Ethical Investment Advisory Group

The Ethical Investment Advisory Group reports to the Provincial Standing Committee and supports the work of the Investment Committee in managing the SEC’s Unit Trust Pool in an ethical manner that aligns with SEC’s Christian beliefs and investment objectives, by developing, reviewing and updating as appropriate the Investment Committee’s Ethical Investment Policy as well as considering current ethical concerns as they become relevant and assessing their potential impact on the Unit Trust Pool’s investments.

Standing Committee

The Group offers advice to Standing Committee on issues such as public policy issues and ethical screening criteria, and has no investment powers.

It has no remit in respect of the SEC Pension Fund and cannot offer advice to individuals or any Vestry about their investments.

The Ethical Investment Advisory Group was appointed following discussions at General Synod 2019.

The relevant motion passed at General Synod 2019 stated that:

• The Ethical Investment Policy be updated to reflect the moral imperative to divest fully from fossil fuels and to extend the list of restricted categories for direct investments and pooled funds;
• Pending agreement of a revised Ethical Investment Policy, the current Ethical Investment Policy be retained; and
• There be formed an Ethical Investment Advisory Group to develop a strategy to enable the SEC to completely disinvest from unethical sources of revenue.”

In 2020 the last direct investment in a company involved in the extraction of fossil fuels was sold and agreements put in place with the Fund Managers to ensure that no further such direct investments are made.

The Policy Framework for Investment in Pooled Funds which was approved by General Synod in June 2021 is available here.

  • Rt Rev the Bishop of Brechin

    Convener

  • Mrs J Benvie

    Church in Society Committee

  • Dr D Bruce

    Ethics Consultant

  • Mr A Everett

    Investment Committee

  • Rev A Fairclough

    Investment Committee

  • Mr A Hunter

    Investment Committee

  • Dr E Poole OBE

    Ethics Consultant

  • Rev S Scott

    Church in Society Committee

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