Presbyterian Mission Responsibility Through Investment

We rarely talk about how white supremacy culture impacts white people and especially poor and low-income white communities. Cedar Monroe joins us to unpack this nuanced topic. Check it out!

New Episode of A Matter of Faith Out Now! Cedar Monroe joins us to talk about how white supremacy harms even white people, with particular impacts on poor and low-income white communities. Check it out!

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and leave us a review! Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! amatteroffaithpodcast.com

We are excited to announce that our office is now a partner in producing A Matter of Faith: A Presy Podcast! Check out the most recent episode! A wonderful conversation on the power of poetry and hip-hop as an expression of Black culture, identity and liberation! Give it a listen!

New Episode of A Matter of Faith out now! Rev. lenny duncan and Joe Davis join us to talk about poetry and hip-hop as expressions of Black culture, identity and liberation. Check it out!

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and leave us a review! Got a question for us? Send them to [email protected]! amatteroffaithpodcast.com

MRTI is excited to announce a new resource book, celebrating 50 years of corporate engagement work! Ever wonder why faith-based investing and corporate engagement work investing matters for the PCUSA? Featuring an overview of MRTI's history and reflections from staff and committee members, this book provides answers to those questions and much more!

PC(USA) celebrates 50 years of Mission Responsibility Through Investment Let’s celebrate 50 years of MRTI! Half a century ago, Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) was created in recognition of the church’s unique opportunity to advance its mission faithfully and creatively through the financial resources entrusted to it. MRTI implements the General Assem...

Did you know Presbyterian Mission Responsibility Through Investment is celebrating its 50th anniversary season? MRTI was created in recognition of the church’s unique opportunity to advance its mission faithfully and creatively through the financial resources entrusted to it. MRTI was part of the original faith-based investment movement, and they are still viewed as leaders of the movement today. Learn more about MRTI here: https://hubs.ly/Q0259QkJ0

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/.../plan-now-to.../

REMINDER: The Presbyterian Hunger Program is partnering with Blessed Tomorrow to offer a live, virtual Climate Ambassador Training on Oct. 28. The training (from 12-4 p.m. Eastern time) gives participants the knowledge, hands-on experience and resources to speak up about protecting the planet. PHP has more information in a blog post linked above.

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/eco-journey/2023/08/15/plan-now-to-attend-oct-28-online-free-climate-ambassador-training/

REMINDER: The Presbyterian Hunger Program is partnering with Blessed Tomorrow to offer a live, virtual Climate Ambassador Training on Oct. 28. The training (from 12-4 p.m. Eastern time) gives participants the knowledge, hands-on experience and resources to speak up about protecting the planet. PHP has more information in a blog post linked above. (Photo by Annette via Pixabay)

There is increasing evidence that US-made microelectronics are being used in Russian weapons systems targeting Ukrainians. Investors, including PCUSA, are engaging these manufacturers. Last week, shareholders voted on a PCUSA proposal at Microchip Technologies, asking the company to commission a report on its customer due diligence processes to "determine whether its customers' use of its products contribute or are linked to violations of international law." The resolution received 16.7% support. PCUSA and other investors will continue engaging companies on these issues: https://www.responsible-investor.com/investors-step-up-engagement-with-semiconductor-firms-over-russian-weapon-systems/

We are seeking a Mission Specialist for Committee Support who will work closely with the Committee on Presbyterian Mission Responsibility Through Investment, the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee, and the Advocacy Committee on Women and Gender Justice:

Job available - immediate employment - Mission Specialist for Committee Support - Presbyterian Church USA - Presbyterian Church USA Immediate employment available at a great company. Job: Provide resource support to the advisory and advocacy committees as well as the Committee on Miss - Presbyterian Church USA

Help shape the design of the PC(USA) website by taking a 10-question survey that will take about 3-5 minutes to complete. Responses are due by August 21 and will serve to shape informed design decisions that will lead to a web experience that meets the needs, values, goals, and expectations of the church.

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/want-a-better-pcusa-web-experience/?fbclid=IwAR37mRqMEF5qGKnZ7BHLL8tPO3NSVCXK4bnNwAObLY-6Hdzz-uhF6yLwGlw

Want a better PC(USA) web experience? Presbyterians are being given an opportunity to have a say in the development of a new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) website. Work has begun on the new project that will incorporate the work of the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Mission Agency and Presbyterian Historical Society, as wel...

A good summary of MRTI's work and successes over the past year.

Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment reports significant wins during this year’s proxy season | Presbyterian Mission Agency As June drew to a close, leaders from the committee tasked with responsible investment for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) report a productive season with several notable achievements.

PCUSA was a co-filer on this resolution, calling for improved worker safety at Dollar General:

Worker Safety Shareholder Proposal Is Approved, Prompting Progress at Dollar General - Domini We joined stakeholders and workers last week at the company’s annual shareholder meeting to advocate for safer working conditions. Learn more about our shareholder proposal and how it will help Dollar General’s workers safety and well-being.

On the 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy, 192 investors, including the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment of the PCUSA, with $1.3T in AUM are calling on companies to prioritize worker safety in global apparel supply chains by accelerating and strengthening their implementation of human rights due diligence 👉https://www.iccr.org/tenth-anniversary-rana-plaza-tragedy-investors-call-companies-prioritize-worker-safety-global

Two members of the Presbyterian Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment, including the vice chair and the chair of the Environmental and Climate Change sub-committee, will be joining this panel on April 16. The discussion on addressing climate change will also be live-streamed.

