CSM Tawney dialogue starts debate on the economy

CSM’s Annual Tawney Dialogue was well-attended again this year. Speakers Bishop Stephen Lowe and John McFall MP discussed the financial crisis and the role the church could play in helping rebuild the global economy.

Bishop Lowe called for a return to ‘relationship banking’ and cautioned that the financial sector appeared to want to go back to business as usual.

John McFall noted that the market system is built on trust and at many levels during the crisis trust had been betrayed or in short supply. There is a difference between ethics and compliance with financial rules, he said, and the church and wider society had a role in supplying the ethical values required.

Stephen Timms MP (Treasury Financial Secretary), Rachael Maskell (CSM Vice Chair) and Helen Goodman MP (Deputy Leader of the House of Commons) responded to the speakers. There were many contributions and questions from the floor.

CSM intends to keep the debate going. We want to do this is by seeking contributions on the website and also by encouraging CSM members and friends to consider a few questions that were raised by the Tawney Dialogue.

We will soon post up a summary of the Tawney Dialogue. You can find opening comments by the speakers here. We have listed some questions for further discussion here.

CSM, 16/08/2009