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World Earth Bishop Mourned: By Greg Peterson The world has lost a champion of interfaith environment projects. Episcopal Bishop James Kelsey died in a traffic accident on Sunday, June 3, 2007 in rural northern Michigan. Among his many gifts, Bishop Kelsey was devoted to protecting the planet through several ecumenical environment causes including the Earth Keeper Initiative.
The world has lost its Earth Bishop. Episcopal Bishop James Kelsey of the Diocese of Northern Michigan was killed in a traffic accident on Sunday June the third 2007 while on one of his many journeys to spread the word of God. Bishop Kelsey was returning from the far eastern Upper Peninsula when his life was cut short. No person was dedicated to environment and interfaith causes like Bishop Kelsey. The day before his death the Episcopal Bishop met with Lutheran and Presbyterian pastors to discuss a new interfaith environment endeavor called the Turtle Island Project. Bishop Kelsey was always the first faith leader to volunteer to help with numerous interfaith environment projects sponsored by two Marquette, Michigan non-profits - the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Cedar Tree Institute. For the past three years, Bishop Kelsey had been a strong supporter of the Earth Keeper Initiative that involves 9 faith traditions with 140 churches and temples across northern Michigan.
On Earth Day 2005, Bishop Kelsey helped collect over 45 tons of household poisons like insecticides and drainer cleaner plus tons of car batteries. Following that first clean sweep, Bishop Kelsey said "we are delighted with the results of the Clean Sweep project throughout the Upper Peninsula." Bishop Kelsey said the first clean sweep was "a sign of the commitment shared across our faith traditions to be faithful stewards of the Creation into which we have been born, and which sustains our lives." Bishop Kelsey said "I think it's a really remarkable thing that this particular initiative has crossed boundaries that usually don't get cross in terms of different faith traditions." Bishop Kelsey was correct as the project - so far - has collected nearly 400 tons of household hazardous waste across northern Michigan during three annual clean sweeps funded by the U.S. environmental Protection Agency and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
A year earlier, Bishop Kelsey personally helped unload and collect old computers and cell phones at the First Presbyterian Church in Marquette on Earth Day 2006. After the 2006 collection of over 320 tons of electronic waste, Bishop Kelsey said the interfaith clean sweep should be a pattern for other communities to start similar environmental projects "and come together and have a common cause and commitment to something that is of vital concern to all of us." Bishop Kelsey said northern Michigan residents "had this e-waste gathering up in their garages and who knows where for years and this is a great opportunity to take care of our planet on this Earth Day and work on this together." Following the 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep Bishop Kelsey said "it's easy to take for granted the environment in which we live and move and have our being." Bishop Kelsey added that "Earth Day is a great tradition because it reminds us to refocus our attention and our concern back to this beautiful and precious creation we call home." Bishop Kelsey said the support of nine faith traditions shows "a kind of spiritual leadership that connects our faith with the material world." "We find that God is in all, and every part of creation is sacred," Bishop Kelsey said. "It's amazing what impact a few dedicated people can have," Bishop Kelsey said. "We have become a catalyst for a movement much bigger than our demographics, and more far reaching than we might have imagined possible." Bishop Kelsey was also a strong supporter of youth activities including the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student team. In April 2006, Bishop Kelsey stood with 8 other Bishops and faith leaders to announce the ambicious environmental projects aimed at getting America's youth involved in saving the planet. Bishop Kelsey told the press conference that the Northern Michigan University "students bring a fresh energy and perspective which points towards a new generation of leaders, committed to a respect and care for our environment." Bishop Kelsey said "we are delighted to welcome this new NMU student chapter of the Earthkeeper's Covenant to our community-wide, interfaith coalition."
In September 2006 - Bishop Kelsey accepted the environmental stewardship award given to the Earth Keepers by the Lake Superior Binational Forum. In February 2005 - Bishop Kelsey told the binational forum meeting in Marquette: "We do have a passion and a sense of a calling and a mandate to be responsible stewards for gifts that all of us have been given and ... be a voice to call for a responsible oversight and care for all of creation. Bishop Kelsey said "we've look for ways of doing this that are not just a glassy-eyed do-gooders rushing in trying to raise a flag and run a cause. Rather to really understand the best we can. Like issues raised around sulfide mining here."
Meanwhile, as we grieve the loss of Bishop Kelsey - the Presiding Episcopal Bishop said it best: "The Episcopal Church has today lost one of its bright lights." Presiding Episcopal Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said: "We will be less without the easy grace of Bishop James Kelsey -- Jim to most of us -- and we shall miss his humor, insight, and passion for the ministry of all. He gave us much. We pray for the repose of his soul, and for his family. We pray also for the Diocese of Northern Michigan. All of us have lost a friend. May he rest in peace and rise in glory." Bishop Kelsey lead a productive life.
In the 1970's, Bishop Kelsey graduated from Ithaca College and from General Theological Seminary in New York City. In the mid 1980s, Bishop Kelsey was the canon missioner for Cluster Ministries in Oklahoma, and was called to serve in northern Michigan in 1989 serving as ministry development coordinator for ten years before being elected bishop in 1999. In his duties as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan, he served 27 Episcopal congregations with 2,500 members. Bishop Kelsey was a man on the go - having been in San Francisco the weekend before his death - and driving five hours across northern Michigan on his last day. Kelsey is survived by his wife, Mary, and three grown children. Everyone has a story about how this kind man made a positive impact on thousands of lives.. As me mourn the loss of Bishop James Kelsey - let us celebrate his life of Jim Kelsey.
Thank you Bishop Kelsey for being a true friend to all faiths and the environment. Earth Keeper co-founder Rev. Jon Magnuson said future projects will be dedicated in Bishop Kelsey's honor. Magnuson added - that now more than ever - the Earth keepers will promote Bishop Kelsey's vision of an interfaith effort to protect the planet. The Earth Keepers are proud to have worked with Bishop Kelsey, and feel lucky he was part of the team. James Kelsey - The World's Earth Bishop - is sorely missed. --- Click on the following link to watch a ten-minute video tribute to Episcopal Bishop James Kelsey. Earth Keeper TV: Bishop Kelsey Tribute: All Earth Keeper T.V. videos: ----- Bishop Kelsey's family asks that all memorials go to The Page Center in Little Lake (Marquette County). --- Add your own tribute to Bishop Kelsey: http://rememberingjimkelsey.blogspot.com --- |
Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan
Bishop Kelsey Tribute: 
Bishop Kelsey was with the Earth Keepers from the beginning - and was one of the original nine faith leaders to sign the Earth Keeper Covenant in 2004 - pledging to protect the environment and reach out to American Indian Tribes. 
On Earth Day eve 2007, Bishop Kelsey was among thousands who handed in over one ton of pharmaceuticals plus a half million dollars in narcotics during the third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep across Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 
Bishop Kelsey told reporters that "this is a remarkable opportunity for us to work together as people of faith, and as Earthkeepers - together with and alongside these students at Northern Michigan University and beyond - to keep this earth as precious and life-giving as it can possibly be." 
Bishop Kelsey told the binational forum that "this is a pretty powerful partnership that I haven't found in other places I've been before and where there is really a shared kind of commitment and we seek to learn from the work you do and to be in partnership in any way that you think might be appropriate." 
Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1952, Bishop Kelsey would spend a half century improving people's lives and protecting the planet. 
His wit, charm and soft spoken nature made everyone feel like a close friend. He always responded personally to emails - whether in hotel rooms, aboard many long flights across the U.S., or between important meetings. 
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