Sharon Delgado is an ordained United Methodist minister, activist, and professional speaker who leads seminars and workshops, preaches, and speaks before spiritual communities and secular audiences on issues related to globalization, climate change, economic and environmental justice, and peacemaking, while pointing in the direction of hope in action.  She is a freelance writer and has had many articles published on these themes. Sharon is author of The Cross in the Midst of Creation, Love in a Time of Climate Change and Shaking the Gates of Hell.   By demonstrating the link between spirituality and social action, she offers hope and inspires action toward personal and social transformation.  Her goal is to motivate people to join in the struggle to create a peaceful, just, and environmentally sustainable world.

Sharon is a founding director of Earth Justice Ministries, an interfaith organization working for peace, justice, and restoration of the community of life.  She is currently serving as the Climate Justice Ministries Coordinator of the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She lives in Nevada City, California, with her husband, poet Guarionex Delgado, and spends many hours walking with him in the woods and playing with their grandchildren.   She loves to dance.

PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Sharon Delgado has been advocating for peace, justice, and the environment for over forty years.  In 1979 she was a paid organizer for the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign.  She is a speaker, teacher, workshop leader, organizer, and nonviolent action practitioner.

After her ordination in 1991, Sharon was pastor of  Newcastle United Methodist Church.  From 1993-1999 she was pastor of Santa Cruz First United Methodist Church. She was on staff at the Resource Center for Nonviolence in Santa Cruz from 2001- 2005. Throughout the 1990s she was Environmental Justice Coordinator of the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church, then Chair of the Conference Board of Church and Society. Sharon presented at many environmental justice conferences for the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society and the National Council of Churches. She wrote educational and worship materials on climate change for both organizations. In 2002 she was awarded the Bishop Leontyne Kelly Peace with Justice Award from the California-Nevada Methodist Federation for Social Action.  In 1996 she and her husband Guarionex founded Earth Justice Ministries, and she served as Executive Director until 2019.

 EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Sharon earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science, with a concentration in Peace/War Studies, from California State University in Sacramento. She earned a Master of Divinity Degree and a Master of Arts Degree in Religion and Society, with a focus on environmental ethics, from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley.

Sharon has engaged in independent study over the years, synthesizing material from many fields, both secular and religious.  She regularly attends, teaches, and participates in  conferences, workshops, and seminars.   She was trained as a Climate Reality Presenter by Al Gore.   She has practiced contemplative prayer for over forty years.  In 2010 she underwent a 30-week intensive study and practice of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, at Mercy Center in Auburn.  She also practices yoga.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Clergy member of the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

A founding director of Earth Justice Ministries.

Charge Conference is with the Nevada City United Methodist Church.

Climate Reality Project Presenter, trained by former Vice President Al Gore.

Network of Spiritual Progressives:  Member and blogger for Tikkun Daily.

Toastmasters International:  Distinguished Toastmaster Award, the highest educational award, November, 2013.