Ethane oxidation reactions were studied over pure and Ca-, Mg-, Sr-, La-, Nd-, and Y-substituted BaCeO3 perovskites under oxygen limited conditions. Several of the materials, notably the Ca- and Y-substituted materials, show activity for complete oxidation of the hydrocarbon to CO2 at temperatures below 650 degrees C. At higher temperatures, the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) to ethylene becomes significant. Conversions and ethylene yields are enhanced by the perovskites above the thermal reaction in our system in some cases. The perovskite structure is not retained in the high temperature reaction environment. Rather, a mixture of carbonates and oxides is formed. Loss of the perovskite structure correlates with a loss of activity and selectivity to ethylene.