Author Archives: RFBF

A new article by Ali Aslan Gümüsay, Michael Smets and Tim Morris has been published at the Academy of Management Journal. It is entitled ‘God at Work’: Engaging central and incompatible institutional logics through elastic hybridity and examines how the first Islamic Bank in Germany maintains unity in diversity by forming what the authors call an elastic hybrid that remains resilient despite contradictory beliefs and values that persist over time.

Unity in Diversity

The authors explain that existing approaches to managing hybridity focus on solutions that are organizational, structural and static. These approaches manage institutional tensions on behalf of employees. Yet, where competing values are incompatible and central to both the organization and the fundamental beliefs of its employees, it is impractical for an organization to prescribe how individuals manage them.

Gümüsay and colleagues outline polysemy and polyphony as mechanisms that dynamically engage conflicting logics through an organizational-individual interplay. Borrowing from paradox theory, they explain how hybrids can empower individuals to fluidly separate and integrate logics when neither structural compartmentalizing nor organizational blending are feasible because management cannot prescribe a specific balance of logics. The result is a state of elastic hybridity, constituted through the recursive, multi-level relationship between polysemy and polyphony. Elastic hybrids maintain unity in diversity. Like the bank, they are capable of institutionally bending without organizationally breaking and thus enable individuals to practice more of their personal convictions at work while still experiencing a sense of shared organizational purpose.

Implications for politics

According to the authors, implications for politics can be read in-between the lines. They argue that populists advocate for homogeneity as it reduces complexity, put people into boxes and separate them. Effectively, they compartmentalize societies. In contrast, heterogeneity is much more challenging, but also more rewarding. Heterogeneity is not just blending: people do not become all the same, but they cope with this diversity – with unity in diversity. Societies become elastic, accommodating, and enriched by plurality. For Ali Aslan Gümüsay, this is one of the fundamental social and societal challenges of our time: “Do we embrace the complexity of humankind or do we attempt to reduce it?”

• * Dr. Ali Aslan Gümüsay |University of Hamburg | guemuesay.com | tw: @guemuesay

For more discussion, see When organisational purposes conflict: leading with deliberate vagueness, Oxford University’s Saïd Business School.

Executive Trainings and New Index Prepare Executives for Next D&I Challenge

IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Washington, DC: Feb. 13, 3019

The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation (RFBF), the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute (Religious Freedom Center) and the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding (Tanenbaum) today jointly launched a cutting-edge executive training for mid-level corporate executives by RFBF and the Religious Freedom Center, and a groundbreaking Corporate Religious Diversity Assessment by Tanenbaum and RFBF. Both resources are designed to help companies improve the bottom line by addressing religion at work, and both were piloted with major corporations before being made available to companies across the nation and world today.

“Studies show that the most successful businesses enable employees to bring their full self to work,” RFBF’s president Brian Grim notes. “When employees are comfortable, willing, and able to talk about what is important to them, including their religious beliefs and practices, employers’ benefit.”

In-House Executive Education

RFBF and the Religious Freedom Center are unveiling full and half-day executive seminars and trainings to educate mid-level business leaders on how religion at work impacts the bottom line. Developed by expert faculty, the seminars train participants to understand the positive relationship between religious diversity, inclusion and liberty, and business strategy, talent retention and economic growth.

Kristen Farrington, executive director of the Religious Freedom Center, explains: “Businesses thrive when they’re inclusive and their employees have diverse backgrounds and life experiences, but religious diversity is often undervalued. Our executive training prepares business leaders to navigate these issues so they can create religiously inclusive policies and workplaces where religious diversity is respected.”

Real Measurement Using Corporate Religious Diversity Assessment (CRDA)

To provide clear guidelines and measures of success for global corporations to take action, Tanenbaum and RFBF today launched the Corporate Religious Diversity Assessment (CRDA). The CRDA was inspired by RFBF’s 2016 global Corporate Pledge on Religious Diversity & Inclusion and reflects Tanenbaum’s two decades of work on religion in companies.

