New resources to highlight importance of ethics for Methodist Church's £1 Billion investments

The Joint Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment (JACEI) has produced a film, leaflet and report highlighting the importance of investing ethically.

The Methodist Church in Britain has around £1 billion of investments which are managed by the Church's Central Finance Board (CFB).

JACEI has been advising the CFB and the Methodist Church on the ethics of investments since it was established in 1983 by the Methodist Conference.

"Investing ethically isn't just about boycotting certain companies," Mr Bill Seddon of the Central Finance Board said. "An important part of investing is using ourposition as investors to hold companies to account and ensure good practise.

"That being said, some companies are incompatible with the beliefs of the Methodist Church, such as those involved with nuclear weapons, which we would either disinvest from or place on an exclusion list."

The Revd John Howard, JACEI Chair added: "It is our hope that in producing this video and report we can engage more people in thinking about the moral issues behind investing and what we do with our money."

Notes:

1. For more information on the work of JACEI and the CFB, please visitwww.methodist.org.uk/JACEI.
2. The Conference is the body that agrees policy for the Methodist Church. It meets annually as a group of 306 representatives, along with a number of ecumenical and World Church associate members. This year's Conference is being held at Central Hall Westminster from 30 June 7 July. For more information, visit the Methodist website.
3. You can watch the Conference live here.
4. Follow the Conference conversation on Twitter via the #methodistconf hastag. Please note that comments and opinions on Twitter and the blog do not necessarily represent the Methodist Church's position.