Media Contact:
Susan Clark, Chief Communications Officer
media@umcmission.org
800-862-4246
ATLANTA – Global Ministries will commission 72 new EarthKeepers in an online service on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. ET. 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 2025 trainings held online and in Des Moines, Washington, this group of EarthKeepers represents 24 annual conferences and all five jurisdictions. Participants include clergy, laity, annual conference staff and agency staff.
“The vital leadership of Global Ministries EarthKeepers is an alternative to the political, economic, and social forces that undermine the flourishing of God’s creation,” said Roland Fernandes, general secretary of Global Ministries and General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. “Their projects bring positive environmental impact and real hope to communities throughout the United States.
“At a time when environmental programs in the United States, both secular and religious, are being defunded and closed, Global Ministries EarthKeepers is flourishing with vision and purpose,” said the Rev. Jenny Phillips, director of Environmental Sustainability. “More EarthKeepers have been trained in 2025 than in any other year in the program’s nine-year history. Their projects are remarkably bold and ambitious, meeting the challenges of this moment.”
This is the ninth year that the EarthKeepers commissioning service has been held online, allowing EarthKeepers nationwide to participate along with their family, friends and church community. The service will be led by Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, resident bishop for the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area.
Headshots of the participants are available for annual conference communications use at: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjChqQP
To read more about EarthKeepers projects and to get updates on 2026 trainings, join the Global Ministries Creation Care Network by downloading the app or visiting http://creationcare.umcmission.org/signup.
The 2025 Global Ministries EarthKeepers reside in the following conferences.
| California-Nevada Rev. April Sousa California-Pacific Euijin Lee Janice Lee Serena Lee Sunny Park Melanie Branson Florida Dr. Jack Grove Rev. Lee Hall-Perkins Great Plains Rev. Kristi Bishop Christopher (Chris) Decker Horizon Texas Carson Warden Rev. Dr. Thomas (Tommy) Brumett Joshua (Josh) Brumett Cassidy Barrett Wendy Owens Leila Prichard Susan Bruster Rev. Dr. Tim Bruster Celeste Spencer Rev. Rob Spencer Kentucky Ashley Vipond Michigan Sandra White Rev. Ryan Wieland Sarah Lai Rev. Ruth Marston-Bihl Kathryn Rauhauser Melanie Wienecke Lourdes Tifre Karen Biggers Gail Huggins Rev. Dan Gerhard Dr. Darold Ward Janet Ward Andi Villar Arroyo Peninsula-Delaware Dr. Tolbert Nyenswah Rev. Emanuel Johnson Rio Texas Jenny Monahan Tennessee-Western Kentucky Heather Bennett Kathryn Hofeldt-Provost Missouri Lindsey Ready | Mountain Sky Sean Orner Carolyn Tarr New England Maria Castle Elaine Trench New Mexico Kathleen Duncan Dr. Idolia (Dodie) Hawkins Dr. Andy Stoker North Carolina Susan Jacques Dorothy Kester North Georgia Rev. Mark LaRocca-Pitts Jeff Fuller Oregon-Idaho Barbara (Barb) Reuter Rev. Zaida F. Huereca Louise Darling Pacific Northwest Sharon Feucht Patricia (Pat) Gray Vanessa Perkinson Chelsey Reese Rev. Jacqueline (Jackie) Celin Laura Osborn Dr. Gwen Wood Judy Le Blanc Martha-Ann Pilcher Texas Anne Blakely-Barloco Upper New York Elizabeth (Betsy) Croft Virginia Lauri Snider West Virginia Jeffrey (Jeff) Matheny Melanie Matheny Western North Carolina Rev. Steven (Steve) Bergkamp Mark Casper Anna Garner Wisconsin Paul Schumacher |
Photos are available at: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjChqQP
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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 160 missionaries in over 60 countries, including the United States. It has personnel, projects and partners in more than 100 countries. Learn more by visiting www.umcmission.org.