It offers global companies a framework for self-evaluation of their current and ongoing religious diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The CRDA evaluation covers four overarching criteria: religious discrimination and harassment; religious accommodation; promoting business goals with freedom of religion and belief; and accommodating religious or belief freedom in society.

Mark Fowler, Tanenbaum’s Deputy CEO and leader of its global Corporate Membership program, explains how the CRDA breaks new ground. “Though more and more companies are addressing religion, the subject is often still taboo. The CRDA provides an answer, with a hands-on approach for tackling religion. By self-assessing, corporate leaders will be able to identify realistic action steps and then reap the benefits.”

# # #

For more information regarding the trainings, please contact Erin Shellenberger (202-292-6372 or eshellenberger@freedomforum.org) of Religious Freedom Center.

For more information or to request a review of the CRDA, please contact Dasha Tanner (212-967-7707 or dtanner@tanenbaum.org) of Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding.

–> Register

Studies demonstrate that employees who can bring their “whole selves” to the workplace perform better in many bottom line key indicator areas. Bringing one’s whole self includes religious identity. Many companies, however, are struggling to navigate religion and beliefs at work.

In fact, 36 percent of American workers — approximately 50 million people — have experienced or witnessed religious discrimination in the workplace, with religious majorities, minorities and non-religious employees all reporting this experience. This has direct impact on employee and company performance. Additionally, while companies have rightly paid significant attention to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, workplace religious discrimination complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) outnumber sexual orientation complaints two-to-one.

Addressing religion and belief in the workplace is the next big focus. Join us Wednesday, Feb. 13 for an in-depth discussion of workplace religion and beliefs and an introduction to resources to help organizations large and small design successful policies and procedures for honoring religion in the workplace.

Business Case for Workplace religious D&I

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Business Case for Workplace religious D&I

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

During this holy time of year, I’ve been reflecting from my faith tradition on what sets me free to work for religious freedom for all. It’s captured in what St. Ignatius called the Magis, doing all for the greater glory of God (ad majorem Dei gloriam) – a motto of many Jesuit institutions. There’s a wonderful poem by Rebecca Rulz who unpacks what this phrase means. You can find it below. Thank you to all for the work you do to advance such religious freedom in your own families, networks and work. Merry Christmas and Happy 2019!

Brian Grim, RFBF President

Living “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” by Rebecca Rulz

• To live Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam is a way of being that permeates every thought, every deed, every action and inaction—all is contemplated and weighed, all for the greater glory of God.

• To live Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam is to lay claim to a legacy of “other-ness” that sets us apart
•      and puts us at ease with any culture or people,
• A completely integrated other-ness that seeks to make all things whole,
• That approaches the liminal without hesitation,
• Finds God in all things,
•      finds the Good in all things,
•      and seeks to proclaim His glory in all that we do.

• It is a heritage of service
•      However, whenever, and wherever needed,
• Of leadership in service
•      To those impoverished in mind, body, and spirit.

• It is a call to respect the dignity of each human,
• The splendor of all creation,
•      unencumbered by societal constructs.

• It is a complete inability to be unaware of injustice
•      or impervious to inequality,
• A Spirit-driven determination to find a way to right the wrongs,
• To lift the downtrodden,
• To bind the wounds,
• To welcome the stranger, the nationless, the outcast,
• To see the humanity in all those discarded by economies and policies.
• To rise to this challenge—for the glory of God alone.

• To offer one’s heart and one’s hands,
• One’s whole self, a Suscipe,
• In desolation and in consolation.
• To give up even liberty
•      for the sake of the love of the other.

• To be held to a higher standard,
• To see through a lens that sees the good and the possible
•      in every impossible situation.

• To be aware of our place as privileged children of a living God
•      who demands only that we abandon all status and privilege.
• To be the voice for the voiceless
• Responding to the call of the Spirit
• One with the harmonious resonance of all creation praising God.

• To seek Him and to find Him in all things, people, circumstances, and places,
• Unafraid to speak Truth to injustice
• To embrace the contradiction of Love
• Clothed in the power
•      of the One who died naked and penniless.

