History of the Center

Early Years

Academic collaboration on theology, ethics, and Christian spirituality has been a central focus from the beginning, with SBE faculty co-authoring journal articles and presentations on different dimensions of a theology of business.

As dialogue around theology and business intensified, Al Erisman, executive in residence, agreed in 2004 to serve as the CIB’s part-time director, and Ethix, a bi-monthly publication exploring technology, business, and ethical issues, found a new home in the Center.

Faculty members sponsored roundtables and academic research, shaping a shared vision for SBE’s signature philosophy, “Another Way of Doing Business.” The CIB hosted a summit for practitioners titled “Bridging Sunday and Monday” at the end of the Christian Business Faculty Association annual conference at SPU in 2007. This event paved the way for the CIB’s future development.

Full-time Director and Next Steps

Soon, a generous donor provided a grant to create funding for a full-time director. John Terrill was hired prior to the 2008–09 academic year, and quickly formed an executive committee to strengthen governance and strategic oversight. Other steps included:

• Launching ambitious initiatives to promote good (and theologically informed) business practices.
• Endowing the Pete and Shirley Hammond InterVarsity Marketplace Library Collection — a vast collection of books and resources exploring topics of Christian faith and work, economics, and business/theology integration.
• Establishing the Bruce R. Kennedy Endowment for Ethical Business Leadership to fund visiting faculty. Under this endowment, the CIB connects scholars and business leaders who are creating new, redemptive models and applications for business.

Events and Conferences

Since 2009, the CIB has hosted six nationally acclaimed conferences:

• A first national conference on microfinance in 2009.
• A national event for scholars and ministry leaders working at the intersection of business and faith in partnership with the Laity Leadership Institute in 2010.
• The Bottom Billions/Bottom Line conference in 2011, exploring ways that for-profit business can help end global poverty.
• An international symposium on business and technology in 2013.
• The “Business Changing the World” track at Urbana 12
• A national symposium for Christian scholars on Peter Drucker’s vision of management as a liberal art.

Today, the CIB continues to sponsor events, research projects, learning communities, and publishing efforts aimed at empowering people in business to lead with integrity and to shape a more just and sustainable world.

In the years to come, the Center seeks to present a trusted, compelling, and prophetic voice in society, calling business leaders to higher ethical standards and encouraging business to embrace its full potential as a force for good in the world.