EarthKeepers to be commissioned for environmental stewardship
ATLANTA – Global Ministries will commission 67 new EarthKeepers in an online service on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. EST. This service will affirm the EarthKeepers in their call to the ministry of creation care and bless their work in their communities. The service will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/GlobalMinistries.
Global Ministries EarthKeepers is a training program to equip United Methodists in the United States for environmental stewardship. Participants discuss theology, United Methodist resources, community organizing and antiracism, and then use what they learn to develop an environmental project for their churches and communities. The program supports people looking to turn an idea into action and those who want to deepen an existing ministry. Participants develop plans in conversation with their peers, troubleshooting ideas and sharing strategies.
With 2024 trainings held online and in Baltimore, Md., and St. Paul, Minn., this group of EarthKeepers represents 30 annual conferences and all five jurisdictions. Participants include clergy, laity, annual conference staff and agency staff.
“Large-scale, climate-driven catastrophes around the world are stretching the capacity and resources of United Methodist disaster responders,” said Roland Fernandes, general secretary of Global Ministries and General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. “When Global Ministries EarthKeepers lead community-driven environmental projects, they are building a bulwark against future suffering.”
“These EarthKeepers are driven by the urgency of the environmental crisis, a sense of calling to respond, and a deep well of faith to carry them on the journey,” said the Rev. Jenny Phillips, director of Environmental Sustainability. “They have developed ambitious projects which together will create significant positive impact on emissions, sustainable land use, waste management and more.”
This is the eighth year that the EarthKeepers commissioning service has been held online, allowing EarthKeepers to participate along with their family, friends and church community. The service will be led by Bishop Lanette Plambeck, resident bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area.
Headshots of the participants are available for annual conference communications use at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/globalministriesearthkeepers/albums/72177720321391510.
To read more about EarthKeepers projects and to get updates on 2025 trainings, join the Global Ministries Creation Care Network at http://creationcare.umcmission.org/signup.
The 2024 Global Ministries EarthKeepers reside in the following conferences:
Arkansas
Daniel Hiatt
Rev. Lindsey Russell
Baltimore-Washington
Rev. Andre Briscoe, Jr.
Katherine Martin
Elizabeth Stemley
Clorie Tildon
California-Nevada
Rev. Laurie Bayen
California-Pacific
Angelie Ryah
Central Appalachian Missionary
Rev. Robert Amundsen
Rev. Daniel Henson
Whitley Henson
Rev. Karen Stigall
Dakotas
Rev. Marty Toepke-Floyd
Desert Southwest
Kristin Mikels
Eastern Pennsylvania
Richard Fetzer
Rev. Zachary Hopple
Horizon Texas
Kim Rahebi
Indiana
Rev. Robert Barton
Anita Sanford
Iowa
Wayne Steen
Rev. Felix Tshibang
Kentucky
Emily Allison
Kate Tallo
Oregon-Idaho
Pattie Sloan
Pacific Northwest
Rev. Laura Baumgartner
Rev. Pat Longstroth
Patrick Scriven
Teri Tobey
Rev. David Valera
Eric Walker
Rev. Richenda Fairhurst
Peninsula-Delaware
Bill Innes
Janet Tayor-Smith
Rio Texas
Rev. Dr. Gregory Kevin Brown
Tyler Vandeveer
Louisiana
Amy Fuselier
Minnesota
Sheri Brezinka
Sandra Christie
Cecelia Cope
Jessica McMahon
Rev. Laura Nordstrom
Missouri
Fred Koenig
Mountain Sky
Anil Dewan
Ross Janovec
Judy McGoogan
New England
Peggy Drew
New Mexico
Christina Roy
New York
Janet Marshall-Tate
Rev. Valerie Paul-Greenaway
Ross Topliff
North Alabama
Jacob Knapp
Trey Lemmon
Rev. Joe Riddle
Ashley Riddle
North Carolina
Carmella McKeller-Smith
Rev. Donna Thompson
North Georgia
Rev. Jacque Smith
Northern Illinois
Rev. Abel Stewart
Virginia
Rev. Dori Baker
Lincoln Baker
Jaydee Hanson
Western North Carolina
Mary Jac Brennan
Nancy Keziah
Brenda Messera
Ben Rogers
Western Pennsylvania
Rev. Pamela Armstrong
Wisconsin
Brittany Phelps
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About the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church
Global Ministries is the worldwide mission and development agency of The United Methodist Church. Founded in 1819, Global Ministries today supports more than 200 missionaries in over 60 countries, including the United States. It has personnel, projects, and partners in 115 countries. Learn more about Global Ministries by visiting www.umcmission.org or by following www.facebook.com/GlobalMinistries and www.twitter.com/UMCmission.
Media Contact:
Susan Clark, Chief Communications Officer