minnesota, where he teaches courses on social ethics, rural ministry, and liturgy. He has published articles at the intersection of liturgy and social ethics, and on rural Christianity. His most recent book, Each in Our Own Language, deals with the ways social ethics takes shape in rural America. Ben lives in rural Central Minnesota with his wife and two children, and enjoys woodworking, fishing, and good conversation over freshly made lefse.
Benjamin will be presenting on Navigating Discord and Neighborliness and Rural Aesthetics, Rural Values at the Rural Ideas Conference 2026.
We are so excited to have Benjamin speak at our conference this year!
Catherine Neelly Burton is a PC(USA) pastor. She serves as the Mission & Ministry Connector for the Presbytery of Southern Kansas. She works with congregations with little or no paid staff and seeks to connect and empower church members to lead. She lives in Wichita, Kansas with her family. Her roots are in Arkansas having grown up just down the road from Clarksville, in Russellville, AR.
Catherine will be preaching a plenary at the Rural Ideas Conference 2026.
We are so excited to have Catherine speak at our conference again this year!
The Rev. Sara Anne Berger is the Assistant Director of the Town Square Collaborative. Prior to joining the University of the Ozark’s staff in 2024, she served as pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, AR. Previously, she was the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Natchitoches, LA from 2016-2020, and pastor of Whitmire Presbyterian Church in Whitmire, SC from 2011-2016. She graduated with a BA in History from Presbyterian College in 2007, and with a Mdiv and MA in Christian Education degrees from Union Presbyterian Seminary in 2011.
We are so excited to have Sara Anne speak at our conference again this year!
The Rev. Phillip Blackburn is the Director of the Town Square Collaborative. Prior to joining the University of the Ozark’s staff full-time in 2024, he served as co-pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR with his wife, Tasha. Previously, he was the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, IL from 2004-2012 and a Lake Fellow in Parish Ministry at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, IN from 2002-2004. He graduated with BAs in Religious Studies and History from the University of Kansas in 1997, a MDiv from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2001, and a MTh from the University of Edinburgh in 2002.
Phil will be presenting on What is New and What is Old: The Rural Church at the Rural Ideas Conference 2026.
We are so excited to have Phil speak at our conference again this year!
Dr. Keneshia Bryant-Moore is the Consulting Fellow for Congregational and Non-Profit Collaboration. She is the senior consultant with KBM Consulting LLC. Dr. Bryant-Moore’s research primarily focuses on health disparities and inequities experienced by minority racial/ethnic groups, rural, and vulnerable populations. Additionally, Dr. Bryant-Moore is a tenured Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. She led the development of the Faith-Academic Initiative for Transforming Health (FAITH) Network in 2016. As part of this network faith leaders are educated on the basic principles of research, health related issues, and given the opportunity to partner in research and program efforts. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from the University of Michigan-Flint; her Master of Science in Nursing from Duke University; and her PhD in Nursing from Azusa Pacific University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Ministry at Central Baptist Theological Seminary.
Keneshia will be leading worship at the end of the Rural Ideas Conference 2026.
We are so excited to have Keneshia speak & sing at our conference again this year!
Kyla Cox Deckard leads strategic initiatives and communications for the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, working with the campus and communities to support rural Indiana’s vitality. A lifelong Hoosier, Kyla is the form director of Leadership Bloomington-Monroe County and previously worked for the IU Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. She dedicates time beyond her roles at IU to community volunteering and governmental service. She is an active lay leader at First United Methodist Church Bloomington.
Kyla is the principal investigator for IU’s Ministry and Mental Well-Being in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative. Marshaling IU’s comprehensive social work, nonprofit, and public health programs, the Center for Rural Engagement is creating a suite of mental well-being and community collaboration tools as part of the Ministry in rural Areas in Small Towns Initiative. These resources will be designed to meet the initiative’s objective of providing resources or support directly to congregations in rural areas and small towns to help them strengthen their ministries and their role as anchor institutions in their communities. Kyla holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Studio Art as well as a Master of Arts in Public Relations from Indiana University.
Kyla will be presenting on This is a Good Place to Be: Leveraging the Strengths of Your Rural Community at the Rural Ideas Conference 2026.
We are so excited to have Kyla speak at our conference again this year!
Shana will be presenting at the Rural Ideas Conference 2026.
We are so excited to have Shana speak at our conference this year!
The Rev. Dr. Heather Kilbourne loves supporting churches to dream bigger dreams. As the senior director of the Faith in Rural Communities Initiative at the NC Rural Center, she works with over 100 rural churches and secured over $10 million dollars to support rural ministries. Her favorite moments occur in church fellowships halls when church leaders reimagine the impact their church can have with their communities. She is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church and pastored rural churches for 13 years. She holds a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Her research focus is building Asset-Based Community Development models for rural churches.
Heather will be presenting on Stronger Together: The Nuts and Bolts of Building a Collaborative Community during the Rural Ideas Conference 2026.
We are so excited to have Heather speak at our conference again this year!
