Earth Justice Ministries

The Reverend Sharon Delgado, a clergy member of the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, is co-founder and executive director of Earth Justice Ministries. She preaches in churches as invited and has traveled throughout the country presenting seminars, workshops, and lectures on peace, justice, and caring for God's creation, and on the environmental, cultural, and economic effects of economic globalization. She has had many articles published on these themes. Her forthcoming book, to be published in July by Fortress Press, is entitled Shaking the Gates of Hell: Faith-Led Resistance to Corporate Globalization.

The Reverend Delgado graduated from California State University in Sacramento in 1988 with a major in Peace/War Studies, a Social Science degree. She received her Master of Divinity Degree in 1991 from Pacific School of Religion and returned in 1995 to complete her Masters of Arts Degree in Religion and Society.

Churches she served as pastor include Newcastle United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz. She was Environmental Justice Coordinator on the California-Nevada Conference Board of Church and Society from 1991 until 1996, then served as Chair of the Board until 1999.

In 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, Rev. Delgado joined the staff of the Resource Center for Nonviolence in Santa Cruz, where she became a well-known grassroots organizer, combining her work at the Resource Center with her work through Earth Justice Ministries. At the same time, she preached and led workshops in various churches, had many articles published, and spoke at conferences around the country.

In June, 2002, Reverend Delgado received the Bishop Leontyne Kelly Peace with Justice Award from the California-Nevada Methodist Federation for Social Action.

Other publications include many articles, as well as Hope For the Earth: A Handbook for Christian Environmental Groups, published by the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church in 1994. It is available at Earth Justice Ministries.

Sharon Delgado is married to poet Guarionex Delgado and is a devoted mother and grandmother. She lives in Nevada City, California, on an acre that her son Luke has graced with permaculture landscaping, designed to feed body and spirit in harmony with the natural world.

• "Seattle to Cancun: Globalization and the WTO," Christian Social Action, September, 2003.
• Worship Materials for Earth Day 2002, Christian Social Action, March, April, 2002, focused on global climate change.
• Sermon on Climate Change for National Council of Churches' Earth Day 2000 resource.
• "News from the Frontlines of the Battle in Seattle," Christian Social Action, Jan., 2000.
• "Timber Wars." In Christian Social Action Magazine, Jan. and Feb., 1999.
• "To Strengthen Today's Noah's Ark." In Christian Social Action Magazine, Feb., 1998.
• Toxins Threaten Nation's Health." In Response Magazine, Oct., 1997.
• "Rio Plus Five." In Christian Social Action Magazine, July, 1997.
• "Simplicity: Way to Abundant Living." In Christian Social Action Magazine, Dec. 1996.
• "Is There Hope for the Earth?" In Christian Social Action Magazine, the magazine of the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, July/Aug. 1993.

• 1988 to the present: Numerous engagements at churches, conferences, and colleges that involve speaking, preaching, and/or leading workshops linking faith to issues of war and peace, economic and environmental justice, globalization, and nonviolent direct action.
• April 25, 2004: "Hope for the Earth in an Age of Globalization," speaker at the annual meeting of Methodist Federation for Social Action, Atlanta, GA.
• January, 2003: "Resistance and Hope in an Age of Globalization," Speaker and workshop leader at women's conference at Amagi Sanso Retreat Center, Japan.
• May, 2002. "Caring for God's Creation," Speaker and workshop leader at a Conference by that name at UC Davis.
• June, 2001. Workshop presenter at International Forum on Globalization Conference, on the topic: "Faith-Based Resistance to Corporate Globalization," in San Jose, California.
• March, 2001. Keynote speaker on "Globalization's Effects on Women and Children" at the United Methodist Women's Annual Legislative Event in Sacramento, California.
• October, 2000. Speaker at the California Wilderness Coalition conference on "A Spirituality of the Wild," Sacramento State University, Sacramento, California.
• August, 2000. Keynote speaker on "Human Health and the Environment: A Faith Perspective," at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oakland, California.
• May, 1999. Presenter and workshop leader at the National Council of Churches Environmental Justice Coordinators' Training in Chicago. Topic: Justice and Creation.
• April, 1997. Presenter and workshop leader at the environmental conference sponsored by the National Council of Churches at Estes Park, Colorado.
• November, 1996. Presenter at the Western Jurisdictional leadership training event in San Diego for the General Board of Church and Society on the topic of "Wesleyan Foundations for Social Action."
• October, 1996. Organizer and speaker for a major conference on Christianity and ecology in Santa Cruz. Topic: "God's Earth, Our Home."
• June, 1996. Presenter with Jaydee Hanson of the General Board of Church and Society at the California-Nevada Annual Conference Session. Topic: Population, Consumption, Habitat.
• November, 1995. Led a workshop for the California-Pacific Conference in Los Angeles at an environmental justice conference sponsored by their Board of Church and Society.
• August, 1995. Led a workshop on eco-feminism at the International United Methodist Clergywomen's Consultation in Atlanta.
• July 17-28, 1995. Taught a two-week long graduate level seminary class at the Institute of Theological Studies at the University of Seattle on "Ministry in a Sacred Universe."
• April, 1995. Taught a seminar on earth stewardship at Garrett Theological Institute during their annual lecture series.
• January, 1995. Speaker at the annual dinner of Methodist Federation for Social Action during the Earl Lectures in Berkeley; program was on her newly - published handbook, "Hope for the Earth."
• June, 1992. Sent by the Conference Board of Church and Society as part of the United Methodist delegation to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.