Board Members

​Kay Adair

President Emeritus + Founder

Kay Adair dedicated her life to conservation, sustainable agriculture, and spiritual growth. In 1982, she and her late husband, Bishop John R.C. Adair, founded St. Francis of the Woods, drawing inspiration from the Russian tradition of poustinia - a sacred space for prayer, solitude, and reflection. Her vision established a welcoming sanctuary for all who seek spiritual renewal. Kay served as the President of the Board from 1982 until 2014, guiding the organization’s mission and growth. With her deep commitment to caring for creation and especially animals, Kay embodied the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Her passion for nature and hospitality shaped St. Francis of the Woods into the sanctuary it is today, offering peace, renewal, and a sense of belonging to all who visit. She also founded the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, building a legacy of environmental stewardship. Kay peacefully entered eternal rest on Sunday, 20 October 2024 but her legacy will continue to shape the future of St. Francis of the Woods for generations. 

​

Pat Hoerth

President

Pat Hoerth lives in and is engaged with the CommonWealth Urban Farms community in the heart of Oklahoma City. Her work there involves community support, producing the newsletter, gardening and fixing lunch weekly for the farmers and community, largely from the food they produce.  A trained spiritual director, she walks with people individually and in groups. A journalist, she is working on a biography of sculptor Evelyn Beatrice Longman. Pat has led retreats, workshops and seminary courses on Creation Spirituality and sustainability through Turtle Rock Farm, a retreat center which she and her sister ran on their family farm, and as an adjunct faculty member at Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa. At CommonWealth, she organized and co-led the Hands in the Soil program for clergy and laity, and managed the CSA. 1970-1981, she worked at The Washington Star where she was a feature writer. She co-authored The Life and Times of Henry Bellmon and wrote God’s Extravagant Garden. A Climate Study for Children. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a BS major in journalism and Phillips Theological Seminary, with an MTS and MDiv. Being attentive in nature is essential to her well-being. Photographing nature, including people, brings her great pleasure, as does living life in community with friends and family, including her son Will Copeland, a photo editor in Long Beach, CA., and her husband Nathaniel Batchelder, director of the Peace House Oklahoma City.

​​

Shari Kerr

Past President

Shari has been a board member of St. Francis of the Woods since 2007, witnessing the organization grow and continue to provide hospitality and diverse experiences for personal growth. Born and raised in Oklahoma, she feels blessed to be part of this natural resource. Shari's professional background includes work as a registered nurse and licensed psychologist, with a focus on well-being and transformation. As Thich Nhat Hanh and Martin Luther King Jr. have taught, she believes that personal transformation is deeply interconnected with the transformation of families, communities, and the world. Shari served as President of the Board from 2021 until 2024.

 

Helen Taylor

Past President Emeritus

Helen was born and grew up in northwestern Oklahoma the daughter of a Methodist minister. She graduated from Oklahoma City University where she meet and married James C. Taylor. They lived in Evanston, Illinois, and New Haven, Connecticut, with seven months traveling Europe and spending one semester at Goettingen University in Germany for Jim to get a seminary degree and a doctorate.  They moved back to Oklahoma in 1965 where Jim taught at Oklahoma City University. They had two children, a daughter and a son.  In the mid seventies, the family moved to Dallas where Helen attended Perkins School of Theology, graduated and became a full-time minister.  It was some time in the late eighties that Kay Adair started taking Jim’s classes. She was so impressed that she brought husband Robert to class.  They invited the whole family to come out for lunch and to see their fairly new venture, a retreat center, St. Francis of the Woods.  At that time there was a nice house on the north property. The property on the highway had two small houses and a barn.  The barn was renovated to accommodate a Montessori preschool and office space with the upstairs becoming a chapel for worship on Sundays. Over the years more property with lodging was acquired. Chapel, Library, and Claire House were built. Helen continued to take regular personal retreats and bring church groups out for retreats. She was invited to become part of the Board of Trustees in the early nineties and has served since.  She was President of the Board from 2014-2021.

