October 2026 Movement Café
Council of Bishops: Speaking Up for Climate Action
October 21, 2026
9am AK / 10am PT / 11am MT / 12pm CT / 1pm ET
Sponsored by the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement, the informal, virtual space of the Café facilitates conversation, connection, and community focused on creation care and justice issues.
Council of Bishops: Speaking Up for Climate Action
If you had a chance to talk to your bishop about climate justice, what would you say? This question is timely for our October Movement Cafe. On September 18th, 31 United Methodist bishops attended the Speak Up For Climate Justice Training presented by the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement, in partnership with the Center for Ecological Regeneration at Garrett Seminary. With the warming earth now crossing the 1.5 degree mark, all Christians must now grapple with what this means for their neighbors and ministries. Then, in October 20-24th, the Bishops and selected staff will gather in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to attend the Council of Bishops Leadership Gathering. Three members of the Movement will be in Calgary for the gathering, including Caretaker Board Member Jacob Stone and Leadership delegates Audra Stone and Jefferson Boye Knight. At the Cafe we will review standout moments of the September training and hear from Jacob, Audra, and Jefferson as to the imperatives and conversations rising up in Calgary.
Speakers
Jefferson Boye Knight
Jefferson Boye Knight is a United Methodist and a member of the Liberia Annual Conference. He is a Global Ministries EarthKeeper, and serves on the Coordinating Team for the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement. He works in community to raise awareness about climate change and its effects in West Africa.
Audra and Jacob Stone
Pastor Audra Hudson Stone and Jacob Stone are the co-convenors of the Environmental Justice Taskforce of the Michigan Conference UMC and the North Central Jurisdiction Network of the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement. In November 2023, they served as young adult representatives of the UMC to the 2023 World Council of Churches Eco-School, focused on faith-based responses to climate change and environmental degradation.
Audra studied public ministry and ecological regeneration at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and currently serves as the campus minister for the Central Michigan University Wesley Foundation. She also serves as the Michigan Conference Secretary of Global Ministries. Jacob has a background in environmental science and biology and has worked in outdoor education and UMC camping ministries. Jacob also serves as the co-chair of the Michigan Conference Board of Justice and as the conference’s Caretaker for God’s Creation.