a Christian Eco-Ministry Network
About
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Holy Hikes is established as a ministry of All Saints Episcopal Church in San Leandro, California. All Saints is a nonprofit organization incorporated under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (tax ID # is 94-1312341). Holy Hikes® is a registered trademark of Holy Hikes. Copyright © 2010-2019 Holy Hikes. All Rights Reserved.
Our Mission
It has been said that “people will protect what they love.” The ultimate goal of this ministry is to help individuals be renewed in their love-relationship with the earth, the universal church, and with their Creator. The environmental crisis today is, at its core, a broken relationship between the human community and the earth. There is legislation being pushed to address environmental issues and advocacy groups working to bring change to our destructive and unsustainable ways. Those are important. History has also proven that a broken relationship is ultimately mended, not by the force of law, but rather by the slow laborious work of rebuilding that relationship. Even in the environmental movement, the earth can be subjugated and treated as just an object that we care for, rather than as a subject with which we are in relationship.
Holy Hikes calls us to relate to all of creation in a communion-centered way. Change will come with legislation and cheaper green products, but we believe transformation will come as we reestablish our communion with all of life. Holy Hikes calls us beyond the walls of comfort, to take a step, perhaps even a hike, towards reunion with the earth and all its life and beauty. Join us in finding new ways to restore our communion with all of Creation.
Learn More
The Rev. Justin R. Cannon
Founder & Director
Justin received his Bachelor of Arts from Earlham College and his Master of Divinity from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. He is a published author/editor of works on LGBT inclusion in the church. He worked as Program Manager of Episcopal Impact Fund, San Francisco, from 2009-2012 and is currently serving as Rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in San Leandro, CA.
He was ordained to the priesthood by the Right Reverend Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, on December 3, 2011. He is “most at home” in the outdoors, and is passionate about finding ways to not just care for the earth, but to rebuild and nurture communion between the human community and the rest of Creation.
Alex Flannigan
Chaplain
In addition to acting as Holy Hikes- Western Washington’s Director, Alex is founder of AlFlan Facilitators, Inc specializing in training trainers and leaders to develop themselves into organized, compassionate, guides who can in turn equip and empower those they serve. He has worked with camps, churches, non-profits and individuals to define their missions, create buy-in through meaningful interaction and create nourishing cultures that are “for the people, by the people” where collaborative decision making meets autonomy.
Alex has extensive experience in camp management, including 10 years in a variety of roles at Camp Huston including Assistant Director, and currently consults as Camp Blue Spruce’s Program Director. He is active in the Diocese of Olympia, previously serving as Youth Ministry Coordinator and presently acting as their Holy Hikes-Western Washington Director and Allies Circle Co-Convener. Alex worships at St. Christopher’s, Olympia (WA).
He received his Bachelor of Arts Honors from University of Central Lancashire and also completed The Diocese of Olympia’s College for Congregational Development – a two-year training program for laity and clergy, grounded in both organization development theory/practice and in the unique ecclesial tradition, ethos, and character of the Episcopal/Anglican church. Alex received Associate Visitor and Camp Director certificates from the American Camp Association and is a current participant in the Education for Ministry program with the University of the South School of Theology.
Alex fell in love with hiking as a camp counselor at an Episcopal summer camp – venturing out onto the trails always seemed to bring the campers closer together. He felt called to start a Holy Hikes ministry to continue gathering folks on trails; to be in touch and reconnect with themselves, one another, and God.
As Holy Hikes Chaplain Alex helps support Holy Hikes Directors, promotes connections with like-minded organizations, and represents us at conferences.
Holy Hikes’ founding chapter, now named Holy Hikes-San Francisco Bay Area, has partnered with San Francisco Baykeeper, a nonprofit that is committed to protecting the San Francisco Bay from polluters. Periodically, throughout the year, Holy Hikes-SF hosts a “Bay Clean-up Mass” in conjunction with San Francisco Baykeeper during which participants clean up trash in a designated area. Holy Hikes is committed to supporting its chapters in partnering with their local waterkeepers and invites you to find your local waterkeeper online through the Waterkeeper Alliance at www.waterkeeper.org
Please consider making a one-time donation to Holy Hikes to help sustain this ministry. Without you, our “Holy Hikers,” these adventures would just be empty trails. We are grateful for your support and your heartfelt prayers. You can send a check payable to “All Saints Episcopal Church” (our fiscal sponsor):
All Saints Episcopal Church
ATTN: Holy Hikes
911 Dowling Blvd.
San Leandro, CA 94577
You can also donate by Paypal:
All Saints is a nonprofit organization incorporated under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (tax ID # is 94-1312341). All gifts to Holy Hikes are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Do I have to be Christian to go on these hikes?
All are welcome to join us for Holy Hikes gatherings regardless of religious-affiliation.- What is a liturgical hike?
A liturgical hike is a celebrate of a liturgy (i.e. church service) in the context of a hike. The services are stational, meaning we do the service throughout the entire hike with stations along the way. - Can dogs come?
We love it when dogs come, but it depends on the park and chapter. Ask your group leader before coming on the hike. - Are gifts to Holy Hikes tax deductible?
Yes! Holy Hikes is established as a ministry of All Saints Episcopal Church in San Leandro, California. All Saints is a nonprofit organization incorporated under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (tax ID # is 94-1312341). All gifts to Holy Hikes are tax deductible as allowed by law.