The 1992 General Conference adopted Calendar Item 1350 in the Daily Christian Advocate page 458 which requested that the General Council on Ministries support The Natural World by "initiating basic research on the changing attitudes on environmental issues among United Methodist members."
Process and Implementation
In undertaking to fulfill this assignment, the GCOM, through its Office of Research, determined that it was not possible to initiate basic research on changing attitudes because no data was available to provide a baseline for comparison. The measurement of attitude change requires data for comparison from one time to another.
The General Council on Ministries Office of Research has in development a major study on the beliefs, habits and practices of United Methodists on issues of stewardship. This Survey of United Methodist Opinion will include a series of questions related to environmental stewardship. The type of baseline data necessary for the comparison of attitude change in the future will be received through this survey. It is expected that the results of this Survey of United Methodist Opinion will be available early in 1997.
In addition, the General Council on Ministries was also asked to request each agency to include in their 1996 General Conference report an evaluation of their corporate action taken towards sustainable environmental practices as a part of the 1993-96 Quadrennial Report. This referral was discussed with all general secretaries in the review of legislation passed affecting each agency and a communication was sent from the General Council on Ministries as a reminder.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21702-GJ-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference