Making £1 billion count - ethical investment discussed at the Methodist Conference

The Methodist Church's ethical investment advisory body hasrevised its position on alcohol, among other issues. The JointAdvisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment (JACEI) advises theChurch's Central Finance Board, which has about £1 billion investedon behalf of Methodist churches and other bodies.

In its report to the Methodist Conference, JACEI said it agreeda new position paper on investment in alcohol-related companies.The paper "reflects changes in the way alcohol is bought andconsumed, [and] recognises that concern has grown in respect of theimpact on children." The CFB will, for example, continue to avoidinvestment in companies whose commercial success is mainly linkedto excessive "volume" drinking. 

The CFB has a policy of active ethical investment, engaging withthe companies in which it invests. It therefore encouragescompanies it invests in to support health awareness campaigns,responsible drinking and to ensure that alcohol is not targeted ator available to those under 18. 

Other issues discussed by JACEI include Israel/Palestine,gambling, greenhouse gases and the living wage. 

The CFB recently adopted a new voting strategy at company AGMsto address executive remuneration, encourage companies to have morewomen to on boards, greater transparency on carbon footprint, andfor employers to pay the living wage.