GuideStone Financial Services

GuideStone Financial Services is an investment company located in Dallas, Texas. It provides insurance and retirement products to Christian individuals and organizations.

It started in 1918 as the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Even though it is still owned and operated by the SBC, it does not limit its offerings to Southern Baptist churches and members, but to any church or individual wishing to purchase its products.

Because it is a "faith-based" investment firm, it "does not invest in any company that is publicly recognized as being in the alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pornography or abortion industries or any company whose products, services or activities are publicly recognized as being incompatible with the moral and ethical posture" of the company. However, it considers its determination of such to be a proprietary secret. (Unlike some "faith-based" firms which do not invest in companies that manufacture products for the military, GuideStone invests in defense contractors, as can be seen in its annual reports which list its investments.)

In addition it operates a charitable fund, Mission:Dignity, which provides additional funds to pastors, spouses, and widows, mainly those who served in smaller congregations that could not provide a full retirement pension.

## External Links[edit]

* GuideStone
* Mission:Dignity