ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 30, 2025
I was in Indianapolis for about 36 hours for the Board Meeting of the Christian Church Foundation. This was my first Board Meeting, and if you’ve ever served on a national Board, you probably remember your first meeting. To begin with, you’re just trying to remember all the names of the folks sitting around the table (thank goodness I already knew a handful of them), but there are acronyms to learn and the detailed reports from the auditors. I thought I’d done my homework, but I’ve returned home with more. The Christian Church Foundation is our denomination’s foundation, investing just over $1 billion of the church’s money for the purpose of ministry. Much of it is endowments for local congregations, and CCCC has three endowments held by CCF. Many individuals within our denomination have established charitable trusts, which provide them with a steady stream of income for the rest of their lives. The remaining funds can then become an endowment for a local church. There are also endowments for larger ministries of the denomination, such as Week of Compassion and Disciple Men. We spent some of our time together reflecting on the balance between the fiduciary responsibility we have as Board Members and the ethical responsibility we have when it comes to the investing of the money. We met with representatives of ICCR (Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility) who has been advising faith-based organizations on how such bodies can influence corporate decisions on everything from climate change, ethical supply chains, and workers’ rights. They seek to work with companies, often sitting down at the table and helping them understand how ethical responsibility within the corporation today can lead to a stronger and more profitable company long-term. In many situations, it presents a mutually beneficial opportunity. The investment approach of the Christian Church Foundation is smart diversification, while always looking toward long-term growth. The Foundation’s approach has proven successful, even during economic downturns. ICCR and CCF exemplify how asking thoughtful questions, focusing on the future, avoiding quick fixes, and prioritizing people over profits can yield remarkable and steadfast resources for the church’s future. And an interesting side note, ICCR has discovered that there are often wonderful partners within corporations who are seeking a similar path.
We give you thanks, Lord God, for the faithful stewards throughout the years who have seen their accumulated resources as a way of supporting ministry long after they have joined you. Amen.
