Submitted by Robert Downs
Committee Moves to Adopt 34 to 5
Plenary Vote on Main Motion (Consent Calendar); For: 686; Against: 36

Whereas God created Earth and charged humankind with its stewardship (Gen 1-2);

Whereas we have failed in that task by despoiling our planet, degrading its environment, altering its climate, and destroying its habitability;

Whereas “without God, we cannot remedy the problem” and “without us, God will not solve it” (St Augustine);

Whereas the Council of Bishops in their 2009 Pastoral Letter [God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action] recognized that “our neglect, selfishness, and pride have fostered environmental degradation” and that “we cannot help the world until we change our way of being in it”;

Whereas twelve Boards and Agencies of the UMC have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 across ministries, facilities, operations, and investments and to leverage the gifts of our connection putting equity and justice at the center as we build a net-zero emission economy by 2050]; and 

Whereas the Council of Bishops has joined in that pledge.

Therefore, be it resolved, that we the people and churches of The United Methodist Church, confess our failure to properly steward God’s earth;

Ask for God’s help in restoring Creation; and

Support our Bishops, Boards, Agencies, and Commissions in committing to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.