Here is a closer look at the Church’s investment fund and policies:
Why does the Church of England have an investment fund?
Managed by a body called the Church Commissioners, the investment fund is the modern incarnation of the Church of England’s historic property assets.
The Church Commissioners distribute returns from the fund into the Church of England, accounting for approximately 15% of the Church’s running costs.
It also pays pensions for retired clergy, provides funding for the poorest areas and supports research into how the Church can grow.
What does the Church invest in?
The Church Commissioners body holds stocks in publicly listed companies, including Google owner Alphabet, oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell, pharma firms GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca, and Amazon.
It also has a private equity portfolio and property holdings.
Two of its largest property investments are in the Hyde Park Estate and its 10% stake in the Metrocentre in Gateshead.
How much money does it make?
According to the latest financial report from the Church Commissioners, its £8.3 billion investment fund achieved a return on investments in 2017 of 7.1%.
But that was sharply below the previous year’s 17.1% return and was below a 9.1% target.
It has been struggling in fixed income markets and knocked by the recovery in the pound, which impacted its US dollar-based investments.
Does the…
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