Divesting Your Congregation – Resource
Thanks to our friends at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church for putting together and sharing this great resource about their Fossil Fuel Divestment experience:
Welcome to the story of Trinity St. Paul’s United Church’s journey of divestment of our congregational funds from fossil fuels. We hope you’ll learn from our reflections on our story and our activities!
To put this resource together, we reflected on the challenges we faced, as well as the questions we asked ourselves and those we heard from others, as we moved towards divestment. Are any of these questions also YOUR questions? We’ve described the actions we took and the lessons we learned, with the hope that you can adapt our learnings to your own context.
Just click on your areas of interest to get started!
| We’re a small congregation. Can we do this? Learn how TSP’s Climate Justice Group spread tasks among ourselves to ease the load. |
We’re committed to helping our congregation take a stand, but we’re not experts in divestment. How do we build the knowledge we need? We share how we drew on numerous external resources to build our knowledge. |
How can we help our congregation understand the faith and justice rationales for divestment? Explore TSP’s engagement of our broader congregational community to address climate justice. |
| What is a realistic timeline for the divestment process? What do our Board and financial officers need to know? Learn more about the key stages in TSP’s divestment and reinvestment process. |
The church across town has asked us for advice. How should we respond?What is our role in the global climate movement? | What are some other climate actions we can take as individuals? As a congregation? Learn about other green initiatives at TSP. |
See the original resource on the TSP website by clicking below.
Anglican General Synod faces Divestment Vote
“You Are My Witnesses” (Isaiah 43:10)
At the 41st General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada from July 7-12, 2016 the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa will bring forward an invitation to all General Synod Delegates to be witnesses through direct and immediate action by supporting resolution C001-Fossil Fuel Divestment.
The time is now.
Climate change is destroying the integrity of God’s creation. It is negatively impacting people, families, youth, industry, agriculture, employment and community throughout Canada and the world.
The situation is urgent.
To maintain a liveable planet 80% of all known fossil fuel deposits must be left in the ground, undeveloped, never burned.
Our church, at this integral point in history, has an opportunity to contribute to the fulfillment of our baptismal promise to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation by divesting in the fossil fuel industry and beginning to actively invest in renewable energy. Such publicized divestment not only witnesses to people of faith but also aims to press governments to implement strong policies to shift our economy off fossil fuels and in to industry and workforces that are founded on environmental sustainability.
The time is now.
#GS2016 #divestnow
Read Resolution Number C001 – Ottawa Diocese Motion to General Synod on Fossil Fuel Divestment
Read the Backgrounder on why Fossil Fuel Divestment matters right now
Anglican Diocese of Quebec Divests
DIOCESE OF QUÉBEC: DIVESTMENT REPORT: 23 November 2015
Background:
Some aspects of the Governance of the Diocese of Québec differ from that of most or all other dioceses because of its time and place in pre-Confederation history. Within this Diocese, responsibility for investments rests within the mandate of an entity called Church Society of the Diocese of Québec. Church Society exercises this part of its role through an Investment Committee of professionals who volunteer their time and expertise.
Process:
Following the direction of motions passed at the annual general meeting of Church Society, the Investment Committee began four years ago to divest from its mining holdings, given the serious ethical concerns raised around environmental and human rights issues.
In 2014 a motion passed at the Church Society called on the Investment Committee to review its fossil fuel holdings and present back to Church Society. (This motion was forwarded to the CMWG earlier this year.)
During that year, extensive documentation on the impacts of fossil fuel exploration, extraction, transformation and transportation were forwarded to the chair of the Investment Committee, Central Board (which governs Church Society) and the Diocesan Executive Council. Documents collected came from such diverse sources as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, Governor of the Bank of England, World Council of Churches, The Anglican Consultative Communion and the writings of Pope Francis. (This is but a small sampling of the total research made available from international and national environmental, financial and church bodies.)
At Church Society’s annual general meeting of 2015 Diocesan Bishop Dennis Drainville, President of Church Society, issued a letter in follow up to the various motions, review of holdings and research. (This letter was forwarded to the CMWG earlier this year.)
On 23 September 2015, the Investment Committee of the Diocese of Québec was pleased to report that divestment from fossil fuels and mineral extraction was almost complete.
On 23 November 2015, the Investment Committee was able to provide the details of the divestment process.
Details:
Over the past 4 years, $525,000 dollars in gold and copper mining operations have been divested.
Over the past 2 years, $1.4 million dollars in oil and gas have been divested.
$320,000 remain in fossil fuels as that financial instrument has not reached maturity. By year end, the committee expects to be 100% divested.
On 26 November 2015 Bishop Drainville shared this good news within his charge to Synod.
The Diocese will continue work on this critical issue as part of its commitment to the Fifth Mark of Mission.
Our youth fellows have big dreams, and tons of skill
In January 2015, Fossil Free Faith launched a call for religious-or-spiritual youth concerned about climate change to be part of a fellowship program aimed amplifying young, faithful voices for climate justice.
We had an incredible group apply. And over the past 10 months, we’ve been making it happen. Here’s some of what the Fossil Free Faith Youth Fellows have been up to:
On May 24-26th, we gathered for an intensive weekend training at Bridge and Enrich in East-Vancouver. We shared stories, and shared food, and did training on climate science, economics, communications, social movements and theories of change.
Following the training, a number of fellows wrote blog posts for our friends at Faith & the Common Good/Greening Sacred Spaces.
