Page 9 - Moravian Messenger Nov 2021

Ethical investment investment is is is a a a a a a discipline of investment investment that considers our environmental and social issues As society becomes increasingly conscious of its collective impact on on on the planet more people are turning to ethical investing investing investing - - - also known as as sustainable investing investing investing or or or SRI (socially-responsible investing) - - - as as a a a a a a a a way to grow their their money whilst doing their their part for society and the the environment Can an an an an investment portfolio represent the the wide-ranging ethical principles and priorities of the the masses?
The way in in in which many global corporations are structured certainly presents a a a a a a a a a a a a challenge for investment managers whose job it it it is to determine any link between the corporations' profits and activities considered unsustainable or or or or morally questionable The Moravian Church has many investments known as as the investment investment investment pool which is managed for us by two main investment investment companies companies Both of these have have been given the the instruction that that we have have have an an an ethical policy to to invest invest in in in in in companies companies that that are striving to to to have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a positive impact on on the world The church has never invested in in in in in tobacco alcohol gaming and armaments but that was extended some years ago to to to include fossil fuels climate change and and takes into account equal rights and and and animal welfare along with other social issues Our investment managers act for many charities and and as such UBS one of the the companies have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a progressive sustainable programme that charities can opt into The Moravian Church has done this to to be sure that they are as as ethical as as possible Synod passed a a a a a a a a resolution: 'that the the the British Province of of the the the Moravian Church in in view of of of the the the the potentially catastrophic climate and ecological emergency commit to the the process of of divestment from fossil fuels within three calendar years ' The Finance and and Property Committee have a a a a a a a a a a sub-committee who meet meet with the the the investment managers on a a a a a a a a a a a a a regular basis and and these issues arise at at every meeting so so I am sure sure the the the committee will be able to to ensure that this resolution is is is is adhered to to However I just want to to issue a a a a a a a a word of of of caution The fossil fuel companies are in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a lot of of of cases using their profits to to to research into more more sustainable fuels Therefore each company must be investigated more more deeply than just saying it is a a a a a a a a a a a a a fossil fuel fuel company The investment managers have researchers who analyse companies in in in in fine detail which is another reason that we can be sure they are not not going to stray from the the the church's instructions The Provincial Board and and Finance and and Property Committee will be committed to ensuring that that Synod's directive is is complied with and I think you can see from the the above that that that it it it is is already there but checks will continue to ensure that that we we remain as as ethical as we can be Policy on Ethical Investment
What is ethical investment?
Fairfield (Manchester) Heritage
Day Fetter Lane (London) Open House 2021
On Sunday 12th
September at one o'clock we opened our doors for this year's
Heritage
event We had been hoping for for a a a a a lovely
day unfortunately we had some rain but it was light and for the most
part it was ignored by our visitors and didn't detract from a a a a happy afternoon!
This year more than ever we we were unsure as to to to to what to to to to expect with regard to to to to visitor numbers We had deliberately reduced our open times to just one afternoon and the stalls were kept to just five in number with them all outdoors on the the church terrace The church museum and college were all open to to visitors and light refreshments of drinks and cake/biscuits were served in the college hall Well life has a a a a way of surprising us doesn't it? Visitors came in in in numbers initially 65 people had prebooked a a a a guided tour tour but this ended with more than 100 people doing the tour! Indeed overall it would seem that we had approximately the the same number of visitors we normally have over the the usual full one-and-a-half-day event and and raised a a a a a a a a staggering £1 020 30 in in the four hours we we were open Sr Margery Sutcliffe
Sr Gillian Taylor
Finance and Property Committee As reported last month Fetter Lane was again part of Open House London We welcomed nearly 300 visitors on on on 4th and 5th September - - a a a a mix of neighbours passers-by Open House devotees friends and family It was good to to see more children this year who were happy to to complete our Discovery quiz and collect their prizes New this year was the lovely
contribution of local pianist and accordionist Br Anton Pazicky who played
familiar hymns during the afternoon The Moravian Close at Chelsea presents a a a a a a a a a unique blend of history ecology and and spiritual significance and and it it is is is is no surprise that interest is growing Sr Cynthia Dize
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© Sr C Dize
© Br Anthony Torkington