Food production is at risk, national disasters will be more intense & frequent, malaria will spread & people in low lying areas like small islands & deltas will be forced to leave their homelands as sea levels rise.

Biblically, from the Genesis creation stories onward, we hear of God's love of the earth & all its creatures, including humanity. The biblical understanding of the wholeness & interrelatedness of all creation brings with it the command to this reciprocal relationship between people & the earth & thus be good stewards & custodians.

We are dependent on the earth & must take care of it. If we do so, the land & oceans will yield bounty sufficient for all. Conversely, if human societies damage the earth, people suffer.

It is in recognition of this kairos moment for God's world & the commandment to enact our call to be good stewards of God's world, we urge member Churches of the World Methodist Council to:

1. Give urgent priority to the study of global warning & climate change in preparation for the Copenhagen UN Summit from the perspective of the portion of the world in which they dwell & the effect they might have on other parts of the world.
2. Urge their respective delegated leadership to the UN Summit in Copenhagen to take all measures to turn around the current crisis of global warming.

NOTE:
The Council of Churches in Denmark has planned several actions during the summit in Copenhagen. The Action Planning Group is chaired by on of the District Superintendents in the United Methodist Church in Denmark. The General Board of Church & Society, UMC, will also have a delegation present for advocacy work. This means there will be a strong Christian & Methodist presence in Copenhagen that we must support by prayer.

Given that the Pacific is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the impacts of climate change, we recognize that livelihoods, communities & cultures in the Pacific are increasingly threatened by extreme weather events and sea rise foreshadowing what is to come if concerted action is not taken.

The future impact of unabated climate change on families, communities & all other life will be significant given that in specific island nations, whole populations will need to be resettled. It is out of this critical awareness that we extend our solidarity with Pacific Church leaders & actively commit ourselves to support the Pacific Church leaders' 'Statement on Resettlement on a Direct Consequence of Climate Change,' entitled 'The Moana Declaration,' adopted on 24 April, 2009 in Fiji.

The Situation Facing the Methodist Church in Fiji & Rotuma
Following the reception and discussion of reports coming from Church leadership in the Methodist Church of New Zealand, Uniting Church of Australia & the British Methodist Church, as well as a report from a World Council of Churches delegation concerning the current crisis facing the Methodist Church in Fiji & Rotuma, the following report and accompanying resolutions is presented to the World Methodist Council Executive Committee.

In December 2006, the elected government of Fiji was overthrown in a military coup and an 'interim government' was installed with the head of the military, Commodore Frank Bainimarama serving as Prime Minister.

In April 2009, the Fiji Court of Appeal declared that this coup was illegal. Within days, the interim government abrogated the national constitution, dismissed the judiciary, brought in censorship of the media and announced public emergency regulations which, among other things, require the granting of government permits for all meetings, including church meetings. Since May 2009, the interim government has taken these issues against the Methodist Church, the major Christian denomination in Fiji & Rotuma with almost 2/3 of indigenous Fijians belonging to the Methodist Church:

Banned the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma from holding its annual 2009 conference, with the possibility that this ban may stay in place until after 2014.

Banned the annual Choir Festival of the Church, which is held in association with the conference and which assists in the raising of at least 25% of the annual funds assisting the life & mission of the Church.

Arrested, detained & charged nine senior Methodist leaders including the President, General Secretary, former President & former General Secretary with breaches of the emergency regulations. All nine have since been released on bail, accompanied by strict conditions as to what these nine leaders can & cannot do, which includes the surrendering of their passports. There is a future bail hearing on September 26 where it is hoped these bail restrictions will be relaxed thus allowing these Church leaders to fulfill some of their official duties.

Ordered the current Church not to hold a service of induction of its President & General Secretary which was scheduled to take place on August 23, 2009.

Banned the weekly radio programs of the Methodist Church conducted by the General Secretary.

Further to the above is the development of a breakaway movement from the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma, calling itself 'The New Methodist Church.' Its founder & senior pastor is Atu Vulaono, brother of the Fijian Police Commissioner. The 'New Methodist Church' formally supports the Bainimarama government with the incumbent ruler demanding that members of the Police Force become members of this church. The church's style of action is intimidatory & is deliberately seeking to undermine the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma.

The Social & International Affairs Committee has been advised by the leadership of the New Zealand Methodist Church, the Uniting Church of Australia, the British Methodist Church, & the respective senior members of the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma that it is imperative that no acknowledgement or support is bodies to the leadership & organization of the 'New Methodist Church.' In light of the above information & recognizing the critical situation particularly facing the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma, & the people of Fiji, we recommend the following.

That the World Methodist Council Executive Committee:

1. Send its loving greetings to the leadership & membership of the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma assuring them of our constant prayers for them and the peoples of Fiji & Rotuma in this ongoing time of crisis.
2. Express its deep concern regarding the actions taken by the interim government of Fiji against the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma & urge the leadership of all WMC member churches to continue offering advocacy & assistance for & with the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma as appropriate.
3. Commend the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma for its careful & measured response to the actions taken against the Church by the interim government of Fiji.
4. Encourage the Pacific Conference of Churches to facilitate increased dialogue among the churches in Fiji especially between the Methodist, Anglican & Roman Catholic Churches.
5. Urge the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma to seek opportunity to continue to engage in dialogue with the current government.
6. On the advice of those Methodist & Uniting Churches who have briefed the World Methodist Council Executive Committee, no formal acknowledgement or support be provided to the 'New Methodist Church' in Fiji.
7. Direct its officers to explore the most appropriate means & timing for a delegation of the Council to visit Fiji, in particular, the leadership of the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma most involved in this current crisis.