THIS AFTERNOON, the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA will consider a Minority Report/Substitute Motion to it's original "Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies Overture," which did not pass out of committee. In the Substitute Motion, “Committee 15 recommends that the 221st General Assembly declare our intention for the PC(USA) Board of Pensions and Presbyterian Foundation to categorically divest from fossil fuels within 5 years. To that end we request that the Moderator of the 221st General Assembly appoint a Commission of 7 (Seven) to work with MRTI to develop a comprehensive strategy for full divestment from fossil fuel companies within five years."
By Jeff McDonald
West Texas Missioner
I really, REALLY wish there was someone from the 'oil patch' in Detroit, Michigan this week, participating in the 221st
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA. Among the issue to be decided by #GA221 this week is a motion to divest for the denomination's Board of Pensions, and its Foundation, to completely divest from all fossil fuel producers.
From the beginning, I have objected to the call for a blanket divestment, calling instead for a thoughtful, prayerful analysis of those fossil fuel companies in which PCUSA is a shareholder, looking at their practices in the workplace and in the community, looking at their normal business operations as well as their response to emergency situations ... and then REINVESTING the funds into companies that have shown a commitment to responsibility and innovation ... a commitment that is reducing emissions going into the air, reducing the amount of fossil fuels we use, and generally improving life for everyone.
Blanket divestment, or selective reinvestment? Let me draw upon a comparison I have used in a previous post ... citing the Rhineland Massacres during the First Crusade,the Spanish Inquisition, and protests by the Westboro Baptist Church
across America today, should there be a call for a blanket divestment from Christianity ... or would we prefer a redirection, a reinvestment in those that better share the Word and the love of Jesus Christ?
So, 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? Okay, then ... that leads to the question, "Is there such a thing as a responsible, innovative fossil fuel producer?"
Yes, there is. I know it for a FACT ... and I wish the eco-extremists would get out more - even if it means going into the 'enemy territory' - to get those facts first-hand.
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.
One example is going on right now at my workplace, Midland College in Midland, Texas, where a partnership with Chevron Energy Solutions will mean dramatic savings for the community college in the years ahead, through increased energy efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and less demands on the school's budget. CLICK HERE for more on that story.
One more example ... natural gas. It was fossil fuel producers who took what was once an unwanted by-product of oil exploration, and turned it into a cheaper, cleaner-burning fuel.
"With their fleet of natural gas vehicles, UPS reduces emissions in communities they serve. Think about it," suggests America's Natural Gas Alliance. "By using more natural gas, UPS reduces emissions, while taking advantage of an affordable fuel to power a massive delivery fleet traveling thousands of miles every week." And it's not just private companies that are reducing emissions AND costs through this fossil fuel ... municipalities across the nation are doing the same by converting their mass/public transit systems from gasoline to natural gas.
So, PLEASE, no blanket decrees ... in the end, such a blanket tossed over ALL fossil fuel producers by eco-extremists within PCUSA will smother a lot more than just those companies.
THIS AFTERNOON, the 221st
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA will consider a
Minority Report/Substitute Motion to it's original "Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies Overture," which did not pass out of committee. In the Substitute Motion, “Committee 15 recommends that the 221st General Assembly declare our intention for the PC(USA) Board of Pensions and Presbyterian Foundation to categorically divest from fossil fuels within 5 years. To that end we request that the Moderator of the 221st General Assembly appoint a Commission of 7 (Seven) to work with MRTI to develop a comprehensive strategy for full divestment from fossil fuel companies within five years."
As was the case with the original Overture, I object to this
overture for so many reasons, which I have tried to enter into the online discussion of this proposal. 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.
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