‘We are committed to living into authentic community’

Board of Pensions joins more than 2,000 organizations in unprecedented commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace

by the Board of Pensions | Special to Presbyterian News Service

The Rev. Frank Clark Spencer

PHILADELPHIA — The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has joined a growing coalition pledging to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace.c

The Rev. Frank Clark Spencer, President of the Board, is among more than 2,000 leaders who have come together for CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion. As a pledge signatory, Spencer has reinforced the Board’s commitment to cultivating a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected and employees feel encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion. Listen to Spencer and others talk about the Board’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion here. 

For more than 20 years, the Board of Pensions has far exceeded workforce diversity goals set by the General Assembly of the PC(USA). Additionally, the agency’s Board of Directors reflects diversity in gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity and race. Since February 2020, the staff-run Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Council has guided the Board’s entire workforce in understanding the need for diversity initiatives and inclusive leadership. In October 2021, the Board of Directors adopted six guiding principles developed by the Directors’ DEI task force, which also identified five areas in which to engage the principles: Workforce, Business Partner Selection and Management, Members, Employers and Diverse Constituent Engagement, and Board of Directors. 

“The Board is walking the path of the Church toward diversity, equity, and inclusion and the end of structural racism,” Spencer said. “It is not an easy path. There will be difficult conversations and uncomfortable self-examination. But we are committed to living into authentic community.”  

Organizations joining the pledge are taking a step toward effecting positive change. A diverse and inclusive workforce facilitates community, but also drives innovation and creativity. A study found that 85% of those surveyed reported that diversity is a key component to fostering innovation.  

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion is cultivating a new type of ecosystem centered on collaboration and sharing. The actions, available via CEOAction.com, showcase real-life examples of the open and transparent conversations to cultivate more diverse and inclusive workplace environments. The addition of new signatories expands the impact of this work beyond the office to communities and industries. As an administrator of benefits and services, the Board of Pensions partners with vendors in various industries. The agency hopes that by joining the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion it will continue cultivating diverse and inclusive workplaces in those industries as well as in its own workplace.  

To learn more about the pledge, visit CEOAction.com. The website serves as a hub for information sharing, idea generation, and program development. With more than 1,400-plus best-known actions shared, companies that are not currently implementing the elements of the pledge can use the site to learn from those who are doing so. Learning from, and sharing, actions help companies drive greater engagement within their own programs as well as mentor others on their journey.   

About CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion  

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. Bringing together more than 2,000 CEOs of America’s leading organizations, the commitment outlines actions that participating companies pledge to take to cultivate a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected, employees feel comfortable and encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion, and where best known — and unsuccessful — actions can be shared across organizations. Learn more at CEOAction.com and connect with the organization on Twitter, @CEOAction. 

About the Board of Pensions 

The Board of Pensions is a nonprofit agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that offers robust benefits and services to more than 65,000 individuals who represent PC(USA) churches, agencies, and affiliated employers — including educational institutions, camps and conference centers, retirement and senior housing communities, and human service organizations. As a nonprofit defined by faith, the Board of Pensions supports mutual care and wholeness. The Board has joined a sustainable and churchwide commitment to address racism and systemic injustice. Learn more about that work here.