April 25, Grand Rapids, MI - based Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty announced today the creation of the Center for Entrepreneurial Stewardship (CES), a resource educating business leaders in the pursuit of entrepreneurial leadership that is free, moral, and of service to humankind.
Acton Institute President Rev. Robert Sirico said today that the new Center "will provide intellectual, spiritual, and practical assistance to Christian business leaders who seek professional and personal guidance in resolving difficult ethical dilemmas related to their vocation."
"One of the Center’s goals is to articulate a credible, persuasive defense of entrepreneurial stewardship, highlighting the moral dimensions of free market activity and recognizing the market as a necessary component of a free society," said Rev. Sirico.
The CES will provide additional resources to expand the Acton Institute’s outreach, including:
- A reflective retreat program specifically designed for CEOs;
- A series of conferences and discussions exploring themes related to entrepreneurial stewardship;
- A variety of publications, including a quarterly magazine addressing ethical and spiritual issues affecting business leaders; and
- Development of a business ethics curriculum for use in MBA programs.
The CES's first retreat, a by-invitation conference titled Doing Well And Doing Good, will be held at Yarrow Lodge in Augusta, Michigan, from November 1-3, 2001. Issues for discussion will include:
- Global Economic And Ethical Issues: What is an entrepreneur’s responsibility for the environment?
- Economic And Ethical Issues Within The Firm: What place does morality have in entrepreneurship?
- Personal Ethics: How do you understand your stewardship of time and material resources?
Additionally, the Center will establish a Visiting Executive in Residence program at the Acton Institute, create a professional membership network, and present an annual award for Christian entrepreneurial excellence. The CES will promote a balanced synthesis of moral theology and sound, successful business practices. The CES will also provide opportunities for business executives and ministers to engage in meaningful dialogue on the challenges facing a market economy.
The day to day activities of the CES are handled by Professor Robert P. Crowner. Professor Crowner recently retired from Eastern Michigan University, where as Professor of Management, he taught courses in Business Ethics, Business Policy, and Small Business Management at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He authored a book, Developing a Strategic Business Plan, and sixty-six Business Policy and Business Ethics cases. He has extensive business experience from work with companies engaged in engineering and manufacturing management. He has also widely consulted for private companies, a public school district, and city and provincial governments.