Resource Library

United Church of Canada General Council 42 – Fossil Fuel Divestment Motions

An invitation to join the fossil fuel divestment movement and support the GC 42 fossil fuel divestment motions linked below.

Cover letter

Full version

Author: TSP Congregational Board and the Climate Justice Group

Background and official motion being submitted to General Council by Trinity­ St. Paul’s Pastoral Charge for the “United Church of Canada Foundation and the United Church of Canada Treasury to take active steps to sell their holdings in the 200 largest fossil fuel companies.”

Author: TSP Climate Justice Group

Background and official motion being submitted to General Council by Trinity­ St. Paul’s Pastoral Charge for the United Church of Canada Pension Board to take several steps to demonstrate its compliance with responsible investment.

Author: TSP Climate Justice Group

Elegant tri-fold pamphlets summarizing the call for United Church of Canada fossil fuel divestment.

Winter 2015

Summer 2015

Author: Greg Powell and the TSP Climate Justice Group

Approval of GC 42 fossil fuel divestment motions by Trinity St. Paul’s Board on November 18, 2014. Submitted by the Climate Justice Group and endorsed by the Public Witness Circle.

Author: TSP Climate Justice Group

TSP Congregational Fossil Fuel Divestment Materials

vital document articulating the TSP Climate Justice Group’s understanding, beliefs, and commitments to climate justice, and the development of fossil fuel divestment as the proposed TSP response.

Greg Powell and the TSP Climate Justice Group

Elegant tri-fold pamphlet summarizing the call for the congregation of Trinity St. Paul’s to divest from fossil fuels.

Author: Greg Powell and the TSP Climate Justice Group

Wording of the motions approved by the TSP congregation.

Author: TSP Climate Justice Group

Announcement of TSP’s decision to divest from fossil fuels at the Annual General Meeting on Feb 24, 2014.

Author: Jeanne Moffat and the TSP Climate Justice Group

policy statement from 2010 outlining TSP’s commitment to climate justice as part of a congregational five year plan.

Author: TSP Stewardship Circle

policy statement from 2010 outlining TSP’s commitment to climate justice as part of a congregational five year plan.

Author: TSP Stewardship Circle

This resource leads you through the story of Trinity St. Paul’s United Church’s journey of divestment of our congregational funds from fossil fuels. We hope you’ll learn from our reflections on our story and our activities!

Background Documents Informing the Decision to Divest from Fossil Fuels

background document with references on why it is imperative to divest from the Tar Sands from an Indigenous sovereignty and environmental impact point of view.

Author: Social Justice and Community Engagement Committee for Bathurst United Church 2014-2015

An article outlining why shareholder engagement is no longer an option and fossil fuel divestment is a compelling alternative.

Author: Shelley Alpern

Statements from Leaders and Organizations Supporting the Call for Fossil Fuel Divestment

Broader Resources for Climate Action

Climate justice and divestment resource handouts with website links and contact information.

Handout #1

Handout #2

Authors: Jim Kirkwood, Diane Meredith, Ann Russell and Madeleine Endicott

step-by-step guide to running a divestment campaign in a Catholic faith community.

Authors: GoFossilFree.org

TSP Climate Justice Group in the Media

Wrecking the climate is bad business

Author: Stephen Bede Scharper  in the Toronto Star, Monday March 24, 2014

Quitting big oil and gas

Author: Cory Ruf in the United Church Observer, January 2015

Media articles featuring the work of the TSP Climate Justice Group.

Author: Christine Boyle in the United Church Observer, May 2014

Divestment Strategy

Author: Christine Boyle in the United Church Observer May 2014

Faith leaders need to find their voice on climate change

Author: Christiana Figueres (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) in the Guardian, May, 2014

Author: Jeanne Moffat in UCC Mandate, May 2015

Churches, religious orders oppose carbon pollution

Author: Joe Gunn in the Western Catholic Reporter, Sept 23, 2015

The divestment iceberg

Author: Mike Milne in the United Church Observer, Jan 2016

TSP Climate Justice Group’s “Divestment Diaries” and TSP Times articles