Bishops Pledge to Take Action to Address the Climate Crisis

In an early November session of the UMC Council of Bishops, they recognized the current climate crisis to be “an existential crisis the Church cannot ignore.” Bishops then approved five responses to the climate crisis, which they acknowledged is increasing the severity of natural disasters around the world and contributing to record global migration. 
 
In an article written by Heather Hahn for the UM News, which also features actions approved by the bishops on vaccines and finances (https://www.umnews.org/en/news/bishops-take-on-climate-finances-vaccines), the bishops’ pledge of action on the climate crisis was to:

• Encourage and support action on climate change at the annual conference level, including support for moving toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
• Review the Council of Bishops 2009 document “God’s Renewed Creation” to determine how to best address the intersection of climate change, poverty, racism and colonialism.
• Encourage the use of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society website to sign onto letters related to climate justice.
• Join the denomination’s 13 general agencies’ pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 across ministries, facilities, operations and investments.
• Reaffirm the denomination’s Social Principle on Global Climate Stewardship as an ongoing commitment. The Social Principle, approved by General Conference, supports government efforts to mandate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

In response, the Creation Care Ministry Team of the WNCC acknowledges this call for action on climate change at the annual conference level, and pledges to prioritize climate-related programs and actions in 2022 and beyond that will facilitate local church engagement on the items noted in the bishops’ pledge.