(updated for 2026):

Affirming Church Land Use and the Harmony of Creation,
United Methodist Resolution 1214

> Passed at General Conference
> In The United Methodist Book of Resolutions

Focus:  Sustainable practices for church land and grounds

Summary: This resolution encourages your annual conference to affirm and act on what is already part of our church policies and practices – that we must care for and steward the lands that are part of our church properties.

This resolution asks church and conference trustees, green teams, and conference creation care/justice teams to create a plan that will ensure all properties are using sustainable land practices and supporting healthy native soils, plants, pollinators and gardens. This also means restoring degraded land, replacing lawns, and discontinuing use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Further, this resolution asks local church and conference teams to share what they learn with each other, and for the annual conference to celebrate and showcase changes yearly during annual conference. See recommended actions: in the Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church, pages 102–103.

Note: This is one of the more straightforward resolutions to pass. Most people understand, appreciate, and can get behind efforts to support “holy ground,” and the wellbeing of creation. This can be an easy addition to any other resolutions you want to pass.

To support your effort to pass this resolution, look to the UMCJM newsletter for inspiring examples of United Methodist church green teams transforming their land with native plants, prayer gardens, and produce gardens. 

(updated for 2026):

Affirming the Formation of Green Teams and Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinators in Every Annual Conference 

> Passed at General Conference
> In The United Methodist Book of Discipline & Book of Resolutions

Focus: Ensuring annual conferences have people and teams in place, and support for those people and teams, to act for creation care/justice in local churches and the conference.

Summary: This resolution specifies that a person be named, appointed, and/or hired to serve as the Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator for that annual conference. This resolution also provides an accountability date for naming a Caretaker without delay, asking that the naming of the Caretaker take place at the 2026 annual conference. The role of the Caretaker will be “helping the conference develop programs to become more ecologically sustainable and to address environmental injustices.”

Further, this resolution asks that alongside this Caretaker, the annual conference act to form a creation care/justice team at the conference level to support and serve alongside the Caretaker.

This resolution also asks that green teams be organized in local churches and throughout the conference, and that these teams receive affirmation and support for their efforts.

Note: This resolution fills two mandates from General Conference, that there be a Caretaker and green teams, in one resolution. It is simple in structure, with the ‘therefore’ section quoting the Books of Discipline and Resolutions so people can easily see what the requirements are, and can affirm the work in a straightforward vote.

(updated for 2026):

Creating a Creation Care/Justice Team In the [Conference Name] Annual Conference

> Take action on the creation care and justice legislation passed at General Conference through specific actions of the annual conference.

Focus: Creating a full Conference Level, Creation Justice Team/Taskforce formed in the traditional Methodist structure.

Summary: This resolution came through an annual conference that wrote and passed it based on the urgency of creation justice and the social principles and polity of The United Methodist Church.

The legislation calls for the annual conference to create a conference-level creation care/justice team. It does so by invoking creation justice as a Missional Priority for the church, and a remedy for the failure of the church to act as stewards of creation.

The resolution offers with a structure and specifics for how that Conference-Level Creation Care/Justice team will be formed. The structure models other United Methodist committee and team structures, and so seeks to ensure representation participation.

The resolution’s specifics include number of people, as well as what the team will be charged with, their relationship to the conference and Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator, role in budgeting and other specifics.

Note: The specifics included in this resolution are helpful for those who want to think through what a team in their context might look like, what a team might need and how it can be structured within the conference itself.

The specifics of this resolution may also feel a little onerous. The body of the conference may not necessarily understand why the resolution is so specific. You may need to explain the specifics, and why you name them, prior to a conference vote.

Strategic action for electrification and decarbonization, aligned with 2024 General Conference Legislation (updated for 2026).
Two resolutions:

#4. Strategic Conference-Wide Electrification Planning to Support Local Churches and Local Church Ministries

> Passed at General Conference 
> United Methodist Book of Discipline

Focus: Establishing a detailed and actionable plan to decarbonize church buildings. Sample audit included.

Summary: This resolution jumpstarts real energy transition activity in your conference and lists comprehensive steps to get moving from fossil fuel based energy to clean energy in conference and local church buildings.