​

Steve Replogle

Steve Replogle is a seasoned financial professional with over 17 years of experience in trust and financial services. He currently works as a consultant for InvesTrust Consulting, specializing in wealth management for high-net-worth individuals and families. Steve holds a B.S. in Marketing from Eastern Illinois University and holds certifications as a CPA, CFA, and CTFA. A deeply spiritual person, Steve has served on the Board of St. Francis of the Woods for over 10 years, helping guide our mission of hospitality, spiritual formation, and sustainability. His life and work reflect a deep integration of financial expertise and personal spiritual growth, and he continues to contribute to organizations like Stand In The Gap Ministries and The First Tee of Metropolitan Oklahoma City.

​

Kathy Leithner  

Secretary

Kathy has lived in 22 different towns and cities across two countries so far, served as a United Methodist minister for thirty-seven years, and volunteered with the Upper Room Academy for Spiritual Formation for three decades. She enjoys hiking, cooking, making music, reading, and traveling. She appreciates St. Francis of the Woods' focus on hospitality, retreat, creativity, the natural world, and the spiritual journey.

​

Micah Clopton​

Micah Clopton is a Tulsa-based husband, father of four, entrepreneur, musician, poet, and a deeply contemplative witness to the sacred and absurd gift of life. He balances his various roles with a unique perspective that combines business acumen with artistic expression. His work often reflects his introspective nature, touching on themes of existence, the sacred, and human connection. Micah’s entrepreneurial ventures and artistic pursuits—ranging from music to poetry—are expressions of his ongoing exploration of life’s profound mysteries. Through his poetry, which has been featured in publications like Tulsa Review, Micah reflects on the intricacies of human experience, focusing on both the struggles and beauty inherent in life.

​

Nancy VanWinkle​

Nancy VanWinkle is a thoughtful and deeply spiritual member of the St. Francis of the Woods community. She and her family spent a transformative year living at St. Francis in 2016-2017, where they embraced a simple and intentional life focused on farming, community, and connection. During their time in residence, they tended the land, grew food, cared for animals, and built meaningful relationships with those who visited the retreat.

Nancy has been a member of the St. Francis of the Woods Board since 2017. She also played a foundational role in the establishment of Mountain City Public Montessori in Asheville, North Carolina, a public charter school that integrates Montessori principles. In addition, Nancy is the creative force behind Nomadic Roots, which offers handcrafted goods and artisanal creations, celebrating sustainable living, craftsmanship, and community connection. Through her work and life, Nancy continues to inspire others with her dedication to nurturing both the land and human connections, living out a vision of mindfulness, sustainability, and spiritual depth.

​

Alonzo Peterson

Dr. Alonzo Peterson is the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Langston University, where he leads initiatives aimed at advancing the university’s academic mission. He serves on the board of St. Francis of the Woods, offering his perspectives and guidance in support of the community's mission. A native of Louisiana, Alonzo is known for his culinary expertise, particularly his skill in preparing Cajun food. His love for cooking is an expression of his creativity and a way of sharing with others. Alonzo is also deeply committed to his faith, regularly attending church in Langston. His service at St. Francis of the Woods is an extension of his dedication to education, community, and his personal spiritual journey.

​

Nancy Titus-Piersma

check back for Nancy's bio soon. 

​

Susan Fitzgerald

check back for Nancy's bio soon. 

​

 

Staff & Residents

+Aidan Bradley Wilson

Bishop Aidan has served as Executive Director of St. Francis of the Woods since 2014 and Director of HeartPaths Spirituality Centre since 2022. A lifelong Oklahoman, he earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 2009 and practiced law before pursuing ministry. That same year, he joined the Oakerhater Community, a religious community within the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma. His spiritual journey began in 2000, when the ancient worship of Orthodoxy first called to his soul, sparking a lifelong exploration of church history, theology, and mysticism. In 2012, he visited Egypt and Turkey, where experiences at desert monasteries and sacred sites deepened his faith and led him to St. Francis of the Woods, where he became director in 2014 and was ordained a priest in 2015. In 2019, he was consecrated bishop and took the name Aidan in honor of St. Aidan of Lindisfarne.

Bishop Aidan has practiced hesychasm—the mystical prayer of Eastern Christianity—for nearly 20 years and draws theological inspiration from the Church Fathers, Celtic and Franciscan traditions, and Sufi poets like Hafiz and Rumi. His pilgrimages to sacred places including Iona, Assisi, Lindisfarne, Rome, Constantinople, Glendalough, Kildare, Skellig Michael, and Scattery Island have been transformative, deepening his connection to Christ and the boundless love of God.

