The 2024 General Conference of The United Methodist Church adopted a revised set of Social Principles and several new creation care/climate justice pieces of legislation and amended and/or readopted some previous resolutions.
Note, the relevant portions of both the Book of Discipline and the Book of Resolutions can be freely read online.
Rev. Richenda Fairhurst from the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement has produced a 6-chapter study guide to this legislation that can be freely downloaded and used by local churches and green teams.
When you have read these changes then checkout our resource pages for green teams, church land use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and use of plastics.
New or modified paragraphs in the Book of Discipline:
¶160-164 – Revised Social Principles
including ¶160.1 The Community of All Creation
¶254 – Green teams
In order to fulfil the mission of the local church, the charge conference may elect annually a coordinator or ministry group chairperson for any or all of these areas: … earth advocacy/green teams …
¶603.4 – Sustainable ACS
The annual conference sessions shall be held in places that are accessible to people with disabilities and that, when possible, have sustainable practices for energy, waste, and consumption.
¶628.2 – Conference Caretakers of God’s Creation Coordinator position
The conference board of church and society or equivalent structure shall name a conference Caretakers of God’s Creation Coordinator who will be responsible for helping the conference develop programs to help it become more ecologically sustainable and to address environmental injustices …
¶2533.8 – Annual carbon footprint or greenhouse gas emissions audit
The board of trustees is urged to conduct or caused to be conduced an annual carbon footprint and/or greenhouse gas emissions audit of their buildings,, grounds, and facilities to discover and identify what physical, architectural and communication barriers exist that impede the church from being at least carbon neutral and/or having at least net zero greenhouse gas emissions and make plans and determine priorities for the elimination of such barriers. This audit for churches may be used in filling out church and/or charge conference reports.
¶2550.11 – Report to the Charge Conference about carbon neutral progress and timeline
An evaluation of all church buildings, grounds, and facilities in relation to their impact on the church’s ability to be carbon neutral and/or have net zero greenhouse gas emissions; and, when applicable, a plan and timeline for the renovation and development of church buildings, grounds, and facilities to bring the church much closer to being at least carbon neutral and/or having at least net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
New resolutions in the Book of Resolutions:
1214 – Church Land Use
Therefore, as United Methodists and persons of faith who wish to promote and sustain life and follow God’s intended order for Creation, be it resolved that all local churches and other holders of church lands, such as camp and retreat centers, as well as offices of general boards and agencies, conference offices and district locations, implement actions in their settings that bring their land back in harmony with God’s intentions and systems. The following are examples of such steps: … Read more.
1215 – Commitment to Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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 and Agencies, and Commissions in committing to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
1216 – Recognizing United Methodist Support for Global Green New Deal Initiatives and Legislative Efforts
Therefore, be it resolved, that the people of The United Methodist Church wholeheartedly support legislative and policy efforts by governments around the world akin to the “Green New Deal” in the United States of America, and call upon all world leaders to create plans for the world to be carbon neutral;
Be it further resolved, that the people of The United Methodist Church call on global leaders and policy makers, especially those in the “Western” and ”developed” world, which have historically led the world in greenhouse gas emissions, to take steps that will drastically reduce their nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, up to and beyond net-zero, in a manner that is compassionate toward the most disadvantaged and impoverished populations in their countries and reduces income and wealth inequality;
Be it further resolved, that the people of The United Methodist Church call on every level of its denominational polity to lead the way in this effort by—
1. striving continuously to reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions of local churches, districts, annual conferences, jurisdictions, central conferences, and general boards and agencies and their respective ministries up to and beyond carbon neutral and net zero, respectively; and
2. placing climate justice, and the ways in which climate justice intersects with every other systemic justice-related issue, at the forefront of their preaching, teaching, and programmatic ministries.
1217 – Use of Plastic
The United Methodist Church resolves
1. that for all church activities of local, annual, central, jurisdictional, and General Conference bodies, a twofold strategy of avoiding (avoiding plastic where possible, replacing single-use plastic items such as dishes, coffee cups, or bags with items made of recyclable, preferably naturally occurring material) and reducing (e.g., using dishes that can be washed and reused) is to be pursued;
2. that all delegates commit to personal action of the same kind, modeling a change in behavior for the sake of environmental protection.
5112 – Green Team Formation
Be it resolved that every local church, charge, cluster, or district is urged to create a “green team” or strengthen an existing one for action in four areas each year—Worship, Education, Practice, and Advocacy—providing children, youth, and adults of all ages with inspiration, knowledge, encouragement, and practical means for caring for creation and justice. These actions include: … Read more.
Amended & Readopted resolutions in the Book of Resolutions:
| 1101 | World’s Population and the Church’s response |
| 1120 | Energy Policy Statement |
| 1200 | Environmental Racism in the US |
| 1211 | Protection of Water |
Readopted resolutions in the Book of Resolutions:
| 1100 | Environmental Health |
| 1110 | Climate Change & the Church’s Response |
| 1210 | Law of the Sea |
| 1212 | Principles for Just & Sustainable Extraction & Production |
| 1213 | Caring for Creation: A Call for Stewardship & Justice |
Now you have read these changes, checkout our resource pages for green teams, church land use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and use of plastic.