• To be unattached to any outcome except that which God wills,
• Leaving behind comfort zones,
• Releasing the ego into the bosom of the Creator.
• Rooted in the confident security
•      and the joy of knowing Love beyond words.
• Unattached to and surrendered to
•      none but that Love.

• Called together at one table, unity in diversity,
• One family, working together to realize heaven on earth.
• Answering the call to serve and to glorify, in all ways,
• The Love that always finds a way.

by Rebecca Rulz

Launching Leaders Rolls Out Personal Development and Leadership Course to United Religions Initiative Cooperation Circles in Africa

Young adults in Kampala, Uganda, are the first United Religions Initiative (URI) group globally to participate in the Launching Leaders course. Sponsored by URI Cooperation Circles, the course teaches personal development and leadership principles, coupled with individual faith or belief. As Cooperation Circle members of various faith traditions work together developing plans for their lives, interfaith cooperation, understanding, and empowerment are natural products.

“Launching leaders will help the participants as they listen to and learn from each other through sharing purposeful life experiences during the group sessions,” said Kizito Nganda, the local URI facilitator in Kampala. “I believe the mentorship part of the course will inspire and encourage participants to do more with their lives.”

The interfaith Launching Leaders course, offered by Launching Leaders Worldwide, Inc., is a cornerstone of the Empowerment Plus program at Religious Freedom & Business Foundation  (RFBF). RFBF, Launching Leaders and URI have formed a partnership to work together to bring the powerful course initially to young people in Africa. URI is the largest grassroots interfaith peacebuilding network in the world.

The Launching Leaders course has been taught in various parts of the world for multiple years. Roll out for URI is in three URI sub-regions in Africa – Great Lakes, Western Africa, and Southern Africa. Course start-up includes identifying local facilitators, who receive training and all the materials needed to begin – online access to the course and book, a facilitator’s guide, and other support materials.  The course is offered a no charge for URI Cooperation Circle members.

Participants learn both online and in-person, identifying their core values, making plans for their lives, finding and adopting mentors, and learning principles and skills that will help them lead out in their own lives and give back to others. Those who complete the full course receive a certificate from Religious Freedom & Business Foundation and Launching Leaders Worldwide Inc.

Emmanuel Ivorgba, PhD, URI’s Regional Coordinator for West Africa, recently completed the course in advance of introducing it to his region. “The Launching Leaders course is designed in such a way that anybody can benefit from taking it – whether a highly intellectual professor, someone just finishing college, or an individual with little formal education.”

Ivorgba is initially introducing the Launching Leaders course to URI Cooperation Circle members in Abuja, Nigeria, this month. He then intends to roll out the course for Cooperation Circles in Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, and the Ivory Coast.

Despina Namwembe, URI Great Lakes Regional Coordinator, recently introduced the course to URI’s young adult leadership team with members from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.

Southern Africa Regional Coordinator, Karen Barensche, will introduce the course to Cooperation Circles in South Africa and then Malawi.

Ambassador Mussie Hailu, URI Global Envoy and Representative to the United Nations and Continental Director for URI-Africa, introduced RFBF and Launching Leaders to URI, and initiated the global partnership.

“We are anxious to improve the lives of URI Cooperation Circle participants through the Launching Leaders course, and in the process create interpersonal bonds of peace, interfaith cooperation, and understanding,” said Hailu.

For information on starting a Launching Leaders group within a URI Cooperation Circle, please contact: Launching Leaders Executive Director Michael Leonard or URI.

Interfaith Empowerment+ from Religious Freedom & Business Fnd on Vimeo.

by Shirin Taber*

Tunisia is now the front runner in expanding women’s rights and religious liberties among Muslims.  And the world is watching.

In 2017, Tunisia’s President Essibsi celebrated his country’s National Women’s Day calling for a change in the constitution to allow Muslim women to marry non-Muslim men.

Historically, Islam has prohibited Muslim women from marrying men from other faiths, unless they convert to Islam. However, Muslim men are allowed to marry non-Muslims.

