Brighthelm URC follows Quaker lead
Brighton United Reformed church congregation disinvests from fossil fuels
A Brighton United Reformed church congregation has become the first in the UK to disinvest from fossil fuels. The decision by Brighthelm United Reformed Church ties in with one of the congregation’s core values, sustainability, according to its minister, Alex Mabbs.
‘It is clear that the burning of fossil fuels is not sustainable and increasingly intensive extraction methods are causing extreme damage to the environment, and harming animals, plants and humans. We don’t want our money to support an industry that is killing the planet’, Alex said.
Brighthelm’s move was inspired by Christian charity Operation Noah’s Bright Now campaign.
Operation Noah’s vice chair of operation, Mark Letcher said his organisation was delighted to see a mainstream UK church take the lead in disinvestment.
‘We are greatly encouraged that Brighthelm has added its voice to the global fossil fuel disinvestment. As well as working to bring about change within national denominations we are also encouraging individual churches that hold investments to disinvest’, he added.
The Religious Society of Friends was the first religious group to commit to disinvestment. The move followed the October 2013 Meeting for Sufferings, which saw overwhelming support for an end to investing in fossil fuels.
The Church of England and the Methodist Church in Britain have subsequently discussed the possibility of disinvestment.
