The Power of Your Pension - blog by Rosie Venner from the JustMoney Movement
At JustMoney Movement, we want to see more Christians reflecting theologically on our use of money and how the financial system works, and then taking practical steps to shape a fairer, greener world.
There are financial milestones that many young adults face – like opening a student bank account or paying into a pension for the first time – that are opportunities to start thinking about how our faith and finances connect. If we are equipped to make ethical financial decisions early on, we’ll hopefully adopt habits of thoughtful reflection and action around money throughout our lives.
That’s why we’ve been working closely with the Student Christian Movement (SCM) over the last couple of years to explore how discipleship, activism, faith, and money connect.
New Resource: The Power of Your Pension
Our collaboration with SCM has led to a new resource - The Power of Your Pension - designed to empower those starting work to ask questions about their pensions. It explores the connection between pensions and the world’s biggest companies. It gives examples of positive action, for example switching to an ethical fund or engaging with your pension provider.
This resource is not just for students and young adults. Whether you're currently paying into a pension or not, you can still play a vital role in the movement for greener, fairer pensions. After all, how pensions are invested affects all of us.
Download here.
Thinking theologically about Pensions
Our pensions are probably the biggest – perhaps the only - investment we’ll make in our lifetime, but are often seen as a private matter and rarely discussed in terms of our faith. How might we begin to think theologically about pensions?
The late theologian Walter Brueggemann, in his powerful book Money and Possessions, traces themes of money throughout scripture and challenges us to think beyond individualism. Money should not be held as “mine” without accountability to the wider community. Instead, our resources are to be shared in a neighbourly way and stewarded for the common good—in pursuit of justice.
For Christians, this means considering not only what we save, but how that money is used in the world. The ways that our pensions are invested can put people and planet at risk, making the world we retire into more unsafe for everyone.
It’s tempting to think about pensions only in terms of our own personal security. Careful stewardship and forward planning means that we can take care of ourselves in retirement. But if we take seriously the understanding that all our resources come from God, and are not ours alone, then perhaps we are called to a more generous and justice-focused approach. An approach that not only seeks to avoid harm, but ensures our pensions contribute to the flourishing of all God’s creation.
Why pensions matter
The numbers are sobering. According to Make My Money Matter, £2 of every £10 in a typical pension fund1 is linked to deforestation. Our pensions may be unknowingly supporting industries that exploit workers, harm communities, and damage the environment—from mining and fossil fuels to tobacco and arms.
But there is potential for pensions to be good news to our neighbours and to nature. UK pensions, for example, could invest £1 trillion in climate solutions by 2035—half of what’s needed to reach our national net zero target by 20502. That’s money that could help build a safer world for future generations.
Now is the time to act
As Christians, we are called to love our neighbour, protect creation, and use our resources as tools for the Kingdom of God. Our pensions are a part of this.
Use The Power of Your Pension or our Money Makes Change hub to start exploring your own pension. Ask where your money is invested. Speak to your employer or provider. Share your story with us – and help inspire others to act.
Sign the petition calling for greener, fairer pensions. The UK government is currently reviewing the pensions system. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure that pension investments take into account one of the biggest risks to pension savers and the UK economy: climate change.
Let’s harness the collective power of our pensions to shape a greener, fairer future!