President Essibsi called on leaders to make changes to Article 73, arguing that the Tunisian constitution, in its sixth chapter, grants citizens the freedom of belief and conscience.

In his mission to achieve gender equality, President Essibsi also called for amendments to women’s inheritance. According to Islamic law, women inherit only one half of men’s inheritance.

President Essibsi shared, “The state is committed to achieving full equality between women and men … and equal opportunities for them in assuming all responsibilities, as stipulated in Article 46 of the Constitution.”

On November 23, 2018, Tunisia became the first Arab country to achieve gender equality in inheritance, after the Tunisian Cabinet approved a law that would allow men and women to inherit equal amounts, contrary to what is stipulated in the Quran and Islamic world.

Some Muslims object to the new law, claiming it contradicts Quranic verses which state that males should inherit twice the amount as females.

However, President Essibsi shared that citizens should be given the choice to follow Sharia Law in inheritance if they so wish. But not through compulsion or force.

President Essibsi shared that “Tunisia’s Constitution supports a civil country that is based on three elements: citizenship, the will of the people, and the supremacy of law. The rights and duties of Tunisian men and women are equal, and the state is committed to defending women’s rights, and supporting and developing them.”

For the Muslim world, the Quran reads in Sura 2:256, “Let there be no compulsion in religion.” Accordingly, faith under force is not genuine. Therefore, it is never in the public’s interest to force belief on individuals, and restrict their right to question, explore and fulfill their purpose.

The Muslim world is complex, and in growing numbers, Muslims value the ideals of religious liberty and pluralism. Muslims are writing and speaking about Islam and religious freedom.

When women are allowed to exercise freedom of conscience and contribute to the economy, communities experience greater peace and prosperity long term.

Namely, religious freedom, is an antidote to extremism.

* Shirin Taber is director of the Middle East Women’s Leadership Network, and leads Empower Women Media and Film Competition. Contact: Shirin@visualstory.org

Photo Credit: Roya News

Further Reading

– Tunisia becomes first Arab country to approve gender equality in inheritance

– Tunisia’s President calls for legalising interfaith marriage for Muslim women

Enrique Shaw: the Argentine businessman whom Francis may soon beatify

Fernán de Elizalde, an Argentinian businessman and member of the Christian Association of Business Executives (ACDE), told CNA he is “convinced Shaw was a man of outstanding holiness. We’ll probably have in the future the first businessman saint in the world.” Elizalde is also vice postulator – or presenter – of Shaw’s cause for beatification.

CNA also reported an interview with Pope Francis on the Mexican TV station Televisa, in which the Pontiff said, “I’ve known rich people and I’m moving forward with the cause for beatification over there [in Argentina] of a rich Argentine businessman. Enrique Shaw was rich, yet saintly. A person can have money. God gives it to him so he can administer it well. And this man administered it well. Not with paternalism, but by fostering the [personal] growth of people who needed help.”

Enrique Ernesto Shaw (1921 – 1962). Shaw was an Argentine Roman Catholic businessman. He was born in France and later emigrated to Argentina where he served in the marines. He promoted and encouraged business growth in accordance with the social doctrine of the faith and he founded both the Christian Association of Business Executives (ACDE). He was also a prolific writer and published a range of books. His cause of sainthood commenced in 2001 and he has been accorded the title Servant of God to recognize the commencement of the process.

ACDE is an association of business leaders, which aims to become an area of ​​analysis and reflection of the business theme in the light of Christian values; and of action, through its social commitment in a business work governed by ethical principles and at the service of the common good. ACDE is an association of people and not of companies, this being a distinctive element with respect to other organizations.

Writings & Resources by and on Enrique Shaw

Below are links to English versions of a short video introduction of Enrique Shaw and some of his speeches and writings.