​

Eugene White

Eugene has been an integral part of St. Francis of the Woods since 1981, dedicating over 43 years to transforming it into a welcoming sanctuary of hospitality. His hands-on contributions have been vital to the development and upkeep of this beautiful community. Notably, Eugene played a key role in the construction of the St. Francis Chapel and has been involved in building or restoring many of the structures that define St. Francis of the Woods today.

Beyond his work on the buildings, Eugene takes pride in maintaining the grounds, ensuring they remain a picturesque environment for all who visit. He manages the hoop house, nurturing a variety of plants, and contributes to the flourishing Hildegarden, which serves as a testament to his passion for gardening and sustainability.

When he’s not at St. Francis, Eugene enjoys spending quality time with his children and grandchildren, sharing his love for nature and community with them. He is also an active member of his church in Guthrie, where he finds joy and fellowship. Eugene’s unwavering commitment and deep-rooted connection to St. Francis of the Woods have made him a cornerstone of its vibrant community, helping to shape it into the beloved haven it is today.

​

Gary Doolin

Gary has been a dedicated part of the St. Francis of the Woods community since 1990, giving over 30 years of service. He started by mowing the lawns, keeping the grounds neat and welcoming for everyone. Over time, his role expanded as his skills grew, and now he’s responsible for keeping all the equipment running smoothly.

Whether he’s cutting and baling hay, maintaining tractors, or fixing broken machinery, Gary’s work is essential to the farm’s daily operations. He ensures that everything, from small tools to big machines, is always in good working order, helping St. Francis continue its mission of hospitality and sustainability without any interruptions.

Gary also works closely with Eugene to keep the buildings and grounds in top shape. Together, they make sure the property is not only functional but also a peaceful and well-maintained place for visitors. Gary’s hands-on approach and problem-solving skills have become a vital part of the community’s success.

​

Mary Richelle Lau

Mary Richelle Lau is a visual artist from Stillwater, Oklahoma. She has designed album covers, t-shirts, and posters for local bands and events, but her latest passion is freeform emotive acrylic painting on large canvases and both interior and exterior mural work. 

Being self-taught, Mary’s path into the art world is non-traditional, but her passion and personal development has been a life-long immersive education. Through an introspective lens, she explores feeling and presence, and allows the canvas to evolve naturally as she dances and paints without regards to the outcome… her paintings grow with her as she adds layers through the seasonal, growth-inducing changes of life.

Spirituality and self-development have been paramount in Mary’s life, leading her to express her inner, ever-shifting landscape through art, word, song, and dance. She found a spiritual home in St. Francis of the Woods, feeling that she happened upon a rare gem in the world of religion; a place that holds space for her understanding of the divine through a deep connection to nature, human divinity, and the interconnected cycles and reciprocity of the web of existence.

In the years leading up to her interest in residency, Mary pursued both art and the dream of a sustainable homesteading lifestyle. Using existing infrastructure, she worked to create holistic integrated systems for animals with minimal financial input; milking a goat, making sourdough bread and kombucha, cooking with seasonal produce and fresh caught fish, and self-educating on the ethics of regenerative practices and community. She worked in the Health Food industry, gaining significant knowledge in ways to improve health naturally, and in food service, learning the kitchen dynamics of a small gourmet eatery. She is excited to share her passions and skills in the dynamic community setting of St. Francis of the Woods.

​

Adam Lau

Adam Lau has called Oklahoma home for over 25 years. He is a handy craftsman and self-taught percussion artist. He plays keyboard, flute, lute, guitar, and a variety of hand drums, specializing in the djembe. He has performed, both live and in-studio, with many groups and bands. Adam has also worked with children, leading a two year after-school program with the Oklahoma Arts Council teaching both freestyle drumming and African rhythms. He currently leads a seasonal weekly drum circle here at St. Francis of the Woods and looks forward to offering both individual and group workshops on hand drum repair and skin replacement.

