FossilFreeUMC

In 1980, United Methodists broke fresh ground and planted the seeds of climate justice with a resolution passed at General Conference to address energy policy. That resolution has been amended and amended… but the planting made in 1980 – 43 years ago – has yet to bear the most important fruit.

Other churches, congregations and denominations have acted where the United Methodist Denomination has not. Numerous faith-based groups around the world have divested in whole or in part from fossil fuels. These include religious orders, Catholic dioceses, and denominations such as the United Church of Christ, Episcopal Church, Unitarian Universalist Association, Presbyterian Church USA, the United Reformed Church, the Church of England, Quakers in Britain, Baptist Union of Great Britain, AND many more.

In 2023 the Church of England voted to divest its 3.5 billion in pension funds from fossil fuels, C of E divests of fossil fuels as oil and gas firms ditch climate pledges. The Methodist Church of Great Britain divested from all fossil fuel companies in 2021. At the 2022 General Conference of the Presbyterian General Assembly, Presbyterians voted to divest: Commissioners approve divestment from five energy companies. In 2015, eight years ago, the Episcopalians voted to divest: Episcopal church votes to divest from fossil fuels: ‘This is a moral issue’.

The push is getting stronger with every hurricane and flood, with every fire and all the smoke. The hour is late. As fossil fuel companies explore for new oil and gas, people of faith announce 31 divestment commitments, urge other faith groups to divest. On July 5, 2022, 35 faith institutions from seven countries announced their divestment from fossil fuel companies as a response to the fossil fuel industry’s dangerous expansion plans and increasingly empty rhetoric on climate.

The worldwide movement to divest from fossil fuels as a response to climate change has resulted to date in divestment by 1,613 institutions with the combined value of assets of $40.63 trillion. According to the Global Fossil Fuel Divestment Database, faith-based organizations account for 35 percent of these institutions.

“Today we announce our intention to disinvest from all remaining oil and gas holdings across our equity and debt portfolio, There is a significant misalignment between the long term interests of our pension fund and continued investment in companies seeking short term profit maximisation at the expense of the ambition needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.” John Ball, Chief Executive Officer of the Church of England Pensions Board

There is urgency. But, so much possibility!! When God causes the waterfall, what a wonder it is! And the flowing water feeds every living thing. Ahead of us is the path of restoration. In front of us is the green grass of hope! We are people of Abraham and Wesley. We can be assured of the life-giving power of God to turn all things toward Good.

Hope is here!