Announcing Aly’s Transition to GreenFaith

Aly Tharp
Photo shows four Zephyranthes drummondii (Evening Rain Lily) flowers close up. There are six white petals and a yelow center. photo by Aly Tharp
Zephyranthes drummondii (Evening Rain Lily), photo by Aly Tharp

Dear UU Ministry for Earth Community,

It is with a mixture of deep excitement, gratitude, and sadness that I announce I am transitioning out of my role as Co-Director of UU Ministry for Earth, and beginning a new role as Senior Organizer at GreenFaith, focusing on multi-faith mobilization with the People vs Fossil Fuels Campaign (formerly known as Build Back Fossil Free).
I have officially begun working full time at GreenFaith. I am also maintaining my role with UUMFE in a much-reduced capacity, now through the UUA General Assembly (I will be attending the UUA GA in full, in person). My last day as outgoing UUMFE Co-Director will be in early July.
When my friend and fellow Keystone pipeline blockader Benjamin Franklin Sequoyah Craft-Rendon encouraged me to apply to be the UU Young Adults for Climate Justice (UUYACJ) Network Coordinator in 2014, I had no way of knowing that my life would be so deeply shaped and transformed by this ministry!

It has been a great honor and privilege to serve UUYACJ, UUMFE and the entire UU faith community over the last eight years.

I am so proud of the work we’ve done together — the many national and global mobilizations; being an executive producer and screening partner of The Condor & The Eagle documentary; organizing congregations to create eco-artwork for the 2017, 2019 and 2022 General Assemblies; the hundreds of webinars and networking calls to strengthen the UU climate and environmental justice movement… It has been hard, beautiful, meaningful work. Thank you for your faith, support, and collaboration over the years.

My heart is full of gratitude, hope, and anticipation for the continued growth and evolution of UU Ministry for Earth, our denomination-wide UU climate justice efforts, and the broader movement.

Given that the UU Ministry for Earth, Side With Love, and hundreds of UU congregations are active in the People vs Fossil Fuels coalition — and given how many UUs are engaged in grassroots multi-faith action for climate justice generally — I have no doubt that this transition is not truly a goodbye! Our paths will continue to intersect and unite often, as we do the sacred and important work of showing up for Life, Love and Justice.

Onward, in faith and solidarity,

Aly Tharp
Co-Director, Programs & Partnerships, UU Ministry for Earth
Lay Community Minister
Senior Organizer, People vs Fossil Fuels Campaign, GreenFaith