Kent Michael has spent more than a decade helping leaders grow in clarity, resilience, and purpose. A seasoned leadership coach and educator, he has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and led training seminars for businesses, schools, and faith-based organizations. Coming from generations of ministers, Kent knows firsthand how challenging the work of ministry can be, and he carries a deep desire to serve as a trusted resource for pastors and Christian leaders navigating those demands. He holds a Master of Education in Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of Montevallo and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from The University of Alabama. At home, Kent enjoys quiet weekends with his wife and three children. His favorite pastimes include fly fishing, hiking, watching Alabama football, and producing music for his church.
Kent will be presenting on Resilient Leadership in Rural and Small-Community Churches at the Rural Ideas Conference 2026.
We are so excited to have Kent speak at our conference this year!
The Rev. Dr. Allen T. Stanton is the Senior Fellow for Leadership, Faith, and Community. He is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. Additionally, he works at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives, managing a $53 million initiative to expand access to oral healthcare in rural Tennessee. Stanton is the author of Reclaiming Rural: Building Thriving Rural Communities (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021), which was named a “Top Ten Book of the Year” by the Academy for Parish Clergy, and The Gift of Small: Embracing Your Church’s Vocation (Fortress Press, 2024). He holds degrees from Wake Forest University, Duke University, and Southern Methodist University.
Allen will be leading a panel during our Rural Ideas Conference 2026!
We are so excited to have Allen speak at our conference again this year!
Chantel Poor is a Certified Community Facilitator and Training Coordinator for the Community Sustainability Team at Communities Unlimited. She has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and bridging the gap between the community and congregations. In her role, Chantel leads and supports trainers and facilitators as they collaborate with communities to provide capacity-building training, resources, and technical assistance. She is a Certified Group Facilitator (CGF) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. Chantel lives in Almyra, Arkansas, and enjoys spending time with her family, painting, and visiting flea markets.
We are thrilled to have Communities Unlimited join us again this year!
Brenda Williams, CGF, is the Healthy Foods Coordinator for the Community Sustainability team with Communities Unlimited. Brenda has over 20 years’ experience helping nonprofit organizations. She has a track record of success developing programs that address food insecurity, increase local access to fresh foods, and create market opportunities for growers and producers. Brenda is a Certified Group Facilitator (CGF). Brenda received her B.S. from Arkansas State University and her Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. Brenda lives in Olive Branch, MS. In her free time, Brenda enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and exploring new places.
We are thrilled to have Communities Unlimited join us again this year!
Christina Williams is a community-builder, social entrepreneur, and narrative change advocate rethinking how poverty is addressed in Northwest Arkansas. As Founder and Executive Director of Innovative Poverty Solutions and Circles NWA, she leads work that centers under-heard voices, builds cross-class relationships, and pilots community-driven solutions that expand long-term economic mobility.
With a background in market research and sociology, Christina grounds her leadership in listening, learning, and collaboration, guided by the belief that those closest to the problems are also closest to the solutions. Her work focuses on shifting public narratives of poverty, elevating leadership from lived experience, and leveraging social capital to counter the systemic pressures placed on low-income and ALICE households.
We are thrilled to have IPS join us again this year!
We are thrilled to have IPS join us again this year!
We are thrilled to have IPS join us again this year!
A passionate advocate for equitable opportunity and community empowerment, Derrick is committed to creating spaces where people can learn, collaborate, and lead meaningful change. He brings a blend of public service experience, creative leadership, and a heart for building stronger, more connected communities throughout Arkansas.
We are thrilled to have Winthrop Rockefeller Institute join us again this year!
Kimberly Bolin is a Program Officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. In her role, she designs and implements facilitated dialogues and oversees the Institute’s programming around civic education and agriculture. Bolin joined the Institute in July 2022. She obtained her B.A. in Political Science from Hendrix College. Kimberly is a baker and gardener whose hobbies are grounded in her desire to care for the people and environment around her. It is this passion for others that Kimberly brings to her work, believing that a stronger Arkansas is achieved when people are given the space to voice their concerns and participate in the search for solutions.
We are thrilled to have Winthrop Rockefeller Institute join us again this year!
Michelle’s Photo & Biography Coming Soon!
We are excited to hear Michelle at our conference this year!
Rev. Bobby Outterson-Murphy is the Transitional Executive Presbyter for East Iowa in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). A descendant of the ECBI (Cherokee), he also serves as an advisor on contemplative prayer for the Indigenous Theological Circle, a program launched by NAIITS and Bexley Seabury. He currently lives in Iowa City, but his mid-council work is mostly focused on equipping and supporting congregations that are in small towns & rural areas.
We are so excited to have Bobby at our conference this year!
Rev. Eric L. Walden Jr. is a pastor and community leader committed faith-driven leadership and community transformation. He holds a Mdiv from Regent University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership & Christian Renewal.
Rev. Walden serves as Pastor of New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Altheimer, Arkansas, where he emphasizes spiritual growth, healthy leadership, and active service to the community.
We are excited to hear Eric at our conference this year!