Greetings to you and your congregation. I am Julie Lehman, the new Engagement Manager for Creation Care Alliance, a program of MountainTrue. I have followed CCA for many years and know both previous directors, Sarah Ogletree and Scott Hardin-Nieri personally. I even knew Anna Jane Joyner when she and others were dreaming this alliance into being! 

While I am not an ordained pastor, I studied environmental theology in seminary and served as director of Presbyterians for Earth Care while helping several local churches start creation care teams. I find the spiritual and theological dimensions of creation care to be a common value among many faith perspectives and therefore believe this work to be hopeful and unifying in these troubling and divided times. To learn more about me, see CCA’s  “about us” page.

I have been a member of MountainTrue for many years, even serving on the board during its expansion and rebranding. Their dedication to working for clean water, resilient forests, green energy and healthy communities has inspired countless people in Western NC, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene (see https://mountaintrue.org/one_year_after/. As Engagement Manager, I will connect you with other neighboring congregations to help with disaster recovery and resilience-building in your local community.

In the coming weeks, I will reach out to our Covenant Partner Congregations to learn how you fared through Helene, what roles you may have played in your community’s recovery, and what’s new with your creation care work. If your congregation is not yet a Covenant Partner but might be interested, call me at (828) 617-0843 or email me at lehman@mountaintrue.org.

Stay tuned to the website as well as the Facebook and Instagram pages for news, events, and opportunities. Finally, mark your calendars for May 1-2 when we will host the 2026 Creation Care Symposium at Montreat Conference Center. I look forward to meeting you all in the coming days.

Blessings,

Julie Lehman