2009 Programme: Money, Integrity and Wellbeing

St Paul's Institute's 2009 series addressed the moral questions raised by the dramatic financial situation, and whether opportunities for society's good can come from the economic crisis. Speakers included high level representatives from government, academics, economists, religious leaders and ethicists.

At the centre of the programme were five public debates, one on the eve of the G20 summit, and the rest in the autumn. In addition, there were study days for clergy, public and sixth-formers, meditative services, a retreat and other events.

Speakers included: Catherine Cowley, Heythrop College; Andrew Dilnot, Oxford University; John Micklethwait, The Economist; Julia Neuberger, Rabbi and ethicist; Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrats; Lord Brian Griffiths, Goldman Sachs International; Adair Turner, Financial Services Authority; Nicholas Sagovsky, Westminster Abbey; Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development; Elizabeth Koepping, University of Edinburgh.

For the full 2009 programme leaflet click here

Full audio of our public debates are available below, written transcripts are availabe under each section:

  6th October 2009 - Money: a Crisis of Value?

12th October 2009 - Work and Human Flourishing

20th October 2009 - Regulation, Freedom and Human Welfare

27th October 2009 - A New Global Order?

Public debate: Money: a crisis of value?

St Paul's Cathedral

6^th October 2009, 6.30 – 8pm

We have become used to describing human beings as consumers, to measuring our well-being in terms of economic advancement and stimulating consumption by mass advertising and cheap credit. We created an economic system that was dependent on rising house prices in order to sustain it. The financial crisis was ultimately the product of millions of individual decisions, not just macro-economic policymaking or regulatory failure. To what extent has it been about something deeper than money and what are the implications for us as a society going forward?

Speakers: Catherine Cowley, Lecturer in Christian Ethics, Heythrop College; Andrew Dilnot, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Oxford University; Paul Tucker, Deputy Governor, Bank of England; John Micklethwait, Editor-in-Chief of The Economist.

Chair: Richard Chartres, Bishop of London
Admission is free and unticketed. Doors open at 6pm.

A transcript of this debate is now available here

Public debate: Work and human flourishing

St Paul's Cathedral

13^th October 2009, 6.30 – 8pm

Faced with the prospect of working shorter hours and fewer days, some high-octane City workers have relished the idea of having more time with families and friends and for leisure activities that bring quality to their lives. Others are terrified at the loss of status and demands that keep them busy. What is the purpose of work? How is it defined? How can it be made to serve human flourishing?

Speakers: Phillip Blond, former Director of the Progressive Conservatism Project, Demos; Mary Chapman, Chairman of the Institute of Customer Service; Giles Fraser, Canon Chancellor, St Paul's Cathedral; Julia Neuberger, Rabbi and ethicist.

Chair: Richard Chartres, Bishop of London
Admission is free and unticketed. Doors open at 6pm.

A transcript of this debate is now available here

Public Debate: Regulation, freedom and human welfare
St Paul's Cathedral

20^th October 2009 6.30 – 8pm

What is the place of morality in the marketplace? The role of regulators has been heavily criticised, and there have been calls for much tighter regulation. Growing dependence of major financial institutions and other industrial sectors on government support has brought governments back into the market place. Should governments and regulatory bodies take a more prominent role in the market and, if so, how should they behave? What is the role of the individual and collective responsibility?

Speakers: Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Shadow Chancellor; Brian Griffiths, Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs International; Adair Turner, Chair of the Financial Services Authority; Nicholas Sagovsky, Canon Theologian, Westminster Abbey.

Chair: Claire Foster, Lay Canon, St Paul's Cathedral.
Admission is free and unticketed. Doors open at 6pm

A transcript of this debate is now available here

Public Debate: A New Global Order?

St Paul's Cathedral

27^th October 2009, 6.30 – 8pm

How should the new world, emerging from the globalfinancial crisis,be governed? To what extent is good global governance dependent on a collective change of mind and heart? What is the role of spiritual leadership? How has the financial crisis affected the developing economies and is there a future for the Millennium Development Goals? Will they