– Shaw: Subdue the earth

– Shaw: The Business Company. It’s nature – Goals and economic development

– Shaw: The Mission of Business Executives

– Shaw: Eucharist and Business Life

– Shaw: Memo to staff about work reduction due to lower demand

– Jesuit Business School speech by Dr. Thomas A. Bausch, including support for Shaw’s beatification and canonization

– Pope Francis mentioning Enrique Shaw on EWTN

See recent talk by ACDE member Roberto Murchison at the G20 Interfaith Forum.

¿Que efecto tiene mi espiritualidad sobre mi profesión como empresario?

by Roberto Murchison* (ver versión en inglés)

Resumen de comentarios en 2018 G20 Interfaith Forum, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 26 de septiembre**

Yo creo en un Dios creador del cielo y la tierra y todo lo que hay en ella.  Creo que el hombre ha sido puesto en la tierra para ser co-creador con Dios y para actuar de mayordomo o administrador de su creación.

Esto implica que nosotros no somos los dueños y por ende no podemos hacer lo que se nos ocurre con su creación.  Esto tiene implicancias obvias, como ser el cuidado del medio ambiente o el uso responsable de los recursos naturales, pero también implicancias menos obvias sobre nuestros bienes materiales y en especial las empresas que manejamos.

Hemos sido puestos como dueños o administradores de bienes que si bien nos pueden pertenecer legalmente, en la arena espiritual le pretensen a Dios y por ende su función principal no es satisfacer nuestras ansias materiales egoístas, sino más bien para el bien común de la humanidad y su creación.

A nivel personal, cultivar una espiritualidad, en mi caso cristiana de la rama protestante me ha enriquecido como persona y por ende como empresario.

1.- “Accountability” – rendición de cuentas.

Este termino poco conocido y aplicado en estas latitudes implica que aún siendo dueños tenemos que rendir cuentas y en un punto es un accionista que no solo ve un balance auditado.  Mira las intenciones con que se maneja la empresa, la trasparencia, el cuidado de la gente y a quien no hay cajones donde esconder las cosas.  Es como un chofer con cuadernos sentado en el escritorio de uno.

2.- Ama a tus enemigos.

Este es un aspecto muy complicado para mi.  En el ámbito empresarial uno muy seguido se cruza con “enemigos”, gente que quiere que las cosas sean distintas a lo que uno le parece deberían ser.  A veces cosas o propuestas que son deshonestas, pero otras que son honestas pero que a uno no le gusta como ser negociaciones gremiales, licitaciones, competidores que mejoran precios, etc, etc y uno debe desarrollar una actitud de no odiar a esas personas.  Este concepto se da a patadas con las escuelas de negocios o culturas empresariales basadas en la estrategia de guerra.

3.- Ama a tu prójimo como a ti mismo.

Concepto común a casi todas las religiones del mundo.  Siendo un ingeniero y de origen familiar sajón, todos los temas emocionales son un aprendizaje para mi.  La espiritualidad me ha ayudado mucho en este aspecto de mi vida y mi labor como empresario.  Entender más y mejor al ser humano.  Por un lado conociéndome a mi mismo mejor para poder conocer al otro.

4.-  En el mundo de Dios no hay jerarquías ni discriminación.

Para Dios no hay personas más valiosas o importantes que otras.  La Biblia, tanto en el antiguo testamento como en el nuevo en la época de Jesús tiene sobrados ejemplos en que Dios muestra el valor que le da a las personas independientemente de su origen, genero, status social, etc.

Esto ha tenido dos implicancias a nivel personal. Por un lado el desarrollo de la humildad, no necesariamente en la modestia sino en una visión más profunda de entender que todos en la empresa somos importantes independientemente del trabajo que nos toca hacer. El otro aspecto tiene que ver con trabajar para eliminar los preconceptos que tenemos todos nosotros que hacen que consciente o inconscientemente discriminemos de alguna forma, ya sea por genero, educación o lo que fuese.

5.- Entender que Dios esta en control.

Este es un aspecto muy importante en Argentina.  Ser empresario aquí puede ser muy insalubre si uno se toma pecho todos los va y vienes de la economía y su impacto en las empresas.  Me he preocupado de tantas cosas que luego no ocurrieron y he confiado tanto en cosas que finalmente no sucedieron que humildemente he llegado a la conclusión que hay que hacer lo mejor que uno puede, pero luego hay que confiar en que las cosas pasan como Dios quiere y debemos en un punto aceptar su soberanía si es para bien o para mal.

