During that decade, a series of social and environmental movements from civil rights and women's rights, to the anti-war and environmental movements, served to escalate awareness around issues of social responsibility. These concerns also broadened to include management and labor issues, and anti-nuclear sentiment. In the late 1970s, the concept of social investing began attracting a considerably larger group of American investors, due in large part, to concerns about the racist system of Apartheid in South Africa. The General Board has history of successful corporate actions beginning in the 1970s and continuing to this day. We recognize that every investment has ethical dimensions.
Financial investments have consequences which are both fiscal and social.
We believe social justice and social usefulness must be given consideration, together with financial security and financial yield, in the investment of funds by United Methodist Church agencies, affiliated institutions, congregations and individual United Methodists.