CSR within the ELCA Constitution

The Corporate Social Responsibility Program (CSR) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is mandated by the ELCA Constitution:

CODIFICATION EXPLANATION
The provisions of the Constitution, the Bylaws, and the Continuing Resolutions that pertain to the same matter have been placed together. This arrangement requires that the three types of material be identified by means other than physical separation.
The three types of provision are identified by the following devices:
a. All constitutional provision are printed in bold face type.
b. All bylaw provisions are printed in light face type.
c. All continuing resolutions are printed in italic type.
d. A numerical codification indicates general subject, constitutional provisions, bylaw provisions, and continuing resolutions

Chapter 14.
CHURCH COUNCIL

14.21.14 The Church Council, acting through the designated churchwide unit, shall have responsibility for the corporate social responsibility of this church and shall have the authority to file shareholder resolutions and cast proxy ballots thereon on stocks held by the churchwide units that are not separately incorporated. In addition, the Church Council may make recommendations to the churchwide units that are separately incorporated concerning the filing of shareholder resolutions and the casting of ballots on stocks held by those units.

Chapter 17.
SEPARATELY INCORPORATED MINISTRIES
Board of Pensions (Portico Benefit Services)

17.20.B11. The Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the Board of Pensions shall receive advice and counsel from the churchwide organization and, within the context of fiduciary responsibility for ELCA assets, make appropriate recommendations to the board.