Churches Address Global Financial Crisis

"If a man of this century was committed to honesty, committed to his highest integrity in all matters — with himself, his work, his loves, his friends, with all the world — would he be seen as good or evil? Would he be acclaimed or persecuted? What might be his life, his fate?"

This timely quotation serves to inspire people to do something about the ongoing and rampant corruption that exists in different sectors of society. Because of this corruption, people find it hard to put their trust in something.

In response to this issue, churches are now giving their insights on the condition of the world banking industry. John Ellis, treasurer of The United Reformed Church, said, “Now is the time for more Christian people to engage themselves in the financial sector in order to be able to bring back the good reputation of the banking industry”.

In a conference organised by several religious entities, including URC, the Baptist Union and Churches, and the Methodist Church, John Ellis talked about how churches can possibly be the instrument to improve the present reputation of the banking sector, which is said to be the cause of the current global financial crisis. He also raised the question on whether Christian influence can be exercised as new banking structures emerge. The conference also included Bob Goudswaard, a professor at the Free University in Amsterdam, and Anne Pettifor, the former head and campaign director of the 2000 Debt Relief Campaign and Operation Noah.