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Jubilee Centre
For more than 25 years, the Jubilee Centre has been asking whether there is a Christian-based alternative to capitalism, whether Christianity has anything distinctive to say about public policy beyond general goals such as stewardship and justice.
More information on Jubilee Centre
Life Beyond Debt Conference
On the 5 February the Evangelical Alliance brought together many of the leading Christian poverty fighting and money education charities, calling churches to think biblically about the role money plays and take practical action in their communities.
The keynote address of the conference was given by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears MP. The text of her speech is available here, as well as a report from the conference here.
During the day people from various different organisations, all engaged with helping people in debt or encouraging money education, gave contributions on their work and how the church can help more effectively.
John Hayward from the Jubilee centre provided the theological and context from Christian engagement with debt relief, notes from his presentation are available here.
Matt Barlow from Christians Against Poverty spoke about the role of the church and how debt advice centres provide a crucial service to people in debt, catering for their spiritual and emotional, as well as, financial need.
While Steve Pierce from Stewardship Money encouraged the church to take a leading role in educating their congregations, and the wider public, about the role money plays in our lives.
An impassioned plea for the church to be proactive in the current crisis was brought by Keith Tondeur from Credit Action, click here for a summary of his talk.
The Church of England's 13 000 parishes provide an excellent network for the delivery of services and education, their National Stewardship Advisor, John Preston, spoke about this opportunity, reflecting on what is already being done and the potential to do so much more.
Paula Pridham from Care for the Family gave a presentation on the 'Quidz In' campaign that they are running, which provides money education for school aged children and can be used in church contexts or wider community groups.
A different option for how churches can engage with to help their communities was suggested by Simon Loveitt, who is the Chair of Bradford District Credit Union. To find out more about Credit Unions his talk is available here.
Another local perspective was brought by Barry Lock from Tonbridge Baptist Church, who, in association with Community Money Advice, have set up debt advice centres in their town and are now helping other churches develop similar services to provide practical assistance in the local community.
The conference was concluded with the issuing of a public statement, and the challenge that together we can make a difference in our communities where people are suffering due to debt, home repossession or unemployment.
