FossilFreeUMC

See Fossil Free UMC’s press release at the close of General Conference: Support for full fossil fuel divestment grows as The United Methodist Church moves to care for creation and address the climate crisis—including adding new divestment options.

If you want to know exactly what happened with our attempts to get fossil fuel divestment passed at this General Conference, it is detailed here. Just know that many United Methodists around the world are aware of what is at stake and are with us in this struggle to move The United Methodist Church to divest from fossil fuels. Read below to see what you can do in your own church context to help move this struggle along.

While this General Conference made numerous positive decisions that signal “a new day” in the United Methodist Church, divestment from fossil fuels did not get a hearing on the floor of General Conference. It was disappointing but not devastating, because we are committed to the struggle to move the United Methodist Church to end its long-time Investment in fossil fuels, the primary driver of climate change. This will require building support and taking action not just at the next General Conference but at every level of the life of the church. 

What Happened at General Conference:  Step by Step

1. In the General Administration Committee, our FFUMC petition was jettisoned in favor of Wespath’s petition to amend paragraph 717 to affirm ongoing corporate engagement “especially with the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters.” (See the May 1 update for Wespath’s amended Petition Number: 20982-GA.) This petition would have locked in engagement with rather than divestment from fossil fuel companies.

2. In the General Administration Committee, Wespath’s petition was further amended to add the following words at the end: “The net-zero transition should include ambitious short and medium term targets that are reflective of the urgent need to address climate change.” 

3. In the General Administraion Committee, delegates sympathetic to FFUMC’s position tried to amend the petition to list “fossil fuels” as in our original petition.  It failed by only two votes.

4. Delegates in General Administration who supported this new amendment voted to include a “minority report” to be presented along with Wespath’s amended petition.  The minority report (to add “fossil fuels” to Wespath’s petition) would have been presented first and would have become the main motion to be voted on if the majority of delegates had approved the amendment.

5. In the 90 minutes on the last day of General Conference (May 3), there were too many petitions to deal with fully, and the closing time had already been established.  There was a motion to refer most of the remaining legislative items to agencies or committees, and to only deal with the five pieces of legislation that the presenter thought necessary for the life of the church. Wespath’s petition, along with the attached minority report, was referred to the General Committee on Finance and Administration.

6. Many delegates were waiting in the cue, wanting to amend the motion to refer by pulling items off the list of those being referred, including supporters of fossil fuel divestment, who would have pulled Wespath’s petition and our attached minority report (item #455). Another delegate, from New York Conference, called a point of order stating the motion to refer was out of order. At that point, the presiding bishop decided the body wanted to suspend the rules to allow the out of order motion, without taking a vote. The body then voted in favor of the motion to refer. 

7. At the end of the day, after all the agreed-upon legislative items had been dealt with, there was a proposal to deal with the Wespath petition with our minority report, #455. The vote was 324 to 338, which was 48.94 percent in favor.  (see the photo above) So many delegates were trying to make that happen, and many others wanted it to be heard.  But it was late, and people were tired. 

8. The next part of this effort is still to be written.  But we do know, Fossil Fuel UMC is not going away and the Coalition that we have all built together will continue on, working to protect God’s good creation and to respond to climate change in a way that is proportional to the harm that it causes by addressing the underlying causes that perpetuate it. And there are plenty of things that you can do to be a part of this good work.

What You Can Do Now

Take action to divest from fossil fuels. You can do this as an individual or you can work to divest at the annual conference level. Many don’t realize that Wespath does have fossil free funds that both individuals and institutions (agencies, conferences, foundations) can transfer their money to. Further, their returns are comparable to Wespath’s regular portfolio of funds. Here is a video to help people get started in switching their pension funds to these Wespath fossil free funds: Divest Your Funds from Fossil Fuels at Wespath: How to Get Started.

These Wespath low-carbon funds only happened because people like you who care about earth and its people were persistent in promoting the idea. We passed legislation in our annual conferences that called for these funds. You can divest your own pension and help others. And you can bring legislation to your annual conference calling for your faith foundation and conference to divest. Find a model annual conference resolution here. Sample text for two differently-worded annual conference divestment resolutions can be found here. And this article shares how the Faith Foundation Northwest chose divestment.

We are disappointed with the lack of action on fossil fuel divestment at General Conference, but we are not discouraged. We hope you will Join Us.