Annual Report 2008:

1. Complete Document
2. Sumner Grant Letter
3. Roundtable
4. Benefit Plans
5. Financials

2008 was a tumultuous year for the global economy. Stock markets declined dramatically. Individual investors—including MMBB members—saw their investments decrease in value. Many people approaching retirement began rethinking their plans.

To explore those trends and their impact on members, MMBB brought together four people who lead our investment strategy—MMBB Executive Director Sumner Grant, Finance Committee Chair William Cobb, Chief Investment Officer Candace Cox and Evaluation Associates International Principal Ellen Petrino.
They explore answers to such questions as:

1. How did the U.S. economy get into this situation?
2. What is the biggest threat to the economy or the stock market now?
3. Are there hopeful aspects?
4. How does the recession change MMBB’s investment strategy?
5. What do we say to people who are retiring in the next couple of years?

In his Executive Director’s Report, Grant expresses his optimism: “Our diversified investment portfolio insulated us from the full impact of the market’s rapid plunge. We are disciplined. We remain focused on the long-term. We have a strategy, and we are implementing it.”

For a hard copy of the 2008 Annual Report, please email service@mmbb.org or call 800-986-6222.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.