FossilFreeUMC

By the Reverend Christian DeMent, Pastor of La Mesa First United Methodist Church, on His Participation in California-Pacific Annual Conference’s Vote to Divest from Fossil Fuels

I finally have some time to offer a reflection on my participation in the Fossil Free Legislation that passed at the Cal-Pac Annual Conference this year (2025).

First, I’d like to say that this wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for La Mesa First UMC’s lay led Earth Care Ministry and United Women in Faith, especially with the guidance, leadership and tenacity of Lois Knowlton, Esther Brasmer, and Debbie McDaniel. This was truly a lay led project that I only picked up in support of their efforts and of course our church-wide care for the environment and all of God’s Creation.

As for my reflections, I begin with the feeling of being overwhelmed by all that is happening to our environment and watching all the good work that has been done to ut environmental policies into place being torn away. Yet, as children of God and siblings in Christ we are called to act. As we put forth both Resolution 25-04 that said, “let’s just do this and get to the work of divesting from fossil fuel investments in our conference”, and Resolution 25-05, that stated, “if we can’t get to it right now, let’s at least create a task force to move us in that direction,” we felt we were doing something and breaking the hypocrisy of our professions of care for the environment while at the same time supporting investments in companies that are abusing it.

I’ve been participating in the Cal-Pac Annual Conference for 35 years now. I’ve never submitted legislation, or even signed on to legislation before. Yet, I came to this annual conference proud because it wasn’t my own legislation, but legislation that the good people at La Mesa First and La Mesa First’s very strong UWF and Earth Care ministry pursued with the help of Fossil Free UMC and Sharon Delgado; all so very passionate about the environment for the sake of generations to come.

I also brought this legislation to the floor with humility. I surf, and after Lois and others asked me to do this thing I really was hesitant to do so. I was nervous and uncertain. I didn’t want to put myself out there in front of my peers in fear that I wasn’t prepared enough or that it wasn’t the “right thing and the right time.” So, I surfed the day it was clear that this is what we were going to do. I surfed at a place called Pumphouse in Pacific Beach, situated between the Crystal Pier and Tourmaline or “Old Man’s”. 

As I sat beyond the breakers I noticed the smell of fuel in the water. You see, It’s called Pumphouse because of the storm-water pump located there, where treated storm water run-off is pumped 100’s of yards out to sea. Unfortunately, the 75 year old pipes leak, while at the same time another pipe leads untreated street run-off right onto the beach and into the ocean. There I sat, in my neoprene wetsuit made from petroleum products, on my foam, resin and fiberglass surfboard, arriving there in my four door Chevy LS pickup truck, sitting in ocean water where I could see the fuel and oil glimmer on the surface of the ocean, the same place I see dolphins and seals swim, and seagulls and pelicans feed. I thought of my son who is learning to love surfing like his dad. Do I want him in this polluted water? Are these the materials I want to be in the equipment for the sport I love and connects me with the environment? What’s all of this going to look like when Jack’s an”old man” surfing at Old Man’s at my age?

The road to environmental redemption and reconciliation starts with confession (I did my share sitting on my board that day), that  leads to repentance (how do I turn this around), and seeks forgiveness. I’m in that process.

What I’m trying to say is, legislation like this needs to be what we do.  It serves as a confession, it allows us to repent, and then, and only then can we be forgiven and reconcile ourselves to God’s creation, fixing the harm we’ve participated in for too long.

Thank you Lois, UWF, and Earth Care of La Mesa First, for nudging me to this place.