Explanation

The Church began monitoring its investments for ethical and social responsibility in 1971 when it filed the first ever shareholder resolution by a religious institution asking General Motors to leave South Africa until the racist system of apartheid was dismantled. That work has continued and expanded to include areas such as climate change, human rights globally, health care, immigration reform, gun safety, protection of indigenous peoples’ rights, corporate board diversity and human trafficking. The Church risks hypocrisy in its public witness for justice when its investments are not reviewed for ethical and social performance. This work is done ecumenically and inter-religiously.