Environmentalist Bill McKibben will headline ‘Saving the Planet’ panel discussion April 16 at First Presbyterian Church in New York City | Presbyterian Mission Agency In advance of Earth Week 2023, First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York (Old First) is deepening its commitment to environmental stewardship.

A Lenten calendar encouraging us to tread lightly on God's Earth, from our colleagues at Presbyterian Hunger Program.

PHP strives to walk with people in moving towards sustainable choices that restore and protect all of God’s children and creation. As people of faith, we seek to “serve and preserve” God’s world. However, some of our collective choices have led to a changing global climate, which translates to warmer temperatures, rising sea-levels, and severe storms, just to name a few. To turn this tide, we must commit to treading lightly on God’s Earth. In Lent, we slow down, take time, and examine our internal spiritual lives and the way we live out our Christian faith in the world around us. Our hope is that this Lenten calendar will be the beginning of actions intended to create more mindful behaviors throughout the year.
https://www.presbyterianmission.org/resource/tread-lightly-for-lent/

Tell Your Senator to Support the Inflation Reduction Act! On Wednesday, July 27th, 2022, Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced that they had reached a deal in recent negotiations, presenting the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This legislation will “make a historic down...

“Fossil fuel divestment has been one of the more divisive and controversial issues at the past few General Assemblies,” he [Rob Fohr] said in an email. “This year, it passed by almost 90% of the vote. I think this is something the PCUSA has to offer to the broader culture — through robust and transparent processes, differing sides can come together to effect meaningful change.”

Presbyterians to divest from 5 oil companies, including Exxon Mobil, after years of debate (RNS) — Presbyterians have long had ties to the oil industry, as have many other faith groups in the United States. Leaders see this year’s vote as a sign that addressing climate change is gaining momentum.

By a 340-41 margin on Wednesday, commissioners to the 225th General Assembly voted to place five energy companies — Chevron, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66 and Valero Energy — on the General Assembly Divestment/Proscription List “until their actions comply with the General Assembly’s established criteria.”

By a 340-41 margin on Wednesday, commissioners to the 225th General Assembly voted to place five energy companies — Chevron, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66 and Valero Energy — on the General Assembly Divestment/Proscription List “until their actions comply with the General Assembly’s established criteria.”

https://pcusa.org/news/2022/7/6/commissioners-approve-divestment-five-energy-compa/

Presbyterian Mission Responsibility Through Investment

The Environmental Justice Committee of the 225th General Assembly passed the MRTI report. The Committee voted 30-7 to add Chevron, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, and Valero Energy to the General Assembly Divestment/ Proscription list.

Interested in reading more about how ENV-07 "On Fossil Fuel Divestment" and ENV-10 "Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) Response to 223rd General Assembly Directive on Environmental Policy" can both pass during the 225th General Assembly? Check out this op/ed by leaders from Fossil Free PCUSA and MRTI: https://justiceunbound.org/ffpcusa-and-mrti-recommend-united-approach-to-divestment%ef%bf%bc/

Leaders from The Committee on Missions Responsibility Through Investment and Fossil Free PCUSA co-authored an op/ed, discussing a united approach to divestment.
https://justiceunbound.org/ffpcusa-and-mrti-recommend-united-approach-to-divestment%ef%bf%bc/

Leaders from the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) and related Presbyterian Mission Agency staff will hold a town hall to discuss recommendations they are bringing to the 225th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT June 8. (Photo by Edward Howell via Unsplash)

Have questions about MRTI's recommendations to the 225th General Assembly? Join us for a live Town Hall on June 8, 1:00 p.m. ET.

Mark your calendars: Leaders from the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) and related Presbyterian Mission Agency staff will hold a town hall to discuss recommendations they are bringing to the 225th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on June 8. The town hall will air on the PC(USA) YouTube channel. Have a question you'd like to submit for the forum? Leave it in the comments here!

Together, let us pray.

"We hear the cries that this is not enough. We agree. Faithful action across society and institutions is needed to address the existential crisis of climate change. Society’s continuing, profligate use of fossil fuels must be curtailed, even as we call fossil fuel producers to account. Selective divestment, even categorial divestment, alone, is not enough to address the crisis.

Selective divestment, however, is the best tool available to us."

Read more from MRTI chair, Kerri Allen, and vice-chair Lindley DeGarmo.

The Mission Responsibility through Investment Committee clarifies their role in the PC(USA)’s fight against climate change An op-ed by Kerri Allen and Lindley DeGarmo, the chair and vice-chair of the Mission Responsibility through Investment Committee, about the committee's role in a multipronged strategy to halt the impact of climate change.

What happens when the PC(USA) engages an insurance giant on climate change? | Presbyterian Mission Agency The Presbyterian Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) regularly engages corporations in which the church’s entities own stock to persuade them to bring their practices in line with Presbyterian policy on a number of issues.

The first GA Watch is out now! We feature the report from the Committee on Presbyterian Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI). Rob Fohr and Kerri Allen represent MRTI and join us on the podcast! Subscribe at any podcast platform or amatteroffaith.buzzsprout.com

Join us Wednesday at noon ET.