Commissioners at the July 3, 2024 General Assembly disapprove morning action and opt for more targeted divestment instead.
In a surprise reversal, the 226th General Assembly made an about-face on Tuesday afternoon by deciding against complete divestment from the fossil fuel industry after having voted in favor of it that morning.
After tough and lengthy discussion, GA commissioners voted to disapprove ENV-02, the overture from the morning, and to instead go with an amended version of ENV-06. Among other things, it directs the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to immediately identify the top 10 fossil fuel companies that derive most of their profits from the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels and immediately divest from those companies.
The Rev. Heather Hayes, a teaching elder commissioner from the Presbytery of East Iowa, brought forth the amended version of ENV-06 that was approved with a minor word tweak. She called it a third way forward after having first sided with Young Adult Advisory Delegates on the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee who were eager to divest out of concern for the planet and then her being influenced by opposing groups, such as the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee and MRTI.