Pregunta 2

Luego, yendo de lo personal a lo general hablarían de como la fe y la ética que viene de la religión debería impactar o guiar la economía.

En primer lugar no estoy seguro que la ética viene de la religión, creo que viene de la espiritualidad y de tener una relación personal con Dios.  Yo no soy cristian porque obedezco a Dios, sino porque soy Cristiano quiero obedecer sus preceptos.

Cada vez más creo en el impacto que podemos tener en nuestro metro cuadrado.  El efecto contagio que tiene tener una actitud positiva, amable o de perdón sobre las personas que están a nuestro alrededor. Es como la Cadena de los Favores en la película Pay it Forward.

Occidente esta en el problema que esta porque en general las sociedades le han dado la espalda a Dios y por ende no hay voluntad de obedecer sus preceptos.

Pregunta 3

La última pregunta sería como pasarías estos valores religiosos/éticos en los negocios a las siguientes generaciones.

La única manera de pasar los preceptos y valores a la próxima generación es viviendolos en carne propia.  Por suerte vivimos en una sociedad mucho más transparente, se sabe todo y hoy los chicos o las próximas geenraciones ven a través de las paredes, saben medir mucho mejor que nosotros las intenciones.  NO sirve más predicar los valores, se vivien o no exiten.

En palabras de San Francisco de Asís, “predica todo el tiempo predica y si hace falta usa palabras.”

* Roberto Murchison es el CEO de Grupo Murchison, dedicado a las actividades portuarias y logísticas en Argentina. Es el presidente de Terminal Zárate, vicepresidente de Murcan y director general de Murchison Uruguay. También es el presidente de Cámara de Puertos Privados y Comerciales (CPPC). Es un ingeniero industrial formado en el Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA) y tiene una maestría en administración de empresas de la Sloan School of Management del Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT – Boston, EE. UU.) Murchison forma parte del consejo asesor de la Asociación Cristiana de Direigentes de Empresa (ACDE). 

** El Foro interreligioso del G20 tuvo lugar desde el 26 al 28 de septiembre de 2018 en Buenos Aires bajo el lema “Construir un consenso para un desarrollo justo y sostenible. Contribuciones religiosas para un futuro digno”. ACDE participó en la sesión paralela sobre “Fe y finanzas: compromisos y contribuciones religiosas” que se realizó el día miércoles 26 de septiembre por la tarde en el Hotel Sheraton Buenos Aires. Compartieron el panel Roberto Murchison, CEO del Grupo Murchison, junto a Federico Quintana, vicepresidente de ACDE. Ofició de moderador Brian Grim, Presidente de la Religious Freedom and Business Foundation de Estados Unidos. El objetivo de este panel fue reflexionar sobre los desafíos prácticos que se plantean al vivir la espiritualidad en coherencia con la profesión empresaria.

What effect does my spirituality have on my profession as an entrepreneur?

by Roberto Murchison* (see original in Spanish)

Summary of comments at 2018 G20 Interfaith Forum, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept. 26**

I believe in a God who is creator of heaven and earth and everything in it. I believe that man has been put on earth to be co-creator with God and to act as steward or administrator of his creation.

This implies that we are not the owners and therefore we cannot do what we wish with the creation. This has obvious implications, such as caring for the environment or responsible use of natural resources, but also less obvious, it has implications for our material assets and especially the companies we manage.

We have been placed as owners or administrators of goods that, although they may belong to us legally, in the spiritual arena they belong to God and therefore their main function is not to satisfy our selfish material yearnings, but rather their purpose is for the common good of humanity and creation.

Implications of Faith for My Work

On a personal level, cultivating a spirituality, in my case being a Protestant Christian, has enriched me as a person and therefore as an entrepreneur. This spirituality has implications for me as an entrepreneur in five areas.

