Clergy make stand against Exxon
Clergy consumed with planet grief takes part in non-violent protest
Two members of the Anglican clergy have glued themselves to furniture in the reception of Church House in London in protest at the Church of England continuing to invest in Exxon Mobil despite their extraction of fossil fuels. Sue Parffit from Bristol was arrested but Tim Hewes, a retired vicar from Oxfordshire, was not.
Christians also held vigils outside Church House in London and at cathedrals in Chester, Sailsbury, Liverpool and Bristol. They have been asking and praying for the Church to ‘Exit Exxon’ and divest from all fossil fuels immediately.
Sue Parffit also hand-delivered a letter to the Church commissioners asking them to divest from Exxon Mobil.
In a livestream of the vigil, Tim Hewes said: ‘I am taking this nonviolent direct action against the church commissioners and the pension board today, because of their persistence in investing in fossil fuels… It is grossly irresponsible and an obscenely irreverent use of money donated by parishioners… I am consumed with planet grief and unspeakably angry that the church to which I have sworn allegiance acts in a way that is alien to the doctrine of the Trinity: the Trinity from which God’s love flows over all creation.’
The row follows long-standing pressure on the Church of England to divest from oil and gas companies. According to Christian Climate Action, the General Synod agreed that the Church of England would begin in 2020 to divest from companies not taking seriously their responsibilities to assist with the transition to a low carbon economy. It also said in February 2020 that the Church would reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
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