PHOENIX — GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins delivered the
93rd annual report of the financial services organization to messengers of the
2011 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting June 14-15 at
the Phoenix Convention Center.
Despite the current economy, which continues to struggle since the 2008-09
economic downturn, GuideStone has had one of its greatest investment years
ever, receiving favorable recognition from industry firms like Lipper and
fi360, Hawkins said.
For example, fi360 recently ranked GuideStone Funds eighth out of 224 fund
families. The fi360 Fiduciary Score evaluates investments on nine different
criteria to determine if the investment meets a minimum fiduciary standard of
care. Fund families also must contain at least five distinct funds with a
three-year history to be considered in the report.
Additionally, Hawkins reported on GuideStone’s ongoing activities to ensure
compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Hawkins
emphasized that GuideStone already meets many of the health care act’s
requirements, including no lifetime or annual caps on insurance coverage.
GuideStone has never canceled anyone’s insurance coverage, except for
non-payment of premiums, Hawkins said.
Photo by Bill Bangham O.S. Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources, gives a report during the morning session June 15 of the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting at the Phoenix Convention Center. |
Turning to GuideStone’s new property and casualty insurance, Hawkins noted that
the organization is licensed to provide coverage in 49 states and expects to be
licensed in all 50 states in the near future. “So many churches trust
GuideStone for retirement and insurance coverage, making the property and
casualty coverage a natural fit for many churches,” Hawkins said.
In addition to GuideStone’s financial products and services, Hawkins noted the
continued success of Mission:Dignity, a ministry providing ongoing financial
support for retired Southern Baptist ministers and their widows who are in
need.
Through Mission:Dignity, GuideStone Financial Resources assists approximately
2,000 retired Southern Baptist ministers and widows who have critical financial
needs. Most of these served small congregations in decades past with little, if
any, contributions toward a retirement plan.
Sixty percent of Mission:Dignity recipients are widows. One out of every four
recipients is a pastor’s widow age 85 or older. Qualified recipients are
eligible for grants of $200 to $530 each month.
The Mission:Dignity program is funded by gifts from individuals, Sunday School
classes and churches across the Southern Baptist Convention. Gifts of any size
are welcome and 100 percent of contributions are paid out in grants, with
nothing taken out for administrative expenses. Guidestone, which receives no
Cooperative Program gifts, has raised $60 million over the last decade for this
initiative.
Hawkins invited messengers to encourage their churches to join GuideStone in
celebrating Mission:Dignity Sunday, scheduled for June 26.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Hayhurst is editorial services manager for
GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For a full
report on GuideStone’s investment performance, visit www.GuideStone.org and
click on the “News Room” link at the bottom of the page. Through
Mission:Dignity Sunday — June 26 on the SBC calendar — churches can learn more
about this ministry. To order free bulletin inserts and a DVD for use in
worship services, Sunday School departments or mission-oriented organizations,
visit www.MissionDignitySBC.org/ORDER or call 1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433).)