By Michelle Okabayashi
November 22, 2019 | ATLANTA

Global Ministries commissioned 67 new EarthKeepers from 24 United Methodist regional conferences through an online service, Nov. 19, 2019.

EarthKeepers, a training program of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief, is designed to equip United Methodist clergy and laity to lead their communities in environmental stewardship. All EarthKeepers are expected to launch an environmental project in their communities as part of their work.

The online commissioning, while untraditional, allowed the EarthKeepers to live out their commitment to environmental stewardship. The online service made it possible for participants to celebrate with their home communities while also saving the environmental cost of travel to a central location for the commissioning. Bishop Larry Goodpaster of the Southeast Jurisdiction; Thomas Kemper, general secretary for Global Ministries; and the Rev. Jenny Phillips, Creation Care program manager, led the service.

“We know that we fail to recognize, serve and heed God in Christ anytime our lifestyles and consumption cause irreparable harm to the environment. Yet, we are trapped in systems that make it very difficult to participate in the modern world while allowing for the flourishing of creation,” Kemper said, explaining the need for the EarthKeepers program.

He then turned to address the EarthKeepers being commissioned that night specifically: “As we commission you tonight, we implore you to make your actions match the urgency of this moment.”

Shari Ponder, Temekia Powell, Rachel Collins, Marcel Cantu, Cheryl Taylor and Kristi Painter at the Serenity House Garden for the EarthKeepers training in Philadelphia. PHOTO: JOHN COLEMAN 

Rosina Snow, one of the newly commissioned EarthKeepers, sees the urgency through her church in Charlottesville, Virginia. “If humanity must figure this out in a short period of time,” she said, “we want to be ahead of the curve, shining forth what is possible: a carbon-neutral building, vegetable gardens and biodiversity demonstration projects on our grounds, and ministries that defy harmful policies.” Wesley Memorial UMC, where Snow serves as the director of Christian discipleship, is a sanctuary church, and through this ministry they see the connection between migration and climate change. As a result. the church “is striving to embody what it is to follow Jesus Christ as these complex, intersecting problems unfold,” explained Snow. “We want our ministries, our building and our grounds to manifest a vision of ecological renewal and human dignity.” Snow’s work as an EarthKeeper will support this vision.

The Rev. Crystal Paul-Watson also sees the connection between loving God and caring for creation. “The love of God,” she noted, “is manifested in how we treat one another and how good we are to God’s creation.” Paul-Watson of Warwick, New York, was commissioned alongside her mother Lavanda Paul from Mobile, Alabama. They are working together from their different locations to teach families about creation care and specifically to encourage organic gardening. Paul is focused on collecting original seeds and teaching others how to do the same to preserve plant varieties. Paul-Watson is creating a curriculum about gardening and will teach about gardening, fellowship without waste, and learning about creation theology and multiculturalism. Together, they will encourage families to return to gardening and propagate original seeds to increase plant diversity. This represents just one of the wide variety of projects the 2019 EarthKeepers will implement in the months ahead, ranging from community gardens and increasing food security, to reducing single-use plastics and establishing rainwater-collection systems, as well as creation care education, energy audits and increasing green spaces in urban communities.

Some 200 EarthKeepers have been commissioned since the program began in 2016. EarthKeepers spend three and a half days in specialized training, immersed in discussions on theology, United Methodist resources, community organizing and anti-racism, and then use what they learn to develop an environmental project for their churches and communities. It serves as both a launchpad for people looking to turn an idea into action and an incubator for people who want to deepen an existing ministry. Participants develop plans in conversation with their peers, troubleshooting ideas and sharing strategies.

For more information or to support the EarthKeepers program, visit umcmission.org/earthkeepers.

Alabama-West Florida
Lavanda Paul

Baltimore-Washington
Liz Feighner
Mary Jo Fisher
Dellyne Hinton
Dale Shillito

Greater New Jersey
Yesina Palomino

Holston
Rachel Collins

Iowa
Tim Gossett

Minnesota
Isaiah Friesen
Elizabeth Joncas
Brad Neuhauser
Riva Tabelisma

Missouri
Linda Chorice
Janice Greene

New England
Michael Leonard

New Mexico
Debbie Morris
Maria Rivera
Tammy Sprague

New York
Rev. Crystal Paul-Watson        
Rev. Cary James
Sherie Koob
Judy Smith

California-Pacific
Rev. Jeanette Bragunier

North Alabama
Rev. Adam Burns

North Carolina
James Apisai

North Georgia
Marcel Cantu
Didier Monga
Shari Ponder
Temekia Powell
Cheryl Taylor

Northern Illinois
Richard Alton
Rev. Nancy Blade
Edwin Mencias
Rev. Jane Cheema
Rev. Larry Dunlap-Berg
Jill Graham
Judith Horsley
Michael Horsley
Margaret Meiser
Phyllis Tholin

North Texas
Abigail Evans
Roy Evans

Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference      
Taloa Gibson
 
Eastern Pennsylvania
Gretchen Boger
Chris Foster
Marion Grayson
Rev. Tom Lank
Marsena Mungin
Rebecca Parsons

Pacific Northwest
Barb Maynes

Rio Texas
Susan Hellums
Caroline Jones
Randy Knighten
Reg Mills
Tracie Shelton
Khina Subedi
Abel Vega

Susquehanna
Sarah Filizzi
Rev. Joe Hopkins
Kacie Hopkins
Rev. Mark Terwilliger
Phyllis Terwilliger

Tennessee
Clare Bratten
Thandiwe Shiphrah
Crys Zinkiewicz

Virginia
Rosina Snow

Western Pennsylvania
Rev. Lynette Moran
 

Michelle Okabayashi is a freelance writer for Global Ministries.