FossilFreeUMC

Charlotte, North Carolina—It came down to the wire, in the last moments of General Conference. With members of the body crying out to be heard! But in the end, the legislation that Fossil Free UMC hoped would receive a hearing and vote was instead referred, and so deferred. This missed opportunity for divesting from fossil fuels was matched by the will of the body to bring it to the floor and to a vote. As such, a clear mandate was established. The work will continue, with a growing coalition. 

The General Conference gathering of The United Methodist Church has redoubled its voice in calling for care of creation in the renewed church. The revitalized Social Principles and other creation care legislation newly adopted by the unifying body not only celebrate creation, but also set out a call for stewardship, reduction of plastics and waste, and an urgent and just transition to renewable energy sources.  

Fossil Free UMC convener and longtime climate activist, Rev. Sharon Delgado stated, “The coalition we have built will continue working to move United Methodist foundations, agencies, annual conferences, local churches, and church members to screen out fossil fuels from investments at every level of the church, in order that those funds can be invested to support a just transition to a clean energy future.”

With a coalition of organizations that included United Women in Faith, the Methodist Federation for Social Action, GreenFaith, Interfaith Power and Light, the Love Your Neighbor Coalition, the UM Creation Justice Movement, and Caretakers of God’s Creation, Fossil Free UMC worked at General Conference to affirm the importance of divestment and the urgent need to achieve net-zero.

Bridget Cabrera, Executive Director of the Methodist Federation for Social Action, explained the urgency, “The health of our planet affects everyone of us; however, climate change disproportionately impacts communities that society has pushed to the margins by design. We in the church must stand in solidarity and take real steps to do our part.”

Although legislation for full divestment of the denomination did not advance today, in every other way the work of divestment and stewardship of creation prevailed this week. The body expressed deep concern and awareness of the crisis. New divestment options will be implemented and are now available to support divestment and sustainable investment for organizations, churches, conferences, and pensions throughout the denomination. 

Mike Koob, a leader in the divestment movement and longtime creation advocate, understands the ongoing importance of this work, as do the thousands who signed petitions, joined work teams, and mobilized the movement. Says Koob, “Big oil has the idea that they can continue wrecking the planet, but we must rapidly adopt clean energy.” 

Rev. Pat Watkins, President of Caretakers of God’s Creation and a leader in the divestment movement, stated, “As United Methodists we have a biblical mandate to not only be in relationship with one another, but also to be in a caretaking and healing relationship with creation itself. The first of John Wesley’s three simple rules is “Do no harm.” Caring for creation is foundational to what it means to be disciples of Jesus Christ.”

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Fossil Free UMC is a grassroots effort of United Methodists across the denomination focused on achieving divestment in The United Methodist denomination.

Media Contact: Rev. Richenda Fairhurst, pastorrichenda@gmail.com ; 360 903 5635