UPDATED June 30, 2025
One of the tools available to United Methodists to take action on Creation Justice is the opportunity to propose legislation at their Annual Conferences each year. The Creation Justice Movement has created several model resolutions that build off of the actions at General Conference last year. As far as we are aware, in all conferences where Creation Justice related resolutions were proposed this year they have PASSED with significant support.
If your conference has proposed and/or passed legislation that is not listed below or you have an update, please let us know at umcreationjustice@gmail.com.
Southeastern
- A resolution Inviting Local Churches to Conserve Energy, Increase Energy Efficiency, and Transition to Renewable Energy PASSED with 97% support in the Tennessee Western Kentucky Conference
- The Virginia Conference recognized 6 Green Churches as part of the Green Church Initiative.
- The Florida Conference held a “Buckets of Hope” Challenge to make flood buckets, raise awareness about climate change and sustainability.
Western
- The Desert Southwest Conference PASSED a resolution entitled Divesting from Fossil Fuels requiring that the conference “not knowingly make investments in any company or entity whose core business activity involves the production of coal, petroleum, or natural gas” and that the conference foundation add a similar fossil fuel screen for its investments.
- The California Pacific Conference PASSED a resolution requiring conference investments to be fossil free. The resolution to begin a process to divest from fossil fuels passed with a 89% vote in favor.
- The Mountain Sky Conference held two workshops and offered a tour related to Creation Justice. See links to workshop and tour details and other resources shared with the annual conference by the Mountain Sky Creation Justice task force. The workshops were entitled:
- Becoming Green: Saving Energy and Money: Discover how grants like RAN and EarthKeepers and Lighting Upgrades can help your church cut energy costs.
- Creation Care: A guide to stewardship through the lens of the newly-Revised Social Principles.
- A tour was offered to National Renewable Energy Labs.
- The Oregon-Idaho Conference has established a new creation care team with two co-caretakers with seats on the leadership council.
- The Pacific Northwest Conference PASSED two resolutions
- Encouraging Fossil Fuel Divestment for Denominational Funds directs the conference treasurer to communicate it’s support for fossil fuel divestment to Wespath and encourages all clergy and laity with retirement savings in Wespath funds to move investments to fossil fuel free options as soon as the Lifestage managed investment option that excludes fossil fuel investments is available.
- Affirming Call to Urgently Transition to Creation Care and Justice by affirming and implementing Creation Justice related legislation adopted at General Conference including: naming a Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator, developing sustainable church land use practices, forming green teams, using sustainable practices for Annual Conference sessions, reducing use of single-use plastics, committing to and reporting on clean energy transitions and netzero greenhouse gas emissions. This work will be supported by the Conference Commission on Environmental Stewardship created at the 2024 PNW Conference.
- The California-Nevada conference PASSED four resolutions (all of them on the consent calendar). Even the divestment resolution was unanimous in section discussion.
- Resolution for Conference Fossil Fuel Divestment asks the California-Nevada conference to transition all investment portfolios to low carbon and eventually fossil free funds and to report on progress in 2026.
- Recommendation to Spend 10 Minutes a Day in Nature encourages all congregants to spend time daily outside in mindful connection with Creation
- Recommendation on Green Teams encourages all congregations to establish green teams or equivalent for action in the four areas of connection, education, action and advocacy
- Resolution to Boycott Chevron to Defend God’s Creation and Human Rights adds the California-Nevada Conference to the list of groups that are joining the global boycott of Chevron Corporation by signing the boycott statement of United Methodists for Kairos Response and encouraging congregations to mobilize boycott activities in their area.
North Central
- Building A More Sustainable Future – the West Ohio Conference PASSED a resolution requiring new church construction to incorporate renewable energy and/or energy efficiency; for existing churches to work to make their buildings more energy efficient; and to support this effort through green church training. Read more from the West Ohio Conference here.
- A resolution Affirming the Formation of a Conference Green Team and Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator PASSED without opposition in the Dakotas Annual Conference supporting implementation of commitments made at General Conference. (See also this conference article).
- Resolution to Promote Creation Care calling congregations in the Minnesota Annual Conference to commit to taking climate action including rapid action to decarbonize their facilities and the formation of green teams PASSED without opposition. See conference legislative roundup here.
- The Main conference speaker for Minnesota and the Dakotas was Dr Rev Tim Eberhart, professor at Garrett and director of the Center for Ecological Regeneration; he also offered a Workshop on God of All Creation. His presentation entitled Fireseeds of Hope can be viewed here and here and summary Article is available here.
- The Michigan Conference joined the Chevron Boycott and offered a Table for Sustainability. The Michigan Environmental Task Force also put together an Earth Day of Action with acts of service, education opportunities activities for kids, 4-5 hubs of action.
South Central
- The Great Plains Conference “easily” PASSED two Creation Justice related resolutions. See more in this conference newsletter.
- Resolution 4: Establishing a Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator
Creates the volunteer position, Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator.
The coordinator will work with the Mercy and Justice team, Creation Justice Team, and Annual Conference to promote sustainable practices - Resolution 5: Transition to Clean Energy
Creates the “Clean Energy for Local Churches Taskforce”
The taskforce will enable and assist congregations to work towards and adopt
carbon neutral footprints in their buildings
- Resolution 4: Establishing a Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator
- The Oklahoma Conference held a day of learning about the social principles with an emphasis on the community of all creation and took a tour of a congregation’s community garden. The conference has recruited a volunteer creation care coordinator that will be a part of Oklahoma Conference Board of Church and Society.
- The Louisiana Conference named Rev Emily Carroll as it’s Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator.
- The Arkansas Conference hosted a Creation Care breakfast and panel discussion.
- The Horizon Texas Conference PASSED the following 5 resolutions (without opposition or debate but with applause):
- Affirming the Net-Zero Commitment of Boards, Agencies, Council of Bishops and General Conference by charging the newly instituted conference Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator to identify actions to reduce emissions and to report on progress at the 2026 Conference.
- Affirming Church Land Use and Harmony of Creation Resolutions asks local churches, camp and retreat centers to develop a land use plan and implement at least one action per year that brings their property back in harmony with God’s intentions and systems.
- Affirming the Formation Of Green Teams in every local church, charge, cluster, and district in the conference for action in four areas each year – Worship, Education, Practice and Advocacy – to engage children, youth and adults with practical means for caring for creation and justice.
- Support of Solar and Solar Funding resolves that the Horizon Texas Annual Conference would partner with the Interfaith Solar Campaign to evaluate properties in the conference to identify those that are appropriate for solar and to work with a pilot group of congregations to provide solar installation design and financial assistance.
- Affirming Call to Urgently Transition to Clean Energy by developing a task force to study how local churches can best conduct greenhouse gas emissions audits and implement steps to reduce those emissions.