Things to Know
Projects
A core component of the training is to develop a plan for a project that you will implement in a community with which you have a relationship. You must know what you plan to work on when you apply. The training is designed for people who have an idea and want support in developing it. It can be a new project or a new phase of an existing project. It is okay for your project to change as you develop it during the training. If you apply without a specific project in mind, you will be invited to apply again in the future after you have developed an idea.
- Example of a specific idea that is ready to be developed in this training: The churches in my district are struggling with their budgets. Many of them are not aware of the connections between energy consumption and climate change. I want to develop an energy efficiency education program that will help them take action to reduce their energy expenses, measure their climate impact, and tell the story of their climate stewardship.
- Example of a vague idea that needs further refinement: Climate change is a crisis and my church isn’t doing anything about it. Also, straws are killing turtles. My project is to make my church do something about climate change and/or stop people from putting plastic in the oceans.
UMC Annual Conference Connection
Global Ministries EarthKeepers often already are, or become, leaders in their annual conferences and throughout The United Methodist Church. It is important that leaders in your annual conference support you applying for this training. For your application to be complete, a conference-level leader (bishop, director of connectional ministries, district superintendent, or conference creation care ministry chairperson) must submit a Connection Form on your behalf. You are responsible for asking them to submit the form.
If you don't know any of the people in these roles, ask your pastor to make an introduction or reach out to one of them via your annual conference website. Introduce yourself, explaining the training and why you want to participate. Ask if they will complete the form and suggest a call following the training to share what you learned.
Click here for the Connection Form
You will receive email confirmation when the Connection Form has been submitted.
Time Commitment
This training includes up to 24 hours of homework (between April 1 -May 1) and 8.5 hours of live online sessions via Zoom.
The pre-training homework will be available April 1 and can be completed at your convenience.
The live online training will follow this (tentative) schedule:
- Friday, May 2, 2025: Zoom live plenary session 1, 8:00-9:30pm Eastern Time
- Small group Zoom session (several times to choose from on Tuesday 5/6 or Wednesday 5/7)
- Friday, May 9: Zoom live plenary session 2, 8:00-9:30pm Eastern
- Small group Zoom session (several times to choose from on Tuesday 5/13 or Wednesday 5/14)
- 1 one-on-one Zoom coaching session between May 5 – 15 (you will choose a 45-minute time slot with one of our trainers)
- Saturday, March 17: Zoom live plenary session 3, 10:00am-2:00pm Eastern
Participants are required to complete all homework, fully participate in all online Zoom sessions of the live plenaries, and participate in small groups in order to be commissioned (here are the possible small group times):
- Group A: Tuesday, May 6 &13, 10:00-11:15am ET
- Group B: Tuesday, May 6 &13, 2:00-3:15pm ET
- Group C: Wednesday, May 7 &14, 1:00-2:15pm ET
- Group D: Wednesday, May 7 &14, 7:00-8:15pm ET
If you have questions about any of the above, please contact us at environment@umcmission.org.