1. “Accountability” – rendering of accounts

This little known and applied term in these latitudes implies that even though we are owners we have to render an account and at one point it is a shareholder that not only sees an audited balance. Look at the intentions with which the company is handled, the transparency, the care of the people and to whom there are no drawers where to hide things. It’s like a driver with notebooks sitting at one’s desk.

2. Love your enemies

This is a very complicated aspect for me. In the business world one often comes across “enemies”, people who want things to be different from what they think they should be. Sometimes things or proposals that are dishonest, but others that are honest but that one does not like such as trade negotiations, bids, competitors that improve prices, etc, etc and one must develop an attitude of not hating those people. This concept is kicked out with business schools or business cultures based on the strategy of war.

3. Love your neighbor as yourself

Concept common to almost all religions of the world. Being an engineer and of Saxon family origin, all the emotional topics are a learning for me. Spirituality has helped me a lot in this aspect of my life and my work as an entrepreneur. Understand more and better the human being. On the one hand knowing myself better to know the other.

4. In God’s world there are no hierarchies or discrimination

For God there are no people more valuable or important than others. The Bible, both in the old testament and in the new one in the time of Jesus, has many examples in which God shows the value he gives to people regardless of their origin, gender, social status, etc.

This has had two implications on a personal level. On the one hand the development of humility, not necessarily in modesty but in a deeper vision of understanding that everyone in the company is important regardless of the work that we have to do. The other aspect has to do with working to eliminate the preconceptions that we all have that make us consciously or unconsciously discriminate in some way, be it by gender, education or whatever.

5. Understand that God is in control

This is a very important aspect in Argentina. Being an entrepreneur here can be very unhealthy if one takes a bite all goes and comes from the economy and its impact on companies. I have worried about so many things that did not happen then and I have relied so much on things that finally did not happen that I have humbly come to the conclusion that you have to do the best you can, but then you have to trust that things happen as God wants. and we must at one point accept their sovereignty if it is for good or for bad.

How Religious Ethics Relate to the Economy

Then, going from the personal to the general, how should faith and ethics that comes from religion impact or guide the economy?

First of all, I’m not sure that ethics comes from religion, I think it comes from spirituality and having a personal relationship with God. I am not a Christian because I obey God, but, because I am a Christian, I want to obey his precepts.

Increasingly I believe in the impact we can have on our square meter. The contagious effect of having a positive, kind or forgiving attitude on the people around us. It is like the Chain of Favors in the movie Pay it Forward.

The West has the problem that is because in general societies have turned their backs on God and therefore there is no will to obey its precepts.

Passing Spiritual Values to the Next Generation

The last question to cover is how I would pass these religious / ethical values in business to the next generations.

The only way to pass the precepts and values to the next generation is to live them in the flesh. Luckily we live in a much more transparent society, we know everything and today the kids or the next generations see through the walls, they know how to measure intentions better than we do. It is of no use to preach values; they must be lived or they do not exist.

I’d like to conclude with the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”

* Roberto Murchison is CEO of Grupo Murchison, dedicated to port and logistic activities in Argentina. He is the President of Terminal Zárate, Vice-President of Murcan, and managing director of Murchison Uruguay. He is also the President of Cámara de Puertos Privados y Comerciales (CPPC). He is an industrial engineer educated at Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA) and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Sloan School of Management of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT – Boston, USA). Murchison is on the advisory board of Asociación Cristiana de Direigentes de Empresa (ACDE).

** The G20 Interfaith Forum took place from 26-28 September 2018 in Buenos Aires under the slogan “Build a consensus for fair and sustainable development. Religious contributions for a dignified future “. ACDE participated in the parallel session on “Faith and finances: commitments and religious contributions” that took place on Wednesday, September 26 in the afternoon at the Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel. The panel was shared by Roberto Murchison , CEO of the Murchison Group, together with Federico Quintana , vice president of ACDE, and moderated by Brian Grim, President of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation of the United States. The objective of this panel was to reflect on the practical challenges that arise when living spirituality in coherence with the business profession.