Cornerstone - What?

What is Cornerstone, and what is Biblically Responsible Investing?

An approach to investing that seeks to honor biblical principles and glorify God in investment decisions.

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We believe the Bible is the inerrant and inspired word of God. While there are some "grey areas" which are matters of conscience, our goal is to work with fund managers who stand strong in areas where the Bible is clear.

The Portfolios

The handout linked below contains basic information about our Cornerstone portfolios. If you are a professional investor and want more detailed information (including information about specific models), please see our Models page. If you are not a professional investor, please talk to your advisor.


There are 3 aspects of company ownership: avoid, embrace, engage (these are the 3 mandates for BRI).

Avoid

CHOOSE not to own companies that do not align with your values

What products/companies should you avoid?

Products or practices that exploit my neighbor

alcohol / tobacco

pornography

corporate discrimination

Products or practices that do not value the life of my neighbor

abortion

poor environment stewardship

Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.
- Proverbs 10:2
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There is no such thing as a perfect company or a perfect screen to identify companies which do not align with Biblical values. The screens in Cornerstone are designed to flag companies who make a significant profit from activities which clearly violate Christian principles.

Embrace

SEEK to own companies that align with your values.

'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

What products/companies should you embrace?

Products or practices that serve your neighbor

fair employment practices

cybersecurity

Products or practices that value the life of your neighbor

life saving medical research

clean energy

Does your portfolio only seek your own good, or the good of others?

Engage

ENGAGE with companies to advocate for positive change.

Christian investors should band together to encourage companies toward positive behaviors and sustainability. It's not our government's job to mandate and protect Christian values. It's Christians' job to spread God's love and God's Word!

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
- Romans 12:2-3
While SEM attempts to fulfill the above mandate to the best of our abilities, we rely on the underlying fund sponsors to perform deeper due diligence to meet their stated Biblically Responsible Investment mandates. No investment approach will be able to exclude all possible areas of conflict as the differences in definitions, as well as the data available, varies.

Spread the word