Maisaloon Al-Ashkar: From the Heart
Talia Martz-Oberlander: Using the personal narrative to move climate justice forward
Leo Yu: The Pope, the Dutch and other Reflections
Sarah Beley: Bringing faith-based groups into the environmental dialogue
They also began mobilizing to build a stronger faith-based presence at the upcoming Jobs, Justice & Climate rally in Vancouver. They participated in 350 Vancouver planning meetings. And then hosted Calling on Faith Voices – a dialogue to mobilize faith communities around climate issues. On July 4th the fellows organized and hosted a hugely successful ‘Faith Hub’ at the Jobs, Justice & Climate rally. And FFF fellow Maisaloon was one of the rally’s keynote speakers.
The following day, our friends and collaborators hosted a Multifaith Climate Iftar, following the Jobs, Justice & Climate rally in Toronto.
Around the same time, Fossil Free Faith Coordinator Christine Boyle wrote Why the Pope has caught this non-Catholic’s Attention, before heading to Rome to represent Fossil Free Faith Canada at the Our Voices Emerging Leaders Multi-Faith Climate Convergence.
And the project gained some media attention. Including an article in the Vancouver Courier called Keeping the Fossil Free Faith. And a feature article in the Jewish Independant about Talia and her work for Climate Justice. As well as significant media coverage on the United Church of Canada’s national divestment decision, which Fossil Free Faith was involved in.
Our fellows kept doing their own organizing. Sarah hosted a public event called Conversations with Heart: Dialogue for Healthier Communities. Jason, Eduardo and others were part of launching EarthKeepers: Christians for Climate Justice at the 10th Ave Christian Alliance Church in Vancouver. Eduardo published “Dejó Huella el Nazareno”, a book of poetic and theological reflection on the gospel and creation (in Spanish), and traveled home to Costa Rica to launch it. And others have been doing less visible work, talking and listening and bearing witness to the need for faithful climate justice.
And they kept writing and speaking. Leo wrote two op-eds about faith and action: What our leaders aren’t telling you: Jesus was a radical social activist and Finding the courage to take action. Talia wrote This Year I’m Praying for a New Government for Ricochet Media. And Christine spoke as part of the Earth and Spirit Speaker Series at St. Anselm’s Anglican Church.
And we have officially launched the Faithful Voices Speakers Bureau. Because conversations about both faith and climate in Canada need some fresh voices. Interested in having one of them join a panel at an event or conference you are organizing? Or guest-preach in your congregation? Or contribute to your newsletter, magazine or blog? Contact us to make a request.
The pilot project of this youth network was supported by the Inspirit Foundation, and powered by Faith & the Common Good and Spirited Social Change. For more information email: christine (at) spiritedsocialchange (dot) org.
United Church of Canada Votes to Divest from Fossil Fuels
On August 11th, 2105 the United Church of Canada voted to sell its fossil fuel assets and commit financially to transitioning to an economy based on renewable energy. The vote was held by the 42nd General Council, the United Church’s highest body, which meets triennially to determine the denomination’s priorities. Climate justice, whereby the world’s most vulnerable populations avoid disproportionate harms of climate chaos, stands as a clear priority for Canada’s largest protestant denomination.
“The United Church of Canada has voiced its concern about human-induced climate catastrophe for decades. Given the lack of political and industrial leadership to address climate concerns in a way that matches the scale of the problem, we wanted to signal that we are so serious about averting climate crisis that we are willing to put our money where our mouth is,” said Christine Boyle, the General Council commissioner, parent, and long-time climate advocate. “Many in the United Church see Jesus as a friend of the poor and an advocate for the marginalized. Today we have committed to journeying in his footsteps, raising our moral voices to address the burdens of climate chaos that disproportionately affects those living on the margins.”
The denomination has addressed the climate crisis several times at previous General Councils. This is the first time it has committed to moving its investments away from fossil fuels the same way it moved away from tobacco and gambling companies years ago.
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The United Church of Canada has lived into the policies that it has developed over the past 20 on climate justice, and is taking prophetic leadership,” said Jeanne Moffat, a leader with Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church’s climate justice group. “We should see this as a symbol of hope for the climate justice movement.” Folks from across Canada have worked on this for years, finding inspiration from a similar initiative to end apartheid in South Africa and from what the World Council of Churches and other faith communities across the globe are doing to transition to a sustainable future.”
The motion for the General Council to divest follows motions at Conferences across the country. At its conference in May, oil-rich Alberta voted to articulate a vision of Canada without fossil fuels. Both Toronto Conference and Manitou Conference also sent divestment proposals to General Council.
During the debate on the issue, commissioners voiced concern for people in Alberta, Saskatchewan and elsewhere who will need support to transition away from economies that are presently so dependent on fossil fuels.
The General Council Executive will now chart the path for the Treasury to sell its holdings of the world’s 200 largest fossil fuel companies, and to take active steps to re-invest those assets in green renewable energy co-operatives. Currently these holdings constitute $5.9 million, or 4.7% of the United Church of Canada Treasury.
Media Coverage to date:
United Church to drop fossil fuels from investments due to climate concerns
570 News – Aug 11, 2015
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- Rev Wade Lifton, United Church
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- Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt, Catholic
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- Christine Boyle, United Church
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- Coll Thrush, United Church
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- Jesse Root, United Church
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- Lauren King, United Church
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- Nicole Hergert, United Church
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- Sarena Talbot, United Church
The United Church to vote on Divestment
On August 11th, at the United Church of Canada’s national General Council meeting, commissioners from across the country will vote on motions for the church to divest from the top 200 fossil fuel companies, and re-invest in clean energy alternatives.
You can find the full text of the motions here.
Click here to download a fossil fuel divestment primer or click here to download a pamphlet on divestment from Trinity St Paul’s United Church in Toronto.
Stay updated by following us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
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- Sarena Talbot, United Church
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- Jesse Root, United Church
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- Coll Thrush, United Church
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- Nicole Hergert, United Church
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- Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt, Catholic
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- Rev Wade Lifton, United Church
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- Lauren King, United Church
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- Christine Boyle, United Church