Presbyterians for Earth Care Honors

2025 Earth Care Award Winners

Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) recognized two individuals and one congregation/organization for their exceptional environmental achievements at PEC’s virtual Annual Gathering on January 11, 2026.

William P. Brown, the William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA received the William Gibson Eco-Justice Award for his long-term dedication to teaching and preaching on environmental issues in the Old Testament. He is also a co-founder of Earth Covenant Ministry, an organization of Presbyterian Churches in the Atlanta area that later became part of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light. Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light was presented with the Restoring Creation Award for working in community gardens and backyard gardens for more than a decade. Many of the garden locations have been on church properties, where congregations have been engaged. Drew Hill and Hudson Davis received PEC’s Emerging Earth Care Leader Award for showing exceptional promise as future leaders. Drew Hill, a young adult from Santa Fe, NM is passionate about social progress, protecting the environment and serving the public. From an early age, Hudson was captivated by prehistoric and modern animals and the sanctity of nature.

William Gibson Eco-Justice Award
William P. Brown

Dr. Brown has received numerous awards, grants and academic chairs. In addition to teaching and preaching on environmental issues, Dr. Brown has written twelve books and was editor of “Engaging Biblical Authority”. He is currently completing a major commentary on the Psalms for the “Old Testament Library Commentary” series (WJK). Next will be a commentary on Genesis 1-11 in the new Interpretation series (WJK). He has also assisted with writing creation care overtures for General Assemblies.

Restoring Creation Award
Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light (AIPL)

AIPL’s network of growers had 21 community garden locations, 7 new partners, and several small backyard gardens in low-wealth communities. AIPL has involved a total of 74 interns, trainers, and students and has engaged more than 22,000 people each year learning about growing some of their own food in sustainable ways. AIPL provides 13,725 pounds of nutritious fresh produce and other food items to food pantries and no cost markets. A total of 43,300 pounds of organic matter was diverted from landfills over a 2-year period. AIPL interns also shared organic waste from its gardens with chickens at on-site coops and added organic matter to onsite compost bins. AIPL is reaching even more people in more low-wealth communities by awarding ten $2000 grants.

Emerging Earth Care Leader Award
Hudson Davis and Drew Hill

Hudson Davis is a 24-yr old scientist serving the Mammoth Site, located in Hot Springs, South Dakota.As the Assistant Science Educator, Hudson lives out his childhood dreams of being a paleontologist while getting to pass on the power of curiosity about the natural world to the next generation. Hudson embodies his faith while teaching about the amazing world we live in. He runs classes and tours at the site and leads the summer camp program, a free week-long program. During the summer Hudson serves as a supervisor for the Mammoth's Site Internship Program, helping mentor six to eight college paleontology students. Hudson also helps design exhibits for the museum and dig for fossils of ice age animals in local caves.

Drew Hill is a young adult from Santa Fe, New Mexico, passionate about social progress, protecting the environment, and serving the public. Raised in the community of First Presbyterian Church Santa Fe, Drew served as a youth deacon and elder prior to graduating high school, working as summer staff at Ghost Ranch Retreat Center, and serving as a PC (USA) Young Adult Volunteer in Washington D.C. He received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree at the University of New Mexico, graduating in 2024. Drew also served as a Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAD) to the previous General Assembly. Since completing his degree, he has worked as a District Staffer for Congressman Gabe Vasquez. Drew has worked with the Advocacy Committee on PEC overtures for the 2026 General Assembly and serves on the CANOPY Advisory Committee.

Learn about all three Annual Earth Care Awards, as well as view a list of past recipients, on our website! CLICK HERE

WEBINAR NEXT WEEK:

Responding to Urban Hunger

Through Earth Care

This presentation explores how cities can prevent ongoing food shortages by building sustainable, resilient local food systems. With many cities—including Phoenix—embedding food sustainability into their long-term plans, the focus is on producing healthy, climate-friendly food closer to home in socially, environmentally, and economically responsible ways.

Using Phoenix as a case study—facing drought, limited arable land, and widespread food deserts—this session examines urban food insecurity and the vital role of earth care in developing practical, community-based solutions.

WEBINAR DATE: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Time: 7:30 pm Eastern (6:30 Central, 5:30 Mountain, 4:30 Pacific)
PRESENTER: Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr.

About the Presenter:

Dr. George B. Brooks Jr. is Founder and President of NxT Horizon Group, advancing “AgTech for the Real World” through bioenergy development in Africa and innovative urban farming technologies like aquaponics. He holds a Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries from the University of Arizona and is a recognized leader in environmental, economic, and community development. Dr. Brooks serves as Vice Chair of the South Mountain Village Planning Committee and is part of the Phoenix Planning Commission. He is Vice President of the Phoenix Green Chamber of Commerce and serves on the boards of the Aquaponics Association and America’s Tilapia Alliance. He is also active in faith-based earth care through Southminster Environmental Ministries.

CLICK HERE to Register for the Webinar Link

2026 Earth Care Lenten Devotional

Free Download

Our 2026 Lenten Devotional was made possible by the volunteers contributing their devotions as well as Spanish language collaboration with our partner organization Red Presbiteriana para el Cuidado de la Creación. Thank you to all of the writers who contributed!

CLICK HERE to download the English language translation of the Lenten Devotional.

CLICK HERE to download the Lenten Devotional in Spanish.

Would you like to receive each devotion on its designated date in your email Inbox? If so, you can request devotional emails (both English and Spanish translations) through Lent by signing up with your email.

CLICK HERE to Sign Up for Devotion Emails

From Our Partner Organizations:

The Presbyterian Hunger Program strives to walk with people in moving toward sustainable choices that restore and protect all of God’s children and Creation. As people of faith, we seek to “serve and preserve” God’s world. However, some of our collective choices have led to a changing global climate, which translates to warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, and severe storms, just to name a few. To turn this tide, we must commit to treading lightly on God’s Earth. In Lent, we slow down, take time, and examine our internal spiritual lives and the way we live out our Christian faith in the world around us. Our hope is that this Lenten calendar will be the beginning of actions intended to create more mindful behaviors throughout the year.

CLICK HERE to Download Calendar

How can we help you care for God’s creation? Drop us an email and let us know at presbyearthcare@gmail.com

Help us grow! Please let us know if there is anyone we should add to our list! Just reply to this email. Thank you!

Please help us to continue to assist individuals and churches in creation care work by donating to PEC through our website by CLICKING HERE. Thank you!