United Methodists Serve at COP30
Annual Conference Caretakers of God's Creation Serve as Virtual Observers of the UN Climate Negotiations
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can” has a new meaning for six American United Methodists serving as Caretakers of God’s Creation, a new annual conference position created at the 2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. These six Caretakers, who comprise both lay people and clergy, are serving as observers at the thirtieth annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The conference is taking place in Belém, Brazil, but Caretakers are able to observe online from the US.
Members of the faith community have played a historic role in attending, monitoring, and reporting on the proceedings of the UN climate negotiations. Faith leaders serve as a public witness to the sacred worth of each human, and advocate for climate justice as a way to live out our divine call to love others as we are loved.
As part of their work, Caretakers are providing Substack posts based on what they are learning at the conference. Links to their Substack posts will be continuously updated below, with newer posts appearing at the top of the list.
Caretakers of God’s Creation COP30 Substack Posts
Making the Right Decisions for the Wrong Reasons, by Rev. Joan Pell
A Fundamental Conflict, by Nate Wieland
Youth Leadership at COP30, by Grace Pugh Hubbard
Lives of Care, by Nate Wieland
The Good, the Bad, and the Silver Lining, by Rev. Mel Carraway
When Humans Have Cut the Last Tree, We Will Realize We Cannot Eat Money, by Rev. Laura Baumgartner
Will COP30 Deliver on Climate Finance?, by Rev. Joan Pell
A Truly Just Transition, by Nate Wieland
The COP of Indigenous Peoples, by Rev. Laura Baumgartner
Meet the COP30 Caretakers of God’s Creation Team
Rev. Laura Baumgartner
Rev. Laura Baumgartner is the pastor of the Haller Lake United Methodist Church in Seattle, WA. She serves as co-Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest conference of the United Methodist Church with Rev. Jackie Celin and works closely with the Commission on Environmental Stewardship in her conference. Laura worked for many years as a science teacher before becoming a pastor and has degrees in chemistry, environmental engineering, and divinity. She loves to spend time outside with her dog, Calvin and husband, Eric. Their daughter lives in Chicago, where they love to visit.
Rev. Jonathan Brake
Rev. Jonathan Brake is a Global Ministries EarthKeeper and the founder of the Creation Care Ministry of the Western North Carolina Conference. He was commissioned as a Global Ministries EarthKeeper in 2016, started the Creation Care Ministry for his Annual Conference in 2017. Jonathan helped to form the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement, where he serves on the coordinating and communications committees. After working as the environmental sustainability program manager with UMC Global Ministries, he began a new appointment this year as the Eco-Missions and Creation Care Coordinator of the Western NC Conference. Jonathan and his wife live in Hickory, NC where he is transforming their backyard into a national park to support wildlife. They have three adult daughters and several furry family members.
Rev. Mel Caraway
Rev. Mel Caraway is a retired United Methodist clergyperson currently serving as the Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator for the Horizon Texas Conference. He also is the Interfaith Climate Coordinator for Texas Impact/Texas Interfaith Power and Light. He also is on the Coordinating Committee for the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement and is commissioned as an EarthKeeper by the General Board of Global Ministries. Additionally he has trained as a Climate Reality Project leader and as a Climate Ambassador with ecoAmerica. He has been writing about and advocating for creation justice for over 30 years.
Grace Pugh Hubbard
Grace Pugh Hubbard is Climate Care Coordinator for the New England UM Annual Conference. In this role Grace works in the areas of Eco-spirituality, Education, Energy Efficiency, and Legislative Advocacy across six states. She is a commissioned EarthKeeper and an Artist Advocate. Grace and her husband Joel live in Essex, Vermont and have four children, two grandchildren, and eight grand-fur-babies.
Rev. Joan Pell
Rev. Joan Pell is a retired clergy member of the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church. She serves, in a volunteer capacity, as their Conference Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator and as the Chair of the Conference Climate Justice Ministries Task Force. She also maintains the task force climate-cnumc.org website. In retirement, Joan enjoys having more time to travel, visiting her grandchildren, and pursuing advocacy and justice issues. She dreams of a just world with a safe and sustainable future where all of all of God’s creation is valued.
Nate Wieland
Nate Wieland is a hospital chaplain in Southern Illinois. A member of Greenville First United Methodist Church, he serves as the Caretakers of God’s Creation Coordinator for the IGRC. He spends his time growing native trees, writing poetry, and going on walks with his wife Sam and his poodle Mr. Puddles. He dreams of a future where people everywhere will have abundant access to the gifts and beauty of the generous earth.
