An Opportunity to Assist in Bridging the Chasm

By: Pete Baumhefner

Upon retirement in July 2010, a certain part of my brain became free and clear of the clutter associated with a normal 60-hour week business environment!  This void was quickly filled with the concern over the deepening chasm between the “haves” and “have not’s” in our country, state, county and local communities.  I embarked upon a journey to do something about it!

Miraculously, and through the relationship of an already existing bond between Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and ourselves, my wife, Linda, and I were privileged to meet with Joy Anderson and were “exposed” to her ideas around “Church as an Economic Being”.  Through Convergence conversations, association with others who were “on fire” about such opportunities and personal investigation into a broad field of micro-credit and micro-finance processes, my excitement and dedication toward development and support of this movement in my local church congregation took on a whole new momentum!

What better way to address the growing chasm in our local communities?  What better way to make financial resources available to those who might not otherwise have any access to them?  What better way to create opportunities for personal growth and employment for those currently in a rut of seemingly permanent hopelessness and frustration?  What better way to use some of our “traditional” invested dollars?

Along with the interest and support of others in my local congregation, we initiated a small group and called ourselves a “Circle of Caring Investors”.  Our goal is to make available funds to those in our local communities who might not otherwise have access to such funds.  Through an investment in these less fortunate individuals, our aim is to create hope, a sense of caring and responsibility and, ultimately, a job for a less fortunate person.  It’s all about “alternative investing”; using what would otherwise be termed “traditional” investment funds, and turning them toward a tool of personal opportunity.

Our efforts in the “Circle of Caring Investors” are exactly what “Church as an Economic Being” is all about!  Plus, it’s a living example of the “1K Churches” challenge associated with Criterion Institute’s commitment to former President Bill Clinton’s initiative.

Sharing the passion, process, excitement, enthusiasm and what we learn along the way with others is a natural outcome of our work in the “Circle of Caring Investors”.  If we can assist others to develop and implement common approaches toward alternative investing that benefits those who are in need, then we are building the bridge that shortens the distance of the “chasm”, the one thing that every religious tradition has in common!

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