Moravian Church Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Moravian Church Foundation is a non profit foundation connected with the Moravian Church. Its head office is in Amsterdam
.
as unsupported missionaries. To earn a living they practiced their craft, using their free time for their missionary work.
The business activities of C. Kersten & Co prospered and became one of Surinam's largest commercial enterprises, generating employment and profits.
The profits were used to establish other Moravian Church businesses in the Caribbean and Europe. All the businesses were eventually transferred to the Moravian Church Foundation and are now used to finance church work and social and community projects on several continents.
The foundation is staffed and run by professional business and finance people. Its board of directors must include four elected from the church's provinces and who are particularly concerned with the ethical conduct of the foundation's businesses and its social responsibility to the communities in which it operates.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
History
The foundation traces its roots to 1754 when two tailors were sent to SurinameSuriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
as unsupported missionaries. To earn a living they practiced their craft, using their free time for their missionary work.
The business activities of C. Kersten & Co prospered and became one of Surinam's largest commercial enterprises, generating employment and profits.
The profits were used to establish other Moravian Church businesses in the Caribbean and Europe. All the businesses were eventually transferred to the Moravian Church Foundation and are now used to finance church work and social and community projects on several continents.
Currently
The Unity Synod has resolved that the following be supported in order of priority:- Theological training.
- The Moravian Church in Suriname for economic, educational and social work.
- The Unity Archives in Herrnhut, an annual grant.
- The church's work in South Asia, the Star Mountain Rehabilitation Centre and the Unity Fund.
- Other projects, at the discretion of the Unity Board.
The foundation is staffed and run by professional business and finance people. Its board of directors must include four elected from the church's provinces and who are particularly concerned with the ethical conduct of the foundation's businesses and its social responsibility to the communities in which it operates.