My 2¢ ... PCUSA's 'Fossil Fuels' Overture: Being smothered by the blanket

By Jeff McDonald
West Texas Missioner


Whether it's around town or around the world, one of the challenges Christians face in sharing Christ's message, Christ's love, is the image  people have of all Christians ... based upon the words and actions of a few Christians.

An example ...  Westboro Baptist Church, known for its extreme ideologies and unflinching commitment to share those ideologies with the public in a variety of forums. More than once, I've heard some variation of, I could never accept a Savior or embrace a faith that preaches such hatred.

I know, I know ... WBC is hardly representative of Christianity, or the Baptist denomination. But through that single church's efforts, and the attention focused upon those efforts, we are ALL covered by a single, smothering blanket ...  one that does not allow for air or light ... and certainly does not allow for any discernment on the part of the general public.

And just as we can be smothered by a blanket thrown over us, we can smother others with a blanket we throw over them. That's exactly what we would do with the proposed "Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies Overture," a blanket demand that our denomination completely divest from all fossil fuel companies.

Answer me this ... do we conduct our personal finances that way? Do we throw everything out? Or do we look a little more closely at our investments, and try to more specifically target those investments.

Rather than a blanket divestment, shouldn't we instead consider a careful and prayerful reinvestment, reallocating or redirecting our funds into fossil fuel companies that earn those funds?

Perhaps it's because I have lived and worked in the 'oil patch' for the past thirty years (not as an oilman, but as a journalist), but I have gained a great appreciation for the advances oil-and-gas companies have made in recent years in just about every aspect of their operations ... a number of which have a direct impact on the environment, whether it's burning-off less pollutants, producing cleaner-burning fuels and longer-lasting lubricants, reaching out to landowners and communities, or remediating the land after use. And I appreciate those efforts ... due in part to my commitment to environmentalism, fostered during my younger years in the late 60s and early 70s.

If I were a part of the discussion over the "Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies Overture," I would recommend that those responsible for our investments develop criteria for examining fossil fuel companies, and deciding whether they merit reinvestment, divestment, or whatever. And at the same time ... I would apply those same standards to investments in renewable energy companies (wind, solar, whatever). AND, I would include language that we continue to find ways to reduce our use of energy ... however that energy is generated.

But, please, no blanket decrees ... in the end, such extremism will smother a lot more than just the fossil fuel companies.

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Later this summer, the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA will consider a "Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies Overture," stating "Our Faith Compels us to Bold Denominational Action In recognition that our faith with corresponding works is dead (James 2) we recommend that the General Assembly call on the Board of Pensions and the PCUSA Foundation to immediately stop new investment in fossil fuel companies and eliminate all current holdings over the next five years."

The overture (as reported by  Fossil Free PCUSA ) recommends that "The General Assembly expresses its profound concern about the destructive effects of climate change on all God’s creation. Climate change has had a disproportionate impact on those living in poverty and in the least developed countries, the elderly and children, and those least responsible for the emissions of greenhouse gases. General Assembly thus recognizes the moral mandate for humanity to shift to a sustainable energy plan in a way that is both just and compassionate. This mandate propels us to action as a denomination: to divest from the fossil fuel industry even as we reduce our use of fossil fuels and shrink our carbon footprint."

I, personally, object to this overture for so many reasons ... and I plan to address those objections in the next couple of weeks leading up to the General Assembly's meeting in Detroit. They are based upon my life, my faith and my experience as a Christian in the PCUSA denomination ... but they are also based upon the first-hand experience and insights I have gained from decades as an environmentalist AND a resident of the 'oil patch.' If you would like to contribute to the discussion - REGARDLESS of your stand on this overture - please CLICK HERE for an e-mail link.