The resolution asks church and conference green teams as well as church & conference trustees, financial officers, building managers and conference staff to contribute to and prioritize the effort.

The actions in this resolution begin with a mandate for information gathering to start as soon as possible after annual conference passage. The resolution calls for audits of buildings, assessments of needed steps to clean energy systems such as heat pumps and electric appliances, and a plan that includes a progress report for how things are coming along.

Additionally the reports will include audit helps and surveys of grants and other financial helps and incentives to assist in needed funding for a clean energy transition.

Note: This resolution is designed to put into action the resolutions passed at General Conference to audit and electrify church buildings. It seeks conference accountability, as well as accountability within the denomination to reduce emissions.

This resolution may spark resistance from some, but may also bring hope to younger Methodists who are frustrated by the slow movement so far toward electrification in the denomination.

#5. Affirming the 2024 General Conference Call to Action for The United Methodist Church to Urgently Transition to Clean Energy

> Passed at General Conference 
> In The United Methodist Books of Discipline and Resolutions

Focus: A call for a taskforce and urgent action in church and conference that includes calling on the General Secretary of the General Council on Finance and Administration to act on General Conference legislation.  

Summary: This resolution cites a good amount of scripture and United Methodist Polity, including the Book of Discipline, the Book of Resolutions, UM Social Principles and UM Energy Policy to make the case that there must be action and accountability from the denomination to define the path to achieve the result of emissions reductions and a clean energy transition in the Church.

The resolution names the members of the conference task force to be accountable to the effort, including the Conference Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer, Conference Council on Finance and Administration, Board Chairs including Congregational development, Board of Trustees, and more.

The resolution further requires that the Conference hold the denominational boards accountable, with a letter to the General Secretary of the General Council of Finance and Administration who must act on General Conference legislation.

Note: This resolution, written by a young adult delegate of General Conference, gives voice to the frustration of the young that the denomination must act and has not done so to the degree that is necessary. The resolution holds those in positions of power in The United Methodist Church accountable to act according to the will of the General Conference.

Legislation that is now part of The United Methodist Books of Discipline and Resolutions (new as a model resolution for 2026):

Affirming General Conference Decisions About Creation Care and Justice

> Passed at General Conference 
> In The United Methodist Books of Discipline and Resolutions

Focus: A concise list of United Methodist commitments to creation care/justice in the updated 2024 Books of Discipline and Resolutions. Affirmation of General Conference actions to include green teams and care of church land and more.

Summary: This resolution is a simple list of the primary creation care/justice legislation passed (by significant margins) by delegates at the last General Conference. The list is simple and well laid out so that members of the annual conference can easily read through the actions taken, and vote to affirm those actions.

Note: Many people gathering for annual conference don’t realize how much creation care/justice featured at the last General Conference, nor what legislation was passed there. This legislation aims to support not only getting the word out to church members, but also to get an affirmative vote to support next step action in the conference.

This is a relatively simple resolution that may spark important conversations. Though it does not specify action, the resolution is itself a resource for discipleship and further creation justice action. 

A Resolution to establish priorities in the Annual Conference to address the environmental crisis and a vision for essential steps to address that crisis (new for 2026):

Establishing Priorities for Creation Care and Justice In the Annual Conference. A Resolution.

> Passed at General Conference 
> In The United Methodist Books of Discipline and Resolutions

Focus: Actionable and named priorities for the conference, specifying: >Achieve Net Zero; >Establish a Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator; >Complete Audits.

Summary: This legislation establishes three priority areas for the annual conference to address as part of the United Methodist Council of Bishops’ November 2025 Response and call for action in the denomination. The resolution repeats the Response in stating that Creation Justice needs to be a denominational priority for 2025 – 2028. 

The legislation specifically calls for the support and leadership from the Bishop, Bishop’s Office, and Cabinet in addressing these three identified priorities.  In addition, the legislation affirms the Council of Bishops’ November 2025 Response as a whole.

Further, the legislation lists actionable steps to be taken to further the priorities, and it names a Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator for the Conference.

Note: This resolution was written by an annual conference in collaboration between conference green team members and the Bishop. It is a wonderful example of the possibilities of establishing dialogue and acting on priorities for conferences in addressing the urgent need for creation care and justice.

