Community Corner

Youth Convince Presbytery to Divest from Fossil Fuel Companies

Presbyterian Church of the Apostles in Burnsville and youth from St. Luke Presbyterian in Minnetonka presented to the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area.

High school seniors Cody Kirk and Joy Gresham from St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka have helped to convince the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area to divest its endowments of all stocks and bonds in fossil fuel companies, according to a St. Luke’s news release.

Kirk and Gresham had been working with other youth to raise awareness about climate change. They had three minutes on Saturday to make their case that the Presbyterian Foundation and Board of Pensions should not invest any of its nearly $10 billion in funds to fossil fuel companies.

“This is how I see the church really being like Jesus,” the release quoted Kirk. “Not just talking, but making hard choices to live like Jesus—caring for the poor and all in God’s creation without a voice; not taking more than our share; and preserving the earth for future generations.”

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In addition, the Presbyterian Church of the Apostles in Burnsville made a presentation intended to shift the conversation from fossil fuels as a basis for the world’s economy to their role in climate change.

The divestment proposal passed on a voice vote. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church will next vote on the proposal at its biennial meeting June 14-21 in Detroit.

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 



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