tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post3259131925007726962..comments2024-03-29T04:31:15.219-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Thrivent Financial for. . . whom?Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-55846108508605612562012-09-07T18:25:40.637-05:002012-09-07T18:25:40.637-05:00Thrivent's fund advisor will vote the shares i...Thrivent's fund advisor will vote the shares in your Thrivent mutual funds in a pro-homosexual manner:<br /><br />"On behalf of our shareholders, Calvert Funds generally vote our proxies in accordance with the positions set forth in these Proxy Voting Guidelines (“the guidelines”)....Shareowner resolutions have also been filed asking companies to extend non-discrimination policies to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees....<br /><br />The Fund advisor will ordinarily support proposals asking companies to include language in EEO statements specifically barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and gender identity and/or expression, and to report on company initiatives to create a workplace free of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression.<br /><br />The Fund advisor will ordinarily support proposals seeking reports on a company’s initiatives to create a workplace free of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and/or<br />expression.<br /><br />The Fund advisor will oppose proposals that seek to eliminate protection already afforded to gay,<br />lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees." <br /><br />https://www.thrivent.com/insurance/autodeploy/Thrivent_Series_Fund_SAI.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-68676302406314342442012-08-31T22:34:24.641-05:002012-08-31T22:34:24.641-05:00Thrivent Choice has been a big disappointment. The...Thrivent Choice has been a big disappointment. The company used to match gifts members made to churches and schools (up to a certain amount). But evidently not enough members asked for matching funds to satisfy the government. So the company replaced it with Thrivent Choice, where members are allotted a certain number of dollars to allocate to charity based on the amount they have invested in the company.<br /><br />Perhaps the system makes financial sense, but it puts poorer folk at a disadvantage. They have less to invest in insurance and other products, so they are given fewer dollars to allocate to charities.<br /><br />The old system was a great way for pastors and other church workers, who tend to have lower incomes, to really help churches and schools they cared about, as it was not hard to get a $600 match from Thrivent. But now a church worker might have only $15 or $20 to allocate. The effect is to increase the clout of the wealthy, who already have a great deal of power in the church and society.Joe Herlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-24212009577161273552012-08-31T20:40:03.646-05:002012-08-31T20:40:03.646-05:00It is not Thrivent (absurd name!) alone that suffe...It is not Thrivent (absurd name!) alone that suffers from a lack of a true fraternal spirit these days. It is but one more organization entrapped by the spirit of the age. It is not they who are solely to blame; rather it is we who continue to invite and welcome them into our parishes even after we have duly noticed their shift in priorities. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-23294284803442892412012-08-31T14:18:05.479-05:002012-08-31T14:18:05.479-05:00Faith based in what sense? Well, I guess since it...Faith based in what sense? Well, I guess since it was begun as a fraternal organization, that is, Lutheran was the requirement before obtaining the services, then, I guess faith based. But I get your point. It was created as a true fraternal with Lutheran people bonding together to provide for themselves without accessing the marketplace. Alas, what it was, it is no longer. BTW the same rationale in the comment above could be used to make the Lutheran Church Extension Fund compete with Bank of America or some other big bank. I don't buy that these are like their secular counterparts but I am not sure I buy that they are faith based either. Somewhere in between???Lutheran Lurkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-34437293009584184952012-08-31T12:36:56.419-05:002012-08-31T12:36:56.419-05:00Thrivent has never been a "faith-based" ...Thrivent has never been a "faith-based" organization, unless you mean faith in the almighty dollar. They have used this marketing ploy to get access to congregations and "make my Father's house a house of trade." The money they contributed to congregations was a government requirement. If you want to buy insurance, fine. But if Thrivent gets free access to a church's publications, give American Family, State Farm, etc. the same free access.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-17797170472813442582012-08-31T09:34:41.865-05:002012-08-31T09:34:41.865-05:00Not in an ecumenical mood today, I see? (grin) Wel...Not in an ecumenical mood today, I see? (grin) Well, I you certainly cannot be exclusive and inclusive at the same time.<br /><br />Fr. DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com