Stewardship is core to how we deliver upon this, combining financial responsibility with the responsibility to shape corporate behaviour and market systems to create long term value and prosperity.
This approach means using ownership rights to support better performance by companies that don’t negatively impact communities and the environment in which they operate. We do this by both engaging with companies directly and by helping to reshape industries and policies that affect the whole financial system. Responsible investment covers every aspect of activity: allocating capital well, selecting and monitoring asset managers, setting and enforcing ethical screens, and engaging on issues such as climate change, human rights, and governance.
By combining these elements, responsible investment aims to deliver sustainable returns for scheme members while reflecting the ethos of the Church of England in practical investment terms.
Listening to our scheme members
Along with engaging Church bodies, such as the Ethical Investment Advisory Group and General Synod, we publish regular updates on our responsible investment work, including through annual benefit statements, our online members portal, and during our annual member webinar. We actively seek feedback on our responsible investment work. In 2024 we also surveyed scheme members, finding:
- 93% expect us to invest with the long-term in mind to deliver pension promises.
- 89% expect us to be a leader in ethical and responsible investment, acting in members’ interests.
- 83% expect us to reflect the Church of England mission and ethos in the way we invest.
Reporting on responsible investment
The Board sets out its approach to responsible investment and stewardship in detail in its annual Stewardship Report.
Stewardship Report
We share how we carefully steward our customer's money, and champion ethical and responsible investment.
