Kip Coerper joins GreenFaith’s International Fellowship Program

GreenFaith recently announced that Kip Coerper,, coordinator for EarthWorks Ecoministry at St. James’ Church, Skaneateles,, has been named a GreenFaith Fellow and will join the 2021 Class of the GreenFaith Fellowship Program.

The fellowship program is the only international comprehensive education and training program to prepare religious leaders from diverse religious traditions for climate and environmental leadership,, according to a press release.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Kip to the program,” said Rev. Fletcher Harper, GreenFaith’s executive director. “We look forward to working with him to support his growth as a climate and environmental justice leader.”

Through regional caucus meetings, extensive case studies, monthly and quarterly webinars, Coerper will engage in education and training in eco-theology, community organizing, as well as climate and environmental justice advocacy.

Each fellow develops their own eco-theology and organizes religious leaders to build communities of care and resilience in response to climate and environmental injustices.

Upon completion of their year in the fellowship, they will join the fellowship’s global network and mentor other emerging religious leaders in this field.

“As coordinator of EarthWorks – St. James’ Ecoministry – I am looking forward to providing opportunities for the members of St. James’ and the Skaneateles community to engage in issues about our changing climate,” Coerper said. “My faith reveals to me the importance of being a responsible steward of God’s creation.  Thus I look forward to learning from and sharing with other faith traditions around the world in how we take care of God’s green earth, through the GreenFaith Fellowship Program.”

Coerper will join a class of 60 fellows from diverse religious backgrounds, representing Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Indigenous Religions. The fellows will also form regional caucuses in the United States, Latin America, Africa, Indonesia, and India. Fellows come from a wide variety of settings, including churches, mosques, temples, universities, campus ministries, NGO’s, and denominational organizations.

GreenFaith’s Director of Education & Training, Rev. abby mohaupt, directs the program, with support from the Education & Training Team.

“This program will offer these leaders the opportunity to become well-trained leaders in climate and environmental justice issues,” said mohaupt.  “They will help to create communities of care and resilience that will heal people and the planet.”

GreenFaith is building a global, multi-faith climate and environmental movement. Together our members create communities to transform ourselves, our spiritual institutions, and society to protect the planet and create a compassionate, loving and just world. Founded in 1992, GreenFaith is a leader in the fast-growing climate and environmental justice movement and has won national and international recognition for its work.  For more information, see greenfaith.org.

Coerper moved to Skaneateles in 2010.

In addition to his duties planning and leading the music of the traditional Sunday morning service at St. James’, he plays the keyboard and sings at the contemporary service and he is board member of the Diocesan Music program – LPM (Leadership Program for Musicians Serving Small Congregations). He also has several piano, organ, and voice students.

After graduating from the college of Wooster in Ohio with a bachelor of music degree,, majoring in organ and choral conducting), he spent three years developing a music program at Suffield Academy in Connecticut and as organist at a Baptist Church. Later he taught for 16 years at Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, SC where he conducted four choral groups and helped coordinate the choral program for 350 singers.

While there, he was also organist/choirmaster of an Anglo-Catholic Parish in Charleston. During these years he studied choral techniques and voice training at Westminster Choir College, The Hartt School of Music, and Catholic University of America.

While his wife was at seminary, Coerper was assistant conductor for the Sewanee Chorale Community Chorus, and he taught music part-time in two schools. Then when they moved to Summerville, SC, Coerper became assistant conductor of the Summerville Singers. He has earned the Choirmaster Certificate from the American Guild of Organists Certification Program.

Coerper is also music director for the local community singing group of 70 singers, The MasterWorks Chorale of CNY.  He believes passionately that anyone who desires can learn to be a competent singer.

Kip Coerper