Creation Care & Justice Ministries
Creation Care in the Pacific Northwest Conference means tending to the health of the environment, including all places where we live, work, play and pray. We have grown to understand that creation care can also be justice work as the communities most often hurt by climate change, environmental neglect, and rampant consumption are those with the least access access, resources and privilege.
We recognize the church as the presence of God on Earth ‘as it is in heaven,’ both now and for the future–and strive to develop and advance a vision toward a sustainable church, empowering congregations and more to take action consistent with that vision, as well as develop resources for that effort.
Creation care ministries extend into the full life of the church:
- Worship: Connecting our praise of the God who chose to become present in the physical world with our own love for this world.
- Education: Learning the Biblical, theological, and historical connections between faith and creation care, and understanding the theological implications of our current environmental crisis.
- Mission: Recognizing the deep connections between creation care and historic concerns of the church including hunger, poverty, and justice, and ensuring that our relationship with the environment supports rather than undermines our missional work.
- Financial Administration: Acknowledging that our values are vividly expressed by the ways in which we manage and spend our financial resources, and ensuring that our purchases and investments support the care of creation.
- Building and Property Management: Caring for our physical assets in ways that enhance the flourishing of God’s creation.
- Fellowship: Exploring and enjoying the natural world with one another.
All of our efforts are in alignment with our Social Principles which declare,
“All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings…”
Interested in starting a Green Team in your congregation?
There are several resources compiled or created by United Methodist entities that can help guide you as you establish your Green Team. Here are a few to help you get started.
United Methodist Creation Justice Movement (UMCJM)
Cal-Nevada Conference Climate Justice Ministries Green Teams
Northern Illinois Conference Eco-Sustainability Task Force
COP30 is from November 10 – 21, 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
Climate Justice Ministries has created a landing page where you will find our daily updates, prayers/devotionals, background information and introductory newsletter on COP30.
Caption: 12/11/2025 – Belém – A ministra brasileira dos Povos Indígenas, Sonia Guajajara (C), lidera uma marcha com outros indígenas de todo o mundo ao longo da Zona Azul no Hangar da Conferência do Clima COP30. Foto: Antonio Scorza/COP30
12.11.2025 – Belem- Brazilian Minister for the Indigenous People Sonia Guajajara (C) leads a march along the blue zone at the Hangar of the COP30 Climate Conference. Photo Antonio Scorza/ COP30
Participation Requested: Environmental Stewardship surveys to meet new discipline requirements ¶2533 and ¶2550
In response to the three new discipline requirements added to the Board of Trustees ¶2533 and ¶2550, the Environmental Stewardship Commission has created two forms intended to make it easier for congregations to meet all three requirements.
We would greatly appreciate your filling out these two forms about environmental stewardship in your context by December 1, 2025. The Commission on Environmental Stewardship will use your input to plan our work in 2026. The forms are not required but your participation is greatly appreciated as we move forward together in the work of creation care and environmental stewardship and justice.
PNW Conference staff have made it easier to participate by linking the two forms/surveys on the PNW Charge Conference Information page. Please visit the section “Forms and reports due by December 1, 2025” for a link to these forms. Please also note the new Trustees’ report (question #8) also addresses these efforts related to church buildings, grounds, and facilities, showing the impact on their ability to be carbon neutral and/or have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (¶ 2550.11).
You may also access the forms here:
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions form (fillable PDF)
- Check-list for Local Congregations Engaging in Environmental Justice Activities (fillable PDF)
Have questions? Please reach out to the commission leadership:
Commission on Environmental Stewardship
Commission leadership
The commission is co-chaired by Deaconess Sophia Agtarap and Rev. Paul Mitchell, with Revs. Jackie Celin and Laura Baumgartner serving as Co-Caretakers of God’s Creation.
Meetings are held via zoom every 4th Tuesday of every month and are open attendance.
Resources Shared at 2025 Annual Conference
A collection of resources, links, and downloads shared at the 2025 Annual Conference gathering.
Featured Resources and Ministry Partners
Global Ministries Creation Care Network
The Global Ministries Creation Care Network is an online platform to help members of The United Methodist Church and established ministry partners put Creation Care and environmental justice values into action. It is a space for United Methodists to connect, share, and learn from one another as we deepen and grow our collective Creation Care ministries.
General Board of Church and Society Climate Focus
Through acts of personal, social and civic righteousness, United Methodists are modeling a new lifestyle and advocating for God’s people and God’s planet so that all God’s children can share in the goodness of Creation. This resource from the General Board of Church and Society communicates shared UMC positions on climate care appearing in the Church’s Social Principles and Book of Resolutions.
UMC Creation Justice Movement
The mission of the UMC Creation Justice Movement is to participate with the Spirit of God in connecting and supporting groups within the United Methodist Church and beyond for the work of creation care, justice, and regeneration. They sponsor regular webinars, a monthly email and create and distribute resources for local church use.
Earth Ministry / Washington Interfaith Power & Light
pioneer in Environmental Justice work among faith communities, Earth Ministry/WA Interfaith Power and Light was a force for good in Washington State for over 32 years. It is in large part because of the work of this organization that there are so many people of faith and conscience as well as sacred communities engaging in work at the intersection of faith and environment today. The Commission on Environmental Stewardship in the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UMC is thankful for the witness of the founders and the many former staff and board members of this organization who pointed the way to what is possible when we work together, learning from and led by those who are most affected by environmental crises.
Se’Si’Le (saw-see’-law)
Se’Si’Le is the Lummi Indian word for “our grandmother” indicating a focus on relationship with Mother Earth. The organization provides protective management strategies and plans for Indigenous sacred sites, areas, resources, and landscapes. Further, their mission includes to invoke, preserve, and promote understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing the nature of Nature. The “Way of the Mask” Journey will make the case for a narrative that accentuates the interrelatedness of Treaty rights and inherent rights, Indigenous ways of knowing nature and environmental justice, healthy rivers and salmon habitat, spiritual and ecological balance, and ancient forests and climate resilience. Ten cedar masks exemplifying the spiritual meaning of xaalh: the sacred balance of life will be carved for the campaign and gifted to event hosts.