NOVELTY - Solution comprising an alkaline-earth metal component (A) dissolved in an acid, a metal component (A') dissolved in the organic acid, a metal component (M) chosen from group IV transition metals of periodic table dissolved in the organic acid or alcohol and a metal component (M') dissolved in acid is refluxed, heated and organic solvent is removed, to form a gel. The obtained gel is dried, to form a powder. Then, the obtained powder is heated at predetermined temperature and calcined, to obtain ceramic material.    USE - Preparation of ceramic material used as catalyst for converting methane to higher alkene or alkane (both claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The catalyst converts methane to higher alkene or alkane with high selectivity and in high yield.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Solution comprising an alkaline-earth metal component (A) (0.95-2 mol) dissolved in an acid, a metal component (A') (0-1 mol) dissolved in the organic acid, a metal component (M) (1 mol or more) chosen from group IV transition metals of the periodic table dissolved in the organic acid or alcohol and a metal component (M') (0.05-0.5 mol) dissolved in the acid is refluxed for 3-5 hours, heated for predetermined time and organic solvent is removed, to form a gel. The obtained gel is dried, to form a powder. Then, the obtained powder is heated at predetermined temperature and the heated powder is calcined by increasing temperature, to obtain ceramic material. The ceramic material is of formula: AA'MM'X.    A=barium or strontium;    A'=samarium or indium;    M=titanium or zirconium;    M'=germanium, lead, silicon, tin, aluminum, gallium, antimony, bismuth or niobium;and    X=oxygen.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) catalyst composition, which is obtained by preparing sol or slurry of metal components (A, A', M and M') in alcohol and/or water, drying the mixed materials to form a powder and calcining the heated powder; and    (2) method for converting methane to higher alkenes or alkanes, involves contacting the catalyst with a mixture of methane, oxygen and optionally nitrogen in fixed bed reactor at 700-900 degrees C.