For Adam, rhythm is a way to celebrate and highlight cultures from around the world and is key in Adam’s seven years of personal Qigong practice. Having built a relationship with and an understanding of the rhythm of breath and Qi (Life Energy) in the body, he now leads a weekly Qigong practice within the community and will soon offer this to the public. Rhythm is also a way for Adam to connect spiritually. 

Adam’s spiritual path led him to St. Francis of the Woods in 2019 and his time here has only helped in deepening his connection to self and spirit. He hopes that through his own walk, he might inspire others to practice the arts of simplicity and self-expression. Adam feels called to use the gift of residency at St. Francis to transform his own life and thereby be an example to others as he fully embodies what it means to be in community with others dedicated to a wholesome and sustainable spiritual lifestyle.

​

Lori Ann Wilde

Lori Ann is our resident Education Director and facilitates our Prairiewood Forest School classes. Her background in education ranges from graduating college with a Secondary Education teaching license; to studies with Wilderness Awareness School, Project WILD, and The Human Path Herbal Medics Academy; to a combined 13 years as an outdoor camp counselor and nature play educator, exploring the forests of Arkansas and Oklahoma with youth (and always learning at least as much as they do!)

Lori Ann connects with the sacred permeating all of nature through curious attunement with her senses. Her teachers include wild plants, poetry, traditional storytelling, vitalist herbalism, and her daughter and son. The spiritual practices most nourishing to her include stargazing, messy journaling, mending, listening to children, meditative embroidery, wildcrafting and gardening, laughter, silence, active movement, authentic singing, deeply connected conversation, dreamwork, and grounding time in the woods.

​

Rainna Okapal

Rainna moved to Oklahoma from her birth state of Ohio when she was 12 years old and has lived in several different cities in Oklahoma since that time. She graduated from Broken Arrow Senior high in 2005, then quickly got her Art Associates Degree from the Tulsa Community college. She then moved to OKC and joined a production company that performs at local renaissance festivals while attending UCO’s graphic design program. Due to the competitive nature of the field, she shortly dropped out of UCO and took an unconventional path to find her authentic self. Rainna found a love of teaching others leadership and started back at school in 2021 to complete a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Development. Through much trial and error in life, she has created a path based on self-reflection, learning, and understanding love.

She started visiting St. Francis of the Woods as a weekend getaway many years ago to bring peace and self-reflection to her busy life. Her love of people and community drove her to connect with the St. Francis residents during that time. She had never really connected to religion before – she did not attend chapel until several years after she started visiting St. Francis. Once she did, she was mesmerized by the nature of the congregation, which was radically inclusive while still having a connection to ancient rituals and traditions. She quickly sought more information, attended inquirer classes, received baptism at St. Francis, and is now working towards being a reader in the church. She started living at St. Francis in August of 2022 and has since continued to broaden her worldview and found herself opening to a new perspective on life and love. ​​​

​

Kathryn Kiester

​Kathryn began at St. Francis of the Woods in January 2023 as the Donor and Development Coordinator and was ordained a Deacon in 2024. She grew up in the Episcopal Church in rural Oklahoma, where her spiritual foundation was laid in the inclusive and loving community of All Saints in Duncan. This environment instilled in her the values of radical inclusivity and a commitment to confronting challenges head-on, deeply influencing her spirituality today. Her faith is grounded in ancient church practices, a love for nature, and the importance of living in community and celebrating interconnectedness. Kathryn led the youth ministry at St John’s Episcopal Church in Norman, Ok where she was also the bookkeeper and property manager.  While there, Kathryn also helped host programs for First Nations communities with the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma.  Kathryn is a member of the Oakerhater Community, a community in absence focused on reconciliation founded in the 1990’s at St. Francis of the Woods. Kathryn and Aidan led two classes of young people on pilgrimage to Iona in 2011 and Assisi in 2015. Kathryn currently engages in various spiritual disciplines, including yoga, meditation, writing, and finding quietude in nature. Kathryn has been married for over 20 years and has two beautiful, adult children.  She believes that the divine can be experienced in everyday life—whether preparing a cabin for someone seeking poustinia or exploring the intricacies of life on a cellular level. With a profound understanding of her spiritual roots, Kathryn embraces the journey of growth and connection as she continues to cultivate her faith

​