This resolution will need discernment in different annual conference contexts, and is an example of what is possible when ministry leadership is aligned for action for God’s people and creation.

(updated for 2026):

Affirming the Net-Zero Commitment of the Boards, Agencies, Council of Bishops, and General Conference of The United Methodist Church

> Passed at General Conference
> In The United Methodist Books of Discipline and Resolutions

Focus: Annual Conference legislation to achieve net zero.
Language includes mechanisms of accountability to ensure net zero commitments are met.

Summary: This legislation has passed in annual conference and at General Conference and aligns with a commitment to achieve net zero from the Council of Bishops and twelve United Methodist Boards and Agencies. 

One drawback for this legislation is that the “net zero by” goal is not soon enough, as emissions continue rising. Yet there is hope to draw from. You may want to tighten the goal as to when your annual conference should achieve net zero to reflect the current science. In at least one annual conference there was so much support for the resolution that a delegate raised an amendment from the floor to tighten the “zero by” date to 2035.

A resolution to achieve net zero passed at General Conference, so it is already a denominational commitment. The model resolution here adds accountability structures for the annual conference, calling on progress reports and leadership engagement.

Note: With so much UM support over the last few years as annual conference have joined the denomination-wide net zero effort, this would be a straightforward resolution for any annual conference. Offering this resolution will give you an opportunity to speak to “why” we must achieve net-zero and may be helpful alongside more complex model resolutions such as establishing plans for electrification and naming a Caretaker of God’s Creation. 

As we are all learning how to do this together, this is a great opportunity to set an honest, urgent goal and learn step-by-step.

(updated for 2026):

#9. Divestment Resolution Option #1: Divesting From Fossil Fuels as an Annual Conference

>  Passed in annual conferences
> Aligns with the United Methodist Social Principles and legislation (such as net zero) in the Books of Discipline and Resolutions.

Focus: Divestment commitment, strategy, and implementation for Annual Conference funds. Adds a moral screen to screen out fossil fuels from all Conference investments, similar to existing screens for tobacco, liquor, and gambling.

Summary: This resolution sets an actionable path for the annual  conference to identify where it holds financial interest in companies whose core business involves production of coal, petroleum, or natural (methane) gas. Then, using sound financial strategies, to screen out those investments from the conference holdings.

Further, this resolution seeks a positive redirection of those investment monies toward products and services that are aligned with United Methodist theological discernment such as the statements in the UM Social Principles.

This model resolution also calls for creation of a timeline and progress reports, and completion, to be submitted to the conference treasure for presentation at the next annual conference. 

Note: Annual conferences have already passed divestment resolutions and divested from fossil fuels, as have hundreds of other faith institutions. As such, there are already people with experience who can support your effort with sound strategies for divestment, including divesting through UMC Faith Foundations and Wespath. Conference financial leaders may be reluctant to act on divestment. Connecting them to experienced peers may help. 

In the conferences where divestment has already taken place, the resolutions passed by wide and/or overwhelming margins. 

#10. Divestment Resolution Option #2: Creating a Task Force for Annual Conference Fossil Fuel Divestment

>  Passed in annual conferences
> Aligns with the United Methodist Social Principles and legislation (such as net zero) in the Books of Discipline and Resolutions, and the tradition of Methodist Conferencing.

Focus: Study of best divestment practices for Conference funds divestment. Report of divestment proposal at next annual conference.

Summary: This resolution aims at divestment of the funds of the annual conference from fossil fuel holdings, but it does so through a commitment to a process of study of divestment and shared discernment of conference boards and agencies who also may have holdings to divest.  

Shared discernment through conferencing and study is the height of United Methodist tradition, and although the hour is late, there is still much to be gained to take a year to study the question and create a report and recommendation for the annual conference. This study may be particularly important for conferences where there is significant fossil fuel revenue (such as leased lands for fracking and/or profit from oil wells).

The resolution sets out a process to include creation of a taskforce, who will serve on the taskforce, the work of the taskforce, and the final recommendation and report.

