ABHMS shares proxy voting guide for socially responsible investing

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 2/21/17)—As part of its Socially Responsible Investing ministry and in time for the 2017 proxy voting season, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) shares the “2017 Proxy Resolutions and Voting Guide” from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR).

“Faith-based investors must exercise their proxy-voting rights to influence corporations to adopt socially responsible policies,” says Michaele Birdsall, ABHMS deputy executive director, chief financial officer and treasurer. “Proxy voting is an important way to advocate for such issues as environmental protection, sustainability and consumer protections.”

The guide features information about ICCR member-sponsored shareholder resolutions, including those regarding methane emissions, greenhouse gas reduction, food and beverage packaging, and minimum wage reform.

“Via proxy voting, shareholders play an important role as advocates for a better world,” says Dave L. Moore Jr., ABHMS director of investments.

To access the guide, visit www.abhms.org > Ministries > Socially Responsible Investing, and scroll to “Resources” near the bottom of the page. Also available under “Resources” is ABHMS’ “Revised Guidelines Relating to Social Criteria for Investments,” which outlines corporate securities in which ABHMS does not invest, including those related to tobacco, gambling and pornography.

ABHMS is a founding member of ICCR.

Celebrating its 46th year, ICCR is the pioneer coalition of shareholder advocates who view the management of their investments as a catalyst for social change. Its 300-member organizations comprise faith communities and other socially responsible investors who work in coalition to promote greater corporate accountability on issues of environmental and social importance.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists in answering God’s call to promote Christian faith across the United States and Puerto Rico to cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and heal and transform communities, by developing aligned action networks and programs.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.