Environmental & Climate Justice committee leadership convenes committee meetings via Zoom. Photo by Randy Hobson.
Environmental & Climate Justice committee leadership convenes committee meetings via Zoom. Photo by Randy Hobson.
After briefly revisiting the topic of fossil fuel divestment, the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee wrapped up its business Thursday by approving a motion to help educate the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) about funds available through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Early on in the meeting, Missionary Advisory Delegate Mark Hare motioned to amend ENV-02, which had been approved the previous night, to “declare that all publicly traded companies whose primary source of income is derived from the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels are to be placed on the General Assembly’s list of prohibited securities.”
Hare’s proposal would have directed the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to apply a tiered screening criteria and immediately list for divestment — and no future investment — any publicly traded companies whose primary source of income is derived from the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels and that do not have a credible decarbonization strategy that explains how it intends to meet certain greenhouse gas reduction targets.
The proposed amendment would also have declared that continued support of exploration, development, funding and exploitation of fossil fuels through the investment of PC(USA) funds violates the equitable welfare of all life and humanity’s biblical charge to care for Creation.
“I would like to propose those amendments because it would put some of the entities that are already working on these issues back in the picture, and it would respect some of the recommendations that have come out,” Hare said during the discussion. “It would also make this overture … easier to pass in the plenary.”
MRTI lead staff Katie Carter called the proposal a “middle way forward,” adding, “I think this allows ACSWP (the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy) to do their work for social witness policy, and it allows us to continue to analyze these companies” and to engage them “where we can, while bringing forth divestment recommendations to the next General Assembly.”
However, others, such as Andrew Hill, a Young Adult Advisory Delegate from the Presbytery of Santa Fe, opposed it. He was a lead proponent of the version of ENV-02 that had passed the previous day and said the amendment removed one of the most important parts, namely that support for the fossil fuel industry is irretrievably incompatible with the PC(USA)’s mission and goals.
Furthermore, MRTI “has shown that they want to go the slow way,” he said, referring to engagement with fossil fuel companies, “and our power here in GA is to go faster and respond to the urgent needs of this (climate) crisis.”
Ultimately, Hare’s effort failed when Dean McDonald, a commissioner from the National Capital Presbytery, called the amendment “out of order” and requested a parliamentary inquiry. Though McDonald was initially rebuffed, further consultation led to the end of the discussion when it was determined that Hare had not voted in favor of ENV-02 the previous day. “If you did not vote in favor, your motion is out of order,” Moderator Samuel Roberts said.
In the final item of business, the committee voted to approve an amended version of ENV-07, which recommends that a representative of the U.S. Department of the Treasury be docketed 10 minutes to address the General Assembly about government funds that are available to churches through the Inflation Reduction Act.
ENV-07 notes that churches now have easier access to clean energy funds and tax credits through a program called “direct pay.”
“Before the IRA, only homeowners and commercial entities with some tax liability could claim tax credits when installing solar panels, wind turbines or other eligible technologies on an eligible property. Now, the ‘direct pay’ option means non-taxable entities like churches can also benefit from these credits,” the rationale for ENV-07 states.
It also notes some urgency in hearing from the Treasury Department during this General Assembly. “Planners for this year’s Assembly need to take advantage of this opportunity now, as we might not have this opportunity with the 227th General Assembly (2026),” the rationale states. “There is a presidential election in November 2024, and one of the candidates has pledged to eliminate programs like these and positions like (Ronald) Newman’s if elected.”
Prior to the vote, the committee heard directly from Newman, a senior adviser at the Treasury Department, who gave a brief presentation. Part of his job is to engage with institutions like the PC(USA) to help implement the act, the largest investment in clean energy in U.S. history. Much of the investment happens through tax incentives.
“Those tax incentives don't accomplish anything unless you, your churches, your congregants take advantage of them,” he said, adding, “In each and every one of your buildings, your facilities, there are projects that can be done. There are solar panels that can be installed. There are geothermal heat pumps that can be placed in service. There are church vehicles that can be taken electric, and because of the Inflation Reduction Act, all of those projects can be done at a lower immediate cost.”
“Beyond that, those projects can save you money on a month-to-month, ongoing basis as well, money that can be channeled into other mission-based programs,” such as programs to feed the poor or house the homeless, and “these projects can help us save our planet.”
The committee agreed to an amended version of ENV-07, shortening the time the representative will be able to speak from 20 minutes to 10 minutes, so there would be enough time for other important matters to be addressed.
Presbyterians for Earth Care will have a webinar on the availability of funds from the act at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) on July 23.