• Global Ministries EarthKeepers Training Application 2027

    New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Welcome! Global Ministries EarthKeepers equips United Methodists in the United States to develop environmental projects in their communities. Learn more about the program here.

    The application for the Spring Training 2027 will close January 15, 2027 or when spaces are filled. This program is open to United Methodists currently living in the United States. You can preview essay questions here.

  • 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.

    Annual Conference Leader Connection

    Global Ministries EarthKeepers often are or become leaders in their annual conferences and throughout The United Methodist Church. It is important that leaders in your 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 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

    Required pre-training homework will take up to 8 hours. The online classroom containing assignments will open September 3.

    The in-person portion of the training begins March 11 at 4pm Central Time and ends March  14 at 1pm Central Time.

    Participants are required to complete all homework and fully participate in all sessions of the in-person training in order to be commissioned.

    Location

    The training will be held at First Grace UMC, New Orleans, GA, a short car ride from Louis Armstrong International Airport. Lodging will be provided March 11-14 at the The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery. If you need additional nights, you may request and pay for them at the rate of $169/night + taxes and fees.

    Questions? Email environment@umcmission.org. 

     

  • Things to Know Confirmation*
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • What form of transportation will you take to the training site?*
  • Do you need a hotel room? Staying at the hotel is not required. It is fine to stay at home if you live nearby and wish to do so.*
  • Do you need extra hotel nights? Global Ministries will cover the cost of participants' hotel rooms for the nights of Mar. 11, 12, and 13. If you need additional nights, before or after the training, you can pay for them yourself at a rate of $169/night + tax.
  • With what racial/ethnic frame do you most closely identify?
  • What is your age? (must be 13+)

  • About You

  • 0/200
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  • 0/250
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  • Requirements

    This training requires the following:
  • Use of electronic books. We provide eBooks to training participants because they use fewer resources than hardcopy publishing with no shipping impacts on the environment. We continue to look for a viable eBook source other than Amazon.com, but have not found one that works smoothly for our needs and participants' ease of use.*
  • Use of the Teachable online course platform.*
  • Use of the Global Ministries Creation Care Network.*
  • Use of Zoom. (You need a minimum internet bandwidth of 600kbps, as well as a webcam and a microphone and speaker)*
  • Ability to set up and keep track of usernames and passwords for websites*
  • Access to tablet or laptop during the in-person training*

  • Annual Conference Leader Connection

    Global Ministries EarthKeepers often are or become leaders in their annual conferences and throughout The United Methodist Church. It is important that leaders in your conference support you applying for this training. For your application to be complete, an annual 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 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 an email confirmation when the Connection Form has been submitted.

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