“We Advocate Freedom!” Teach-In Series // Session 4

In these times of significant division and conflict, we bear the responsibility to find meaningful ways to engage in conversations about challenging and complex issues. Iliff is responding to the current moment with the “We Advocate Freedom!” Teach-in Series, a five-session series starting on Thursday, June 27th. This series aims to create a space where we can come together in-person and remotely to discuss and navigate these important topics together.

Session 4: UMC Social Principles and the Impact of Socially Responsible Investments

Wealth management requires focused and sustained attention to follow market trends and to determine the levels of risk one wants to engage in when managing one’s financial portfolio.  Knowing where, when, and how to invest to achieve generational financial security is rarely a matter of choosing one company with a single product in which one buys stock.  This session has been designed to present the fundamentals of investing and financial management.  As a theological school of the United Methodist Church, we do not simply rely on our moral conscience when planning our investment strategies.  We are guided by a policy of social principles that encourages us to do no harm.  Guest speakers will review the fundamentals of endowments, investing, and social responsibility for managing our financial portfolio.  After a time of presenting Trustees’ fiduciary responsibilities and accountabilities, our speakers will engage in Q&A.

In addition to the in-person event at Iliff, which you can register for using this link, attendees can participate via Zoom by registering at this link.

Date & Time

• October 10, 2024
• 6:00 pm MST – Refreshments & Registration at Iliff / Zoom room opens
• 6:30-8:00 pm MST – Teach-in
• In-person at Iliff, Shattuck Hall, and on Zoom

Facilitated By

Dr. Lee H. Butler, Jr.

Speakers

Barbara Boigegrain
Treasurer of the Iliff School of Theology Board of Trustees

Barbara Boigegrain serves as Treasurer of the Iliff School of Theology Board of Trustees.  Before retirement, she served the United Methodist Church for 27 years as the CEO of Wespath Benefits & Investments, the nation’s largest faith-based pension and investment organization. As CEO and General Secretary of Wespath, Barbara oversaw all fiduciary services and administrative operations of the General Board, which has approximately $20 billion in assets under management.  She set business and growth strategy, oversaw the implementation of the organization’s business plan and annual budget, and maintained the denominational and board of directors’ relationships.  Prior to joining the General Board, Barbara enjoyed an 11-year consulting career with Towers Perrin (now Towers Watson), a global human resources management consulting firm. She established the company’s San Diego office in 1990 and managed a broad client base, including many of the area’s leading corporations and nonprofit organizations.

Meredith Wilson Parfet
Vice-Chairperson of the Iliff School of Theology Board of Trustees. 

Meredith Wilson Parfet serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Iliff School of Theology Board of Trustees.  An accomplished investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, she has nearly two decades of asset management and hedge fund experience, including acting as the Chief Operating Officer for two alternative investment funds. She also co-founded Denali Venture Philanthropy, an investment organization that funds entrepreneurs who are committed to social change.  Meredith has led organizations of all sizes, from small start-ups to complex, global operations.  Meredith holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, an MA in Spiritual Care from the Iliff School of Theology, and a BA in Political Science from Northwestern University.  She is a certified End of Life Doula as well as a practicing Hospice Chaplain.

Lucas Schoeppner
Manager, Wespath Benefits and Investments

Lucas Schoeppner is a manager at Wespath Benefits and Investments, the nation’s largest faith-based pension and investment organization.  Wespath works in the service of the United Methodist Church.  He manages the investment stewardship and engagement activities of Wespath.  Along with Wespath subsidiaries’ investment programs, Lucas supports their efforts to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk consideration into the investment selection and decision-making process.  Before Wespath, Lucas served as a director on the Catholic Responsible Investments team at Christian Brothers Investment Services.  There, he was responsible for projects focused on quantitative ESG scoring models, screening and sub-adviser due diligence. Prior to Christian Brothers Investment Services, Lucas was sector manager and lead analyst of Sustainalytics’ oil and gas research.  Lucas earned a B.A. in journalism from Northeastern University.  In 2013, he was selected for the Fulbright “U.S. Young Journalists” research grant.