Responsible Investing Archives

Investment group meets Detroit residents living in refinery’s toxic shadow

Posted July 3rd, 2019

The siren went off at 3 a.m. Oct. 29. “Anytime you hear the siren, that means there could be an explosion at the refinery,” said Emma Lockridge, whose home is just a few blocks away from the Marathon Petroleum refinery in Southwest Detroit. So, she called Marathon and asked what was going on. “Nothing,” was the reply, though she looked out of her window and saw, “red, billowing smoke.” Lockridge decided to jump into her car and document the event on video, bursts of fire and smoke flaring onto the screen.

Exxon shareholder actions escalate fight for climate accountability

Posted May 13th, 2019

MRTI calls for votes against oil giant after it blocks shareholder proposal By Rich Copley | Presbyterian News Service LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through the Committee on Mission… Read more »

General Assembly directive gives MRTI clear environmental policy guidance

Posted April 29th, 2019

The best way to advocate for change with publicly-traded corporations is to have direct access to high-level leaders, says Rob Fohr, Director of Faith-Based Investing and Corporate Engagement for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Talking race and the environment

Posted March 15th, 2019

To hurt the Earth is to hurt the poor, Gordon Aeschliman wrote in “The Green Bible: Understanding the Bible’s Powerful Message for the Earth.” He added: “It shouldn’t be surprising that creation and justice are inextricably linked” and that to keep the garden, as humans are told to do in Genesis 2, is the same notion as the Numbers 6:24 blessing: The Lord bless you and keep you.

A fact-finding launch

Posted March 13th, 2019

Last week during their first day engaging communities in South Louisiana that were hit hard by natural and human-caused environmental disasters, members of the Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee took a bayou boat ride courtesy of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe.

Engaging the community rather than the corporation

Posted March 11th, 2019

Members of the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) spend much of their time engaging corporations with whom the Board of Pensions and Presbyterian Foundation has about $12 billion invested. Its shareholder engagement process seeks to get companies to comply with General Assembly corporate criteria on environmental responsibility, peace, justice for people of color and for women, and other directives.

MRTI begins next season of engagement with new guidelines

Posted October 19th, 2018

As the Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee (MRTI) gathered here for its first meeting since General Assembly in June, MRTI Vice Chair Kerri Allen opened with a womanist theological reflection on 2 Samuel, exploring the story from the perspective of Rizpah, a concubine of the late Saul.

Both sides on fossil fuel divestment issue look ahead post-GA223

Posted June 26th, 2018

For hours, Fossil Free PCUSA representatives lay scattered across the floor outside of the convention hall at the 223rd General Assembly in St. Louis last week. The “die-in” was in response to the commissioners’ decision to accept a minority report asking the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to continue its engagement with fossil fuel companies.

Walk for a Fossil Free World reaches halfway point to St. Louis

Posted June 11th, 2018

Despite some heat, a few blisters and at least one case of poison ivy, participants in the PC(USA) Walk for a Fossil Free World are encouraged as they enter the final days of their trek to St. Louis. The walk, a joint project of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and Fossil Free PCUSA, began June 1 at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville. It ends June 16 at the start of the 223rd General Assembly.

Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment invests in shareholder advocacy

Posted June 7th, 2018

Presbyterian News Service recently submitted questions to Joseph Kinaird, chair of the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) about the upcoming General Assembly in St. Louis and its continuous discussions with the fossil fuel industry.