Note: Divested funds through Wespath and UMC Faith Foundations have consistently outperformed the fossil-full funds.

Organizing a conference to hear from speakers can be powerful reassurance for faithful investing. Conversations in multiple conferences around creation justice and divestment have been important and well received. 

(new for 2026)

Urging Fossil Fuel Divestment Of All Denominational Funds at Wespath 

> Aligns with statements calling for a just transition away from fossil fuels to a clean energy future in the Social Principles and Book of Resolutions.
> Wespath already has expertise and success with fossil-free investments.

Focus: To urge Wespath to add fossil fuels to its investment screens for all its portfolios.

Summary: This model resolution very simply asks the annual conference to urge the United Methodist Church’s investment agency, Wespath, to add fossil fuels to the agency’s existing investment screens and to apply that screen to all its portfolios.

Wespath already screens out (does not invest in) some kinds of industries, including companies involved in the extraction and/or mining of thermal coal. This model resolution adds all forms of fossil fuels to the list.

Passing this resolution does not mean that Wespath will then be required to divest from fossil fuels. Only the General Conference can establish mandatory investment screens. But it shows that the leadership in that annual conference want fossil fuels excluded from investments held at UMC’s investment agency, Wespath. Wespath is the agency which invests the denomination’s money, including denominationally owned funds and pension and benefits funds.

Wespath already has divested funds in place. Its “Social Values Choice” funds exclude companies that derive a significant amount of revenue from the fossil fuels industry, especially those that have fossil fuel reserves. These “Social Values Choice” funds consistently outperform Wespath’s funds with fossil fuels.

Note: About divestment in the UMC for all the model resolutions:

• Wespath already offers funds free of fossil fuels. These are called their “Social Values Funds” and these funds consistently outperform their funds with fossil fuels.
• Wespath’s Social Values Funds can be used right now by local churches, annual conferences, or other faith institutions interested in divesting their money.
• Clergy and UMC employees can already act independently to divest their pensions at Wespath by choosing Wespath’s “Social Values Choice funds.”

Safeguarding Creation and Community from Unsustainable Data Center Growth

SUMMARY

WHEREAS, the data center industry provides processing for Artificial Intelligence and has quickly overwhelmed social, environmental and economic resources across the country. In Virginia there are more data centers than anywhere else in the world and it’s where the industry began, the Virginia Annual Conference should call for this currently unregulated industry to abide by sustainable standards.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,

We call upon the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, through its Board of Church and Society, its leaders and participating local congregations to:

• Promote policies that uphold the highest level of sustainability for data center development which protect all living creatures, data centers should be sited away from vulnerable populations, historic sites and protected lands,
• Call for standards for onsite energy generation, air quality, water containment and reuse and for zoning of data centers as “heavy industrial,
• Oppose the use of non-disclosure agreements, proprietary data claims, and tactics that deprive the public of information, public officials must disclose financial contributions and/or conflicts of interest,
• Advocate that data centers, not local citizens, pay for developing their facilities,
• Urge lawmakers/regulators to develop, enforce, and obey the environmental planning laws to assure a full and fair evaluation of the threats to the community,
• Encourage our districts and congregations to work across district/county lines to advocate for environmental and human justice, to support sustainability in the data center industry, and establish working relationships with nonprofit ecumenical and environmental advocacy organizations in Virginia, to equip Virginia United Methodists to advocate for sustainable standards and managed growth of the data center industry.

Train Clergy in Climate Change and Disaster Response

Focus: This legislation calls for training about climate change and its impacts be included in clergy education.

Summary: This legislation calls for training about climate change and its impacts be included in clergy education. The training will include a theological rationale for urgent action to protect creation. It will include education about disaster prevention and response, climate justice and the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities, and strategies of the global movement for climate justice. The training will offer suggestions for church ministries and collaborative actions of relief, adaptation and resilience, mitigation of emissions, and advocacy and action for systemic change and sound climate and energy policies.

The resolution also calls on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and Cabinet to work with the Conference Caretaker of God’s Creation, the UM Creation Justice Movement, seminaries, and denominational agencies advocacy groups to help identify sources that offer such courses for those in the preparation process and for continuing education credits for active pastors.