MFSA Plumbline: Church Land Use

April 16, 2024 Bridget Cabrera

Understanding the Issue

When God created the heavens and the earth, God put into place on the Earth elements such as water, soil, and plants, along with natural systems and cycles, that were, and still are, intimately interconnected to promote and sustain life on Earth. And then, God made humans caretakers of all God had created here on Earth, including animals, creatures of the sea, birds of the air, as well as humans. But, at present, humans are not working together in harmony with the rest of Creation as God intended. In fact, they are responsible for harming and even de-creating what God gave them to protect.

The good news is this: Since human actions are causing the harm, they can also stop the harm and instead renew God’s creation.

Four pieces of interlocking legislation recommend that church owned properties be cared for with attention to creation and its gifts and needs.

Land Use

As shared property owners, the church at all levels is called to be a good steward of creation. All are asked to implement actions in their setting that bring their land back in harmony with God’s intention and systems including site specific actions of planting native plants, removing invasive species and stopping use of synthetics.

Resources

United Methodist Creation Justice Movement (umcreationjustice.org) provides examples of actions local churches can take—see especially umcreationjustice.org/tag/church-lands, and umcreationjustice.org/tag/camping-and-retreat

Recommended Action

Vote FOR Petition 20779-CA page 1197 ADCA “Church Land Use”
Vote FOR Petition 20942-FA page 1447 ADCA “General Conference-Owned Land Use Management”
Vote FOR Petition 20955-FA page 1496 ADCA “Annual Conference Owned Land-Use Amendment”
Vote FOR Petition 0954-FA page 1497 ADCA “District-Owned Land Use Amendment”

This document was prepared in collaboration with the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement (UMCJM). MFSA and UMCJM are members of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition. Learn more www.lyncoaltion.org.