A Brief History

An idea: the root cause of everything in life. Often symbolized as a light bulb turning on, an idea illuminates in a void of nothingness. Like a seed carefully cultivated, ideas grow, expand, and interact with the larger world in astounding ways. Where inaction and unused resources once loitered, an idea — with enough care and nurturing — prompts action and lasting change.

In 2002, shortly after the arrival of Jeff Van Duzer, the School of Business and Economics at Seattle Pacific University set out on a more formal journey with such an idea: the belief that Christian theology is highly relevant to business practice and scholarship, and that business can be a force for incredible good in the world. Out of this re-integration project the Center for Integrity in Business was born.

With the establishment of the CIB, academic collaboration became a central focus. Adding priorities of theology, ethics, and Christian spirituality to their research, SBE faculty began co-authoring journal articles and presentations on multiple dimensions of a theology of business.

As the dialogue around theology and business intensified, Al Erisman, executive in residence at SBE, agreed to function in 2004 as the part-time director of the CIB. During this time, Ethix, a bimonthly publication exploring technology, business, and ethical issues, found a new home in the Center.

Under the part-time leadership of Dr. Erisman and others, roundtables and academic research were sponsored, shaping a shared vision for SBE’s signature philosophy: Another Way of Doing Business. At no point was this new direction more evident than the summit CIB hosted for practitioners titled “Bridging Sunday and Monday.” Held at the end of the Christian Business Faculty Association annual conference hosted at SPU in 2007, the event functioned as a beachhead for CIB’s future development.

After years of engaging discourse and growing momentum, a generous private donor provided a four-year grant in 2007 to create funding for a full-time director and the commencing of additional CIB programmatic initiatives.  After a national search, SBE hired John Terrill in 2008 as the full-time director of the CIB.

With full-time leadership in place, the CIB began to strengthen its governance by forming an Executive Advisory Committee.  Subsequently, the CIB launched out more assertively in offering programs and gatherings promoting good business practice. CIB furthered its scholarly goals by 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. It also established the Bruce R. Kennedy Endowment for Ethical Business Leadership which provides funding for visiting faculty to spend time at SPU and work with the Center. Under this endowment, CIB connects scholars with business leaders creating new models and applications for business.

During this time, on a national scale, CIB hosted two national conferences. In 2009, CIB sponsored a microfinance conference that involved leading agencies from around the world dedicated to tackling issues of global poverty. As a continuation and amplification of this theme, CIB hosted in 2011 the Bottom Billions/Bottom Line Conference, exploring the myriad of ways that for-profit business can engage in ending global poverty.

As CIB moves into the future, it will continue to host large-scale events and conferences, but increase its focus with more tailored roundtables for leaders across a range of industries and institutional types. The Center will also work increasingly to ground theology of business theory with everyday practice. Join with us for this next chapter of growth and impact.

Despite the highly publicized moral and ethical scandals in business and finance over the past decade, few business schools have risen to the challenge of re-orienting their educational approach and curriculum. ... SPU's Center for Integrity in Business is doing just that. Beginning with the purpose of business, they help future leaders think through the way business serves society and ways they as leaders can shape an organizational culture to bring out the best in their people."

Katherine Leary Alsdorf
Executive Director
Center for Faith & Work
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York