Christians encouraged to think about where their money goes

The Christian Socialist Movement is challenging churches and Christians to think about where they are putting their money.

CSM has launched a new campaign calling on people to think about whether their investments and choice of bank reflect their core values.

The "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" campaign is asking people to explore ethical banking and investment options that would allow their investments to "work for the common good, rather than for fast profit".

The campaign draws inspiration from churches in the US that are already re-investing in a thoughtful way, and the "Move Your Money" campaign asking people to switch from banks with unethical banking policies.

According to the Think Progress blog, US churches moved $55 million away from Wall Street banks in the run-up to Thanksgiving last year and pledged to move at least $100 million more.

CSM wants to see a shift in attitudes similar to that prompted by the Fairtrade movement, which encouraged people to think about the welfare of farmers and others - many in developing countries - further down the production process.

The organisation said that while financial transactions should be “built on relationships”, the relational aspect was being “slowly but surely driven out” of financial transactions.

CSM Director Andy Flannagan said, “Why do we believe that when we give money to charity it is our money feeding the poor in say, Rwanda, but when we invest in stocks and shares, it is not our money that may be exploiting natural resources in the developing world, or exploiting people working in poor conditions for little pay?

“Being separated by a few links in the chain does not remove us from responsibility.”

In the coming months, CSM is also looking to campaign more vigorously for a cap on interest rates, curbs on doorstep lending, and a living wage.