B002 Anti-Corruption
Corruption in government, private industry, and religious and non-governmental institutions erodes public trust and damages the ability of these institutions to carry out their work. Transparency International defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” In government contexts, corruption can include the bribery of public officials, tax evasion, and misuse and misappropriation of taxpayer funds. In private industry, corruption breaks down systems of financial accountability to stakeholders, shareholders, and investors by obstructing transparent financial reporting and management. In religious institutional settings, corruption, often expressed through the mishandling and mismanagement of charitably donated resources, undermines donor confidence in the mission of the religious institution. Corruption undermines public trust in institutions, especially when corruption results in human rights abuses, the failure of health systems, and the inability for citizens to take care of daily business without extensive bribery and additional resources. Instituting financial accountability and anti-corruption measures help to uplift and protect the church’s mission to bring about God’s kingdom on earth, and serve to enshrine trust in a religious institution. Anti-corruption measures, and in particular independent governance oversight, robust third-party accounting practices, and public disclosure of financial activity discourage waste, fraud and abuse of funds intended to support and sustain the work of the church. The Church can have a unique voice in fighting corruption – in terms of the moral authority and the pressure we can put on governments to become more accountable and transparent. We can also ensure that our own financial practices are transparent and accountable, and that we root out corruption in our own institutions. Additional resources: Chayes, Sarah, Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security, New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2015 Fisman, Ray and Edward Migel, Economic Gangsters: Corruption, Violence, and the Poverty of Nations, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katherine-marshall/ethics-in-the-swamp-the-r_b_13534468.html Role of faith leaders in fighting corruption: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katherine-marshall/nigeria-faith-against-cor_b_9132912.html
Explanation
Corruption in government, private industry, and religious and non-governmental institutions erodes public trust and damages the ability of these institutions to carry out their work. Transparency International defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” In government contexts, corruption can include the bribery of public officials, tax evasion, and misuse and misappropriation of taxpayer funds. In private industry, corruption breaks down systems of financial accountability to stakeholders, shareholders, and investors by obstructing transparent financial reporting and management. In religious institutional settings, corruption, often expressed through the mishandling and mismanagement of charitably donated resources, undermines donor confidence in the mission of the religious institution. Corruption undermines public trust in institutions, especially when corruption results in human rights abuses, the failure of health systems, and the inability for citizens to take care of daily business without extensive bribery and additional resources. Instituting financial accountability and anti-corruption measures help to uplift and protect the church’s mission to bring about God’s kingdom on earth, and serve to enshrine trust in a religious institution. Anti-corruption measures, and in particular independent governance oversight, robust third-party accounting practices, and public disclosure of financial activity discourage waste, fraud and abuse of funds intended to support and sustain the work of the church. The Church can have a unique voice in fighting corruption – in terms of the moral authority and the pressure we can put on governments to become more accountable and transparent. We can also ensure that our own financial practices are transparent and accountable, and that we root out corruption in our own institutions. Additional resources: Chayes, Sarah, Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security, New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2015 Fisman, Ray and Edward Migel, Economic Gangsters: Corruption, Violence, and the Poverty of Nations, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katherine-marshall/ethics-in-the-swamp-the-r_b_13534468.html Role of faith leaders in fighting corruption: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katherine-marshall/nigeria-faith-against-cor_b_9132912.html