FAQs
About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Open AllClose All- Q: Does Thrivent Financial for Lutherans serve only Lutherans?
- A: Though the organization's membership is limited because of its fraternal bond, its outreach is not. Like all fraternal benefit societies (not-for-profit life insurance organizations), Thrivent Financial is required to serve a specific group of people with common interests or beliefs.
Thrivent Financial is organized for Lutherans and their families. Each individual applying for membership must demonstrate a Lutheran connection and support the organization's mission. That said, many of Thrivent Financial's charitable (fraternal) programs touch individuals of all faiths and backgrounds, and some financial products offered through the organization's subsidiaries—like mutual funds and banking products—are, by regulation, available to anyone. - Q: Must a Thrivent Financial member participate in volunteer activities?
- A: No. Thrivent Financial members may be as active as they like in their local chapter. While Thrivent Financial for Lutherans chapters provide an enjoyable, rewarding opportunity for members to join together to meet individual and community needs, participation is entirely voluntary.
- Q: What's the relationship between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the Lutheran church?
- A: While Thrivent Financial is proud to support Lutheranism through its members and its benevolent efforts, it is not a church or part of the church. Members' individual actions while working on Thrivent Financial for Lutherans activities reflect their own faith and values. Individual church-body governance, doctrine, and practices are matters for church-body members and their leaders.
In some cases, Thrivent Financial may collaborate with other organizations to help Lutheran churches fulfill their missions. This support does not fund ongoing church expenses, such as paying the salaries of church workers.
Further, Thrivent Financial does not provide assistance that undermines stewardship efforts of churches or creates a church dependency on Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' funding. Assistance decisions are not influenced by theological distinctions between Lutheran church bodies. - Q: What does the name "Thrivent" mean?
- A: Thrivent is a "neologism," or fabricated word, which means you won't find it in the dictionary. The name is derived from the term "thrive," which means to grow vigorously, flourish and prosper by good management. "Thrivent Financial for Lutherans" became the name of the organization following the merger of its predecessors. It represents a growing, dynamic, forward-thinking organization committed to helping Lutherans by nurturing their financial security and community connections.
- Q: How can Thrivent Financial be both a "Fortune 500" company and a "not-for-profit" organization?
- A: Each year, Fortune magazine ranks America's largest companies according to their annual revenue. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has ranked among the nation's 500 largest organizations based on this measure.1
That said, Thrivent Financial is a fraternal benefit society (not-for-profit membership organization). Its business operations fuel its charitable outreach. The organization's business success gives the organization a unique opportunity to promote member volunteerism, aid individuals and families in need, strengthen nonprofit organizations, and address critical community needs.
1 Fortune magazine, May 2010.
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