There is a current proposal to establish a permanent structure that would look into areas other than endowment investments, such as where UUA deposits its funds, and whether our bank practices good policies. Other denominations won't invest in companies that invest in gambling, or in prison industry. An audience member asked where the UUA stands right now. A structure was set in place where the Board sets policy for socially responsible investing that the Investment Committee implements. Board policy is primarily based on exclusionary screens, such as tobacco, weapons manufacturers, and blatant labor and environmental abuses.
Many congregations have endowment funds.
Before socially responsible investing, we would pray for peace on Sunday, and invest in war on Monday through Saturdays. There were painful contradictions around espoused values and then what really happened to investment of dollars. In your congregation, ask whether the leaders of the congregation feel that moral imperative to do that kind of examination. Then take steps to make an approach that is sensible and can work. Create a working group that is broadly constituted people from social responsibility, from finance committee, and with investment experience.