Voting for Creation
Image Courtesy of UM Creation Justice Movement
United Methodist Creation Justice Movement | Oct. 31, 2024
The upcoming election with candidates running at all levels, from President to City Council Member, is an opportunity to be mindful of how our voting can impact care for God’s good creation. In this article you will find a description of key provisions related to creation justice just passed at the UMC 2024 General Conference. You will then find a table that compares the creation justice stances on key issues of the two presidential candidates with documentation in the dropdowns. After the table, there are words of encouragement and practical tips on making sure that you will be able to cast your vote. We hope that you find this helpful.
—Rev. Becca Richards, Rev. Keith Sexton, and Rev. Paul Slentz on behalf of the UMCJM Advocacy Working Group.
United Methodist Social Principles on Creation Justice
The United Methodist Revised Social Principles, Community of All Creation section, acknowledges the far-reaching impacts of anthropogenic (human caused) climate change on the health, safety, and dignity of our neighbors around the world. Changes to the biosphere like more frequent droughts, heat waves, and flooding, and accelerating sea level rise pose existential threats, especially to our neighbors in the Global South. The Revised Social Principles laments that the most severe impacts of climate change are often borne by those people and communities least able to adapt and stresses the urgency of the moment in mitigating the causes of climate change.
The Revised Social Principles acknowledge that burning fossil fuels is the biggest single contributor to climate change and calls on United Methodists to support an orderly, just transition away from fossil fuels and to alternative forms of energy, including solar, wind, geothermal and hydrogen-based energy sources. The document cautions against the potential harms of nuclear energy and geoengineering strategies, which may have unintended consequences that cause further environmental damage.
The document unequivocally calls for state, federal, and international policy-based approaches to addressing the causes of climate change, affirming the necessity of international cooperation and accountability. This includes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement as well as federal regulations on climate-harming emissions in the United States.
The Social Principles advocate for individuals, families, and communities to adopt sustainable habits and practices and encourage United Methodists to live simply, refraining from overconsumption, and reducing their environmental (including carbon) footprints, including by reducing reliance on fossil fuels for heat, transportation, and other purposes.
See Creation Justice Stances of the Presidential Candidates on the UM Creation Justice Movement website. Open the dropdowns for documentation of their answers.
UM Creation Justice gathered information on Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to the following questions.
Do the candidates:
1. Affirm that human-caused climate change is real and is already having harmful impacts on humanity, other creatures, and earth's ecosystems?
2. Acknowledge that climate change and other forms of degradation of creation are disproportionately impacting low-wealth communities and communities of color in the U.S. and worldwide?
3. Commit to keeping the U.S. a party to the Paris Climate Agreement, including financial support of low-wealth nations in addressing climate change?
4. Support the transition to a clean energy economy, including policies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels?
5. Support continued funding for the climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and funding for the EPA at FY’24 levels or greater.
6. Oppose the extraction of natural gas through the process known as fracking?
7. Support tax credits for electric vehicles and increasing fuel economy standards to increase energy efficiency for gas-powered vehicles?
What Next?
Given the wealth of information provided in this action alert, what next?
We United Methodists might begin by searching the scriptures, praying, and fasting to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It is our hope that you will also reflect on the United Methodist Church’s official positions on creation care and justice outlined above. Here is a Link to the full section of the Social Principles titled “Community of All Creation.” While it is too late to register to vote, early voting continues through Nov. 2 in states that offer the option.
We know voting is just the beginning of creation justice work. As new governmental administrations begin in our municipalities, counties, states, and nation, we will need to communicate consistently with our elected representatives so that Creation Care is factored into policy decisions, legislation and budgeting processes.
In addition, take care of yourself in these divisive and tense times.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:6-8
Our prayer is the Peace of Christ be with you always.
This post was adapted from an October post on the UM Creation Justice Movement website. It has been edited for timeliness.