Caretakers of God’s Creation Coordinator – Suggested Duties

Working Group – Rob Barton, Mark Brechin, Grace Pugh Hubbard, & Kim Richmond

Although officially under the Annual Conference Board of Church and Society (or equivalent structure), the Caretakers of God’s Creation Coordinator* (or equivalent title) will work with others in the conference to network with multiple boards and agencies in order to provide the conference, district, and local churches with a variety of resources available within The UMC. With the Commitment to Net Zero Emissions by the UM Council of Bishops and many UM boards and agencies, every board and agency has an aspect of creation: stewardship, care, and/or justice. Depending upon the needs and mission field of the conference, district, or local church, the coordinator will be able to direct individuals or groups to the applicable resource. To accomplish this task the coordinator will:

Invite other clergy and laity to join in this work and organize a team within the AC to share these duties, as noted in Luke 10:1 where the Lord appoints the seventy two and sends them out two by two to do the Lord’s work together;
Work together to establish programs designed to promote the theology expressed in the Revised Social Principles to fully incorporate the Christian ethic of creation care and justice throughout all efforts to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world;
Network with the UM Creation Justice Movement and its various working groups to tap into its grassroots connections throughout The UMC, as well as with its established networking links to most UM boards and agencies;
Network with regional ecumenical and secular groups;
Attract, organize, and engage a conference-wide network of individuals, groups, and churches with a passion for creation care;
Promote resources and resolutions at the annual conference meetings and through conference communications;
Coordinate events and speakers which increase awareness of available resources;
Actively work with conference and district staff to promote local church green teams and training for clergy and laity;
Educate all within the conference on the existing statements and positions of The UMC which embrace the values of creation care and justice, noting and working to close the “Ambition Gap” between the stated values and their practice, focused on recently enacted legislation including the Social Principles, Energy Policy, and legislation enacted in 2024 General Conference for the Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions;
Hold the conference accountable for legislative goals set by the larger church and annual conference;
Promote Advocacy for legislative solutions on the local, state, and federal level, and,
Assure a clear focus on anti-racist policies and practices in all work that is done.

*The legislation proposing this position was drafted prior to the formation of the Creation Justice Movement and was inspired by the group Caretakers of God’s Creation. While the name in the legislation is similar to that 501c3 organization, this conference coordinator position is independent of that specific group and at this time is most effectively networked through the UM Creation Justice Movement.