About Us
Meet Our Team
This Climate Change Series has been created by an Ad Hoc committee of Community of Christ members, now called the North American Climate Justice Team. The committee coalesced at the 2019 World Conference. It is sponsored by the Greater Pacific Northwest USA Mission Center, and also works in liaison with the Earth Stewardship Committee. If you wish to connect with a member, please use the Contact page. We would love to hear from you!
TEAM MEMBERS
- Andrew Fellows,
from
Derby, England of the British Isles Mission Centre. Andrew is a Seventy serving on the Mission
Centre Leadership Team. Andrew started the Clay Cross Foodbank and served as
Foodbank Manager until his retirement in 2019. He was part of the Abolish
Poverty Team that brought WCR 1325 ‘The Climate Emergency’ to World Conference in 2023 and was overwhelmingly approved. Andrew
brings his experience of climate activism and protest with Extinction Rebellion,
Christian Climate Action and at COP 26 in Glasgow.
- Dean Wight, from Bellingham, Washington of the Greater Pacific Northwest USA Mission Center. Dean is an ordained evangelist, currently serving as the team leader for the northern area evangelists of his mission center. He has spent his career leading non-profit organizations serving a wide range of populations in need. He currently works in an organization serving homeless youth, keeping them safe during the current pandemic.
- Joan Thompson, from Kitchener, Ontario, of the Canada East Mission Centre. Joan serves as an ordained high priest and member of the Standing High Council, and is currently completing an MAR degree with a focus on Spiritual Leadership. She has a wide range of experience in congregational and mission centre roles. With degrees in science and telecommunications as well as training/experience in analysis and problem solving, her focus is on identifying root issues and strategizing solutions and action plans.
- Laurie Gordon, from Bend, OR, of the Greater Pacific Northwest Mission Center. She is an ordained evangelist, and has a M.A. in Christian Spirituality from Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. She previously worked on the Genome project at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, U.C. Berkeley. She trained and now serves as a Spiritual Director, assisting Community of Christ with developing people and programs related to spiritual disciplines, including having developed multiple spiritual retreat models and having written several articles on the boundary of the Christian mystical tradition within the science-religion dialogue.
- Paul Bethel, from Huntington Beach, CA, represents the Pacific Southwest International (PSI) Mission Center on the Climate Justice Team. Paul is an ordained elder and currently serves as Co-Pastor of the “Socal Online” ministry sponsored by the Gardena CA. congregation . He retired from a career in the automotive industry and claims to be a repentant “gear head”. Paul explains that thanks to his interaction with the Climate Justice Team, he is now a passionate advocate for the innocent victims of climate change, and against the dynamics that ensnare them.
- Rod Downing, Chair, from Surrey, British Columbia, of the Canadian Mission Centre. Rod, an ordained high priest, has been an activist, writer, presenter and facilitator for over 50 years on issues of peace / justice / environment / human rights. He has served as the creator and editor of Community of Christ’s International Human Rights newsletter for 20 years; as well as the Chair of the Canada Peace / Justice Committee. He earned his M.Sc. at the University of British Columbia, (UBC), plus a Master’s degree in philosophical theology with a global focus, attending UBC’s Vancouver School of Theology for 4 years.
- Susan Oxley, from Seattle, WA, of Greater Pacific Northwest USA Mission Center. She earned a BA in Biology from Saginaw Valley University, and a Masters of Religion from Graceland University before serving the World Church as a Regional Administrator, a Mission Center Financial Officer, and an Apostle serving on the West Coast of the USA, among the South Pacific island nations, and Canada.
- Susi Wight, from Bellingham, WA, of the Greater Pacific Northwest USA Mission Center. Susi is an ordained elder in Community of Christ. She has Masters Degrees in Special Education and Organizational Development, and has spent her career working with troubled youth. She is a sensitive and gentle advocate for inclusive justice for immigrants, ethnic diversity, and social equality for the oppressed and marginalized.
- Brad Martell: PhD in Environmental Studies;
- Cindie Ellwanger: Samish Island Campground coordinator at the time;
- Emily Rose: Our original webmaster who created our website;
- Maya Seagraves: Articulate youth advocate for the Climate;