UMC bishops ask Trump to reconsider decision to withdraw U.S. from climate accord

United Methodist Council of Bishops
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is asking U.S. President Donald Trump to reconsider his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord.

In a statement released today, COB President Bishop Bruce R. Ough said the decision by President Trump was disheartening and would worsen the state of this planet already exacerbated by overconsumption and misuse of resources. “The decision further isolates the United States from critical and essential climate and energy use conversations and negotiations.”

Bishop Ough said the bishops of The United Methodist Church were speaking in continuity with the church’s stance as articulated in God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action, Scripture, the Book of Discipline and the Book of Resolutions. “It is our responsibility to take care of this planet we live on, this beautiful gift from God, the Creator of all things seen and unseen.”
Bishop Ough urged President Trump to rejoin the efforts of nearly 200 countries that have agreed to voluntarily reduce their carbon emissions.

Bishop Ough said The United Methodist Church will continue to call for bold leadership and advocate for policies rooted in justice and sustainability. “By caring for God’s people and God’s planet, we offer ourselves as instruments of God’s renewing Spirit in the world calling for social and environmental holiness. We will do this by challenging those whose policies and practices neglect the poor, exploit the weak and harm the environment.”

Read Bishop Ough’s statement in its entirety.