It was a full year in 2023 for the Global Ministries Environmental Sustainability department as we got back up to speed from pandemic disruptions. Two online Global Ministries EarthKeeper Trainings saw 29 newly commissioned laity & clergy prepared for carrying out exciting new projects across the country. You can read about these services and stories here:
https://umcmission.org/april-
https://umcmission.org/
In September, the Environmental Sustainability department added another person to work with Rev. Jenny Phillips. Rev. Jonathan Brake was one of the first Global Ministries EarthKeepers commissioned in 2016. An ordained UM Elder from the Western North Carolina Conference, his primary foci as the Environmental Sustainability Program Manager at Global Ministries will be to oversee the EarthKeeper program as well as the Creation Care Network online platform, work with the grant program for EarthKeeper projects, develop more online learning opportunities and a variety of other tasks.
Rev. Jenny Phillips was one of several United Methodist leaders who attended COP27, and on Nov. 10 and 17, 2022 hosted discussions live from Egypt. The webinars were a joint effort of these United Methodist agencies: Church and Society, Global Ministries, United Women in Faith, Wespath and United Methodist Communications. You can learn more about the work of our church and agencies with international Climate Emergency efforts here: https://www.resourceumc.
And in Mozambique, Global Ministries is involved with developing farmers to sustain churches, communities, and families through the Yombasu Agriculture Initiative – https://umcmission.org/eoy-