Church as an Economic Being

Faith-based organizations have a role to play shaping our economy and markets, as investors and consumers, and as a voice for social justice, stewardship and hope in a time of challenge.  The visible failings of the traditional investment world have created a new opening to engage in the social capital markets in a way that reflects our principles and responds to a vision of justice in our world.

There are practical challenges inherent in this vision, but there is also significant potential to be unleashed as the faith‐based community engages in the social capital markets.  Churches have been pioneers and prophets in creating economic solutions to presenting needs and have created some of the most important models that exist today: mission investment funds, microfinance, community finance organizations.  In each of these examples, there is abundant hope and evidence for the large scale impact possible when churches engage fully in their economic ministry.

Though the development of a movement of churches engaged in deploying assets, shaping local economic activity and articulating a framework for a just economy, Criterion Ventures aims to catalyze a major force for providing the capital, talent, creativity, values and spirit needed to significantly address pressing social challenges.  A movement will require the input, and ownership, of the faith-based community and the social enterprise and investing communities, and possibly more, as well as active structuring of a market of opportunities. We believe that we will be able to attract such participation and shape the opportunities needed to achieve dramatic results.

To build toward sustained momentum and action, Criterion has outlined four core areas of activity:   

• Messaging:  Promoting the idea
• Leadership:  Forming a cadre of leadership
• Mapping:  Mapping existing activity and building connections
• Intermediaries:  Field building, both on practices and policies, with intermediaries

To learn more about Church as an Economic Being, contact Dawn Thomsen at thomsen[at]criterionventures.com.