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Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church

Ethics

Balancing
opportunity with integrity

The CFB is committed to seeking both superior returns and improving ethical standards.

Positive approach

We seek to improve the ethical profile of our portfolios by avoiding investments in particular businesses and encouraging better practices in others.

Company engagement

We view our investments as long term partnerships with company managements. We engage in constructive dialogue and practise active voting to challenge social, environmental and ethical considerations.

Integrated process

Ethical research integrated with financial analysis is key to our investment process. Fund managers are responsible for both financial and ethical analysis.

Clear policy

Comprehensive policy statements and position papers offer a reference for clients and a clear focus for fund managers.

Theological grounding

The Joint Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment provides a unique and robust mechanism for testing ethical investment decisions against theological principles.

Quarterly review
September 2023

MJ Gleeson

One of our fund managers was invited to visit one of its sites on the outskirts of the former mining village of New Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, to inspect the quality of homes being constructed and learn about the positive impact this was having on the area.

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Ten Entertainment

Epworth has enhanced its engagement efforts with Ten Entertainment Group, the 2nd largest ten-pin bowling company in the UK. Initiatives to further improve the rates of recycling around the business include new training given to staff on separating rubbish, who are now proactively taking responsibility and clearing away customer’s areas to ensure those who know how to properly dispose of the waste do so. They have also partnered with a waste management company with the view to improve the process of their waste removal and avoid it going to landfill.

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Greggs

Greggs recently became an investee company of Epworth, and during the process of assessing the company, our research has brought to view plenty of reasons as to why this allocation fits well within our values. The company offers a lot of positive ethical characteristics through its efforts to reduce food poverty, cutting food waste and packaging, sourcing sustainably and promoting healthy eating.

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More quarterly reviews

Voting

Reports

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September
2023
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June
2023
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March
2023
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December
2022

Policy

Voting policy →

Serving
the Methodist Church

The Joint Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment (JACEI) provides CFB with advice on ethical issues and reports to the Methodist Conference on CFB compliance with the aims and objectives of the Church.

JACEI Report

The JACEI Report is produced for the Methodist Conference outlining its activities each year. An abbreviated version is also produced. Together they provide a comprehensive survey of the issues that we have addressed...

Joint Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment Report 2023 Joint Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment Report 2022 Joint Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment Report 2021

The Climate emergency

Evidence continues to mount that the Earth is warming and yet greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.

Read the CFB and JACEI's response →

PRI Assessment Report 2020

As a PRI Signatory (Principles for Responsible Investment), we are pleased to announce that we attained the highest rating of A+ for our overall Strategy and Governance in the 2020 PRI Assessment Report. In fact, we scored above the median rating in all categories and are proud to share our latest report.

Read the report →

Working
in partnership

Carbon Disclosure Project Church Investors Group IIGCC, Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change Access to Medicines Index Access to Nutrition Index FAIRR ECCR, The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility EITI< The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Institutional Shareholder Services Sustainalytics TRUCOST UNPRI UKSIF Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare, BBFAW

Active membership of global networks and partnerships provide a powerful united voice when dealing with multinational corporations and assist us and our clients to make informed ethical investment decisions.

The Stewardship Code

The CFB supports investor engagement with companies and is a signatory to the Financial Reporting Council's Stewardship Code.

Read our detailed 2022 Stewardship Report in response to the 2022 Stewardship Code.

Montréal Pledge

The CFB is a signatory of the Montréal Carbon Pledge and is committed to a voluntary disclosure of the results. Read the CFB's Montréal Pledge Disclosure.

Have your say...

Our ethics are based on Methodist Church principles. We welcome feedback on an ethical issue. If you would like to discuss these please contact the Chair of JACEI Stephen Wigley on 020 7467 5245.