FossilFreeUMC

United Methodists are Signing On in Witness

Sign on to our Petition Here to call on the UMC to divest from fossil fuels.

Last week at the Conversation on Divestment with Bill McKibben, William Morris and Steve Hucklesby, Fossil Free UMC launched the Call to United Methodists to Divest from fossil fuels.

We asked, so far 350…olmost 800!… have answered. Thank you! Signers include United Women in Faith (formerly UMW), Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA), Interfaith Power and Light (IPL), Creation Care teams, Delegates, and individual signers from Europe, Africa, the Philippines, and more.

“We were the first denomination to push back against fossil fuels. Let’s be faithful to our vision—to “do no harm” and “sanctify” our shared existence. Beyond private change, that means now above all to cleanse our lives, communities and world of the causes of global warming.”

Catherine Keller,
George T. Cobb Professor of Constructive Theology, Drew Theological School. Author of Facing Apocalypse: Climate, Democracy and Other Last Chances.

Our sign-on letter includes Methodists, organizations, and supporters. We encourage you to add your name and sign-on your groups, local churches, and organizations as well.

Divestment is widely supported. Hundreds of faith-based organizations have already divested, including the Methodist Church in Britain—thank you!!

Read the words of support from theologians and faith leaders who understand divestment as the theological and moral imperative:

According to a survey conducted by Amnesty International in 2019, Generation Z ranked climate change as the most critical issue facing our world today. Irresponsible exploitation of the earth’s resources, particularly for fossil fuel, has led to ocean pollution, air pollution and deforestation, resulting in global warming and an ecological crisis. Ecological crisis has a disproportionate impact on the poor and underprivilege. Divestment from fossil fuel will help us as United Methodists to begin the process of healing the earth.

~Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, Ph.D. 關嘉仁博士 (he/him/his)
President Emeritus, Professor of Hebrew Bible, Senior Advisor to the President

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I support Fossil Free UMC because if the UMC does 
the morally right and reasonable thing by divesting from fossil fuels, 
your actions will provide a model for other denominations 
and faith groups. The tide is turning, the time is now!
Dr. Debra Rienstra
Professor, Calvin University, author of  Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth (Fortress 2022). 

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Divestment from fossil fuel companies is chiefly a gesture 
but a gesture, along with many other gestures, has a 
real influence on what happens. The ecological civilization
 for which we work will build on many such gestures.
Dr. John Cobb
Professor Emeritus, Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Graduate School, founding co-director of the Center for Process Studies, author of many books including Christ in a Pluralistic Age, God and the World, and For the Common Good.

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God’s new creation that John Wesley anticipated requires 
that we “do no harm, do good, and attend upon all the 
ordinances of God” (General Rules). Doing no harm by 
divesting from fossil fuels will liberate us to do more good 
and to connect with God in more meaningful ways.
Dr. Joerg Rieger, 
Distinguished Professor of Theology, 
Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair in Wesleyan Studies, and 
Director of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice 
at Vanderbilt University Divinity School

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Thanks to the efforts of Fossil Free UMC, the UMC now has the 
opportunity to join numerous other religious bodies who have 
voted to divest from fossil fuels. In the 11 years since the 
United Church of Christ became the first religious body and 
first national body in America to vote to divest from fossil fuels, 
portfolios worth over $40 trillion have purged their holdings of fossil fuel stocks. Hopefully, the UMC will expand that witness even more. 
The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal 
Special Advisor on Climate Justice 
to UCC General Minister and President 
Author of Climate Church, Climate World

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I am thrilled to learn that the United Methodist communion 
is moving toward divestment from fossil fuels and 
reinvestment in a life-giving future. I have learned much 
over the years from United Methodists regarding 
what it means to be disciples of Jesus of Nazareth. 
In our time, following Jesus and especially heeding his call to 
“love neighbor as self” includes withdrawing all support 
from the fossil fuels that are destroying or degrading 
life for climate vulnerable “neighbors” near and far. 
You will be a shining light to the world with a decision
 to divest. You will build hope for a livable future. I believe
 that the Spirit of the living God would smile deeply upon 
you for that act of faithful discipleship.     
-Cynthia D. Moe-Lobeda, Ph.D.
Professor of Theological and Social Ethics, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary of California Lutheran University Church Divinity School of the Pacific Director, PLTS Center for Climate Justice and Faith Core Doctoral Faculty, the Graduate Theological Union

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Thank you!

Be inspired!! Share our Call for Divestment and Add your name!