For the first time in its long history, Thrivent Financial is not just for Lutherans. The 111-yearold financial services firm began taking applications this month from all Christians.
“We feel like we’re being called to serve more people,” said Dick Moeller, chairman of the board.
The change from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to just Thrivent Financial was not a simple response to declining membership in the Lutheran church, Moeller said, although that factor was discussed during the lengthy transition talks.
It’s more about having a longterm strategy to share the company’s Christian business principles with more people, he said.
“I believe we’ll look back 50 years from now and believe that that was the single most important thing in this decade for Thrivent in terms of the changes that have come about,” Moeller said. “It will open many, many new doors for us in terms of our ability to expand and help our members and communities.”
The Minneapolis-based Fortune 500 company has provided more than $17 billion to members in its history and will now be able to broaden such efforts, CEO Brad Hewitt told the 1,600 members at the March 13 regional meeting at the Henry Ford Museum.
Moeller said many members had expressed wanting their relatives who were Christians but notLutherans to be able to benefit from Thrivent’s insurance policies and financial services.
The company will use the Apostles’ Creed — a statement of Christian belief dating back to the 4th century — as the determining factor in whether a person is eligible to join Thrivent.
