July 20: Rev. Carol Hovis

Carol is an ordained Presbyterian minister (PCUSA) and the Executive Director of the Marin Interfaith Council, since July 2004. Prior to her position with MIC, she served for six years as the Community Advocate with the San Rafael Canal Ministry in San Rafael, CA. Carol moved to northern California from northern Virginia in January 1998. Born and raised in metropolitan Washington, DC, Carol attended college in Pennsylvania and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She returned to the DC area in 1988 to serve a Presbyterian congregation in Fairfax, VA. After nine years on staff at Providence Presbyterian Church, seven as associate pastor, she resigned in November 1997 to begin a 11 month personal sabbatical which brought her to northern California. In September 2000, Carol received the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, CA.

July 27: Chris Highland

Chris Highland was an interfaith chaplain in the jail and on the streets of Marin for many years.  He was a Presbyterian minister for fourteen years before leaving his ordination for reasons of conscience.  Chris is the author of My Address is a River:  Journeys with the Homeless God (published on his website at www.naturetemple.net and six "natural spirituality" books on Muir, Thoreau, Emerson, Whitman, Margaret Fuller and John Burroughs.  Each book includes quotations from a host of companion artists, poets and spiritual teachers from around the world, balanced by Chris' black and white photography.  Chris is an adjunct instructor at Dominican University teaching two courses this summer on "Walt Whitman: Community and the Genius of the Common Person" and "The Wild Gospel of Nature, "which will be the topic of his message on July 27.