CIRCLEWOOD
PEOPLE
STAFF
James Amadon, Executive Director
James was raised in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire, but has called the Pacific Northwest home since 2007. His desire to integrate faith and ecology led him to Circlewood, and he brings strong leadership skills and a collaborative spirit in guiding our vision and mission. You can learn more about James HERE, and can reach him at james.amadon@circlewood.online.
Louise Conner, Administrative Assistant and Managing Editor/Writer for The Ecological Disciple
Louise helps Circlewood run and grow smoothly. She loves to write, read, hike, and garden, and yearns for the day when all of God's people treasure and love the complex and beautiful world that God has created, and embrace the God-given responsibility to be loving stewards. Louise also serves on the Board. You can reach Louise at info@circlewood.online.
Forrest Inslee, Associate Director and Earthkeepers Producer and Host
Forrest started the Circlewood podcast in 2020 as a way to learn from people who are actively pursuing an ecologically-grounded faith, and to share these lessons with people around the world who love God and seek to care for the Earth. Forrest brings to the podcast a deep attachment to the wild spaces and climate of the Pacific Northwest, where he was born and raised; he also brings a keen interest in ways that environmental justice intersects with economic development, social justice, and community building. You can learn more about Forrest HERE, and can reach him at forrest.inslee@circlewood.online.
Jessalyn Megerle Gentry, Social Media Director, Marketing & Communications Manager
Jessalyn is excited to help grow Circlewood's community. She graduated from Messiah College (now Messiah University) with a degree in sustainable agriculture, experience in social media and communications, and a passion for creation care and environmental education. Jessalyn grew up in New Jersey, but has called the west coast home since 2016. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, and exploring the outdoors. You can reach Jessalyn at jessalyn.gentry@circlewood.online.
BOARD
Glenn Palmberg
Glenn is a retired Evangelical Covenant Church pastor, having served as a parish pastor and as an administrator in theological education and denominational leadership. He lives with his wife on Vashon Island, and spends much of his time with family, especially his four grandsons, and also volunteers at a homeless shelter in Chicago. As a follower of Christ, Glenn wants to deepen his discipleship in terms of caring for Creation, particularly in how it impacts the poor. As a grandfather he wants to live responsibly and protect God’s earth for the next generation, and loves how being part of Circlewood provides him with these opportunities.
Tim Hedberg
Tim currently serves as a Financial Services Representative for Covenant Trust Company. Previously, he was a pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church for 22 years. He brings a passion for all of creation being restored to the Board, and currently lives in Mount Vernon, Wash., with his wife Deb and three children.
Beth Knox
Beth produces large-scale, special events in the Seattle region that bring people together in shared celebrations through culture, community and inclusion. She has served in leadership positions in the not-for-profit industry for 30 years, with a focus on strong partnerships, strategic planning and community engagement. She believes we are all responsible for intentionally stewarding our earth with faith in God’s plan for creation. She lives in Issaquah, WA with her husband, and is mom to twin college boys.
Kathy Holmgren
Kathy is a retired Nurse/Social Worker whose various jobs have been in hospital, hospice, and community health settings. She lives in Kirkland, WA, with her husband of 50 years, Mike. She enjoys spending time with her nine grandchildren, plus working as a volunteer at her home church (Highland Covenant), Renewal Food Bank, and Catholic Community Services. She is very interested in the connection between environmental problems and poverty, and believes Circlewood plays an important role in creating a more just and sutainable future.
Lenore Three Stars
Lenore is Oglala Lakota, born on Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, where her dad was born. Her mom is Minnecoujou Lakota from the Cheyenne River reservation. Until recently, she worked for the U.S. Department of Education in Seattle resolving civil rights complaints; she recently earned a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from the North American Institute of Indigenous Theological Studies at Portland Seminary. Lenore lives in Spokane and is the on-site Unci (grandmother) to her takojas (grandkids). She loves the mission of Circlewood, and is particularly pleased that the values, insights and wisdom of indigenous people are welcomed.
Tom Ruebel
Tom is a retired radiologist who is interested in discovering more about our relationship with God’s creation and our call to care for it. He is grateful for Circlewood and excited to see it grow and flourish.
HONORARY MEMBERS
Tom and Christine Sine
Christine
Christine is a contemplative activist, passionate gardener, author, and liturgist. She is inspired by Celtic Christian spirituality, which has opened her eyes to the God who is present in every moment, every experience and every place. She co-founded Mustard Seed Associates with her husband Tom, and directed the ministry from 2004-2016. Retirement has made it possible for her to write full-time, and her new book The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices for Delighting in God is now available. Other books include Return to Our Senses: Reimagining How We Pray, and Rest in the Moment: Reflections for Godly Pauses.
Christine also facilitate workshops on spirituality and gardening, simplicity and sustainability and how to develop a more spiritual rhythm for our lives. These interests serve as the inspiration for her blog GODSPACE, which gives voice to a diverse community from around the world to inspire readers to notice, explore and experiment with fresh ways to connect more intimately to God, more effectively to their neighbors and more responsibly to creation. In her former life she trained as a physician in Australia and developed and directed the healthcare ministry for Mercy Ships.
She is excited for Circlewood, and inspired by its developing vision to help people develop connections between spirituality and sustainability.
Tom
Tom shares Christine's embrace of Celtic spirituality because it is a vital whole life faith that embraces creation care and compassion for those in need. His favorite thing is working with Christine to prepare food from all over the for friends for all over the world....most have survived.
Tom is also an author, having written a series of 9 or 10 books including: The Mustard Seed Conspiracy, Wild Hope, Mustard Seed Vs McWorld, The New Conspirators, and his newest book, 2020s Foresight.
He has also had the opportunity to serve as a futures/innovations facilitator working with and learning from from organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Tear Fund UK, and IVCF. He also enjoyed his years as a teacher at Fuller Theological Seminary in Seattle and the University of Washington, plus working with World Concern with a project in Haiti.
He shares Christine's enthusiasm for the flourishing of Circlewood, and is particularly thankful to God for James Amadon's able leadership and the strong board he has secured to lead Circlewood into the future.