wfn.org | ABCUSA: COWDEN TO CHAIR ICCR BOARD

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

COWDEN NAMED BOARD CHAIR OF INTERFAITH 
CENTER ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
 The Rev. Dr. Margaret Ann Cowden, treasurer and 
chief financial officer of National Ministries/The American 
Baptist Home Mission Societies, has been named chair of 
the governing board for the New York-based Interfaith 
Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR).  The Home 
Mission Societies are a founding member of the 30-year 
old organization, which has been a leader in the corporate 
social responsibility in investments movement.  Cowden, a 
commissioned American Baptist home missionary, has 
served on the ICCR Board since 2000. 
 As an association of more than 275 Protestant, 
Roman Catholic and Jewish institutional investors, 
including denominations, religious communities, pension 
funds, dioceses and health care corporations, ICCR utilizes 
members' corporate holdings to advocate for just and 
environmentally responsible business policies and 
practices.  ICCR members also make alternative 
investments to promote economic justice and development 
in low-income and minority communities.  The combined 
portfolio value of ICCR's member organizations is 
estimated to be $110 billion.
 Through ICCR religious investors challenge 
companies to be good corporate citizens on issues such as 
working conditions, energy and the environment, 
landmines, U.S. and foreign debt, access to healthcare, 
executive compensation, equality issues and the 
promotion of tobacco.  The coalition contributed 
significantly to the economic isolation of South Africa and 
subsequent end to apartheid by convincing more than 160 
U.S. corporations to sell their South African assets.
 Commenting on Cowden's new role on the ICCR 
Board, Executive Director Patricia Wolf said: "The 
American Baptist Home Mission Societies have been a vital 
part of ICCR and part of ICCR's history of 
accomplishments.  Dr. Cowden will continue that tradition.  
She brings several sources of wisdom to us-her 
grounding in faith and theology, her commitment to 
justice, her expertise in strategic planning, her strength in 
finance and her ability to bring people together.  ICCR is 
fortunate to have a leader like Dr. Cowden as chair of our 
governing board."     
 As the chief financial officer for National Ministries 
Cowden oversees the organization's Common Investment 
Fund, which has operated successfully and in accordance 
with socially responsible guidelines since 1971.  The fund 
allows American Baptist churches and related 
organizations to participate. 
 Prior to her post as National Ministries treasurer 
Cowden served as president of The American Baptist 
Extension Corporation.  She previously was deputy 
executive director with The Ministers and Missionaries 
Benefit Board.  Cowden earned a Ph.D. from Temple 
University, Philadelphia, Pa., and holds an M.Div. from 
American Baptist Seminary of the West, Covina, Calif.  She 
is a graduate of programs of the Harvard Graduate School 
of Business, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., and 
Columbia Business School, Columbia University, New York 
City.

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