The General Board is responding to concerns expressed by our participants and others regarding recent reports that we have excluded from investment the securities of five Israeli banks. The General Board is not divesting from Israel. We remain invested in approximately 18 Israeli companies that meet our investment criteria.

This action was in line with a broader excessive sustainability risk policy approved by our Board of Directors in 2014 and implemented throughout 2015. The guideline developed from this policy applies to 14 countries and areas around the world, including the Middle East. We integrated research from an independent and objective third party expert to identify the 39 companies subject to our guideline. Complete details and FAQs are on our website—they provide the intent and scope of our human rights guideline and the implementation results for 2015.

Our actions are fully aligned with resolutions adopted by The United Methodist Church General Conference in 2012.

For complete information and background, please read the facts about our Human Rights Guideline:

• Human Rights Guideline Implementation
• Questions and Answers: Human Rights Guideline