Moral values critical for building an equitable and sustainable global economy say Church leaders

Leaders of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church and the Methodist Church have welcomed the communiqué from the G20 Summit. They expressed hope that this might represent the start of a process of reordering global economic relationships based on more just and sustainable principles.

Commenting on the moral values underpinning this statement, the Revd Stephen Poxon, President of the Methodist Conference said, “We welcome the commitment to the principle of solidarity reflected in pledges to meet the Millennium Development Goals and increase development assistance. However, unless there is greater commitment from G20 leaders to the principle of sustainability this recovery package is likely to mortgage our children’s future.”

The Revd John Marsh, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church said that the global economic crisis presented a kairos moment to reflect on some of the underlying causes of this crisis as faith communities. “As we journey towards Easter, we are reminded of our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem in humility and weeping over a city which failed to recognise the time of their visitation from God and the things that make for peace. May this Easter be a time of hopeful reflection on the richness which is related to sufficiency and God’s peace and justice for the poor.”

The Revd Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain added that the global economic crisis was a reflection of a deeper moral and spiritual crisis which required an active response from faith communities. “We need to demystify economics and engage in the on-going debate on the reorienting of our economic relationships towards the common good. We therefore welcome the offer extended to faith communities by the UK Government to engage with them on the moral values that must undergird the global recovery plan agreed at the London Summit.”

The three denominations were signatories to a submission by UK Churches’ ahead of the London Summit on a sustainable and equitable reordering of global economic relationships.