This is the title of overture 01-60, submitted to the 2001 General Assembly by Susquehanna Valley Presbytery. The overture asks the Assembly to issue a Call to Halt Mass Extinction. It would say, in part:

The Creator-Deliverer calls human communities to work with God to rectify the abuses whereby human impacts upon the earth are leading to a mass extinction of living species. This ... would fundamentally alter and undermine the life and wellbeing of the human and other creatures that survive....

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) calls Presbyterians, other citizens, governments, and societal institutions to face the severity of this threat, and to take the steps in practice, policy, and systemic change that will prevent mass extinction and preserve the biodiversity essential to the flourishing of life.

In addition to its focus on this particular aspect of ecology and justice, the overture asks the General Assembly to reaffirm the commitments and policies adopted by the 1990 Assembly, in "Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice," and by other Assemblies. It asks for a directive to the G.A. Council and the Ministry Divisions "to review, with the intent of strengthening or initiating serious implementation, the recommendations of the 202nd [1990] General Assembly for "infusion of eco-justice perspectives and concerns at all points of mission program where this may appropriately be accomplished."

The overture asks the Assembly to take a position on several issues of immediate concern that are relevant to wildlife and species preservation. One action would be to reassert opposition to opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration and drilling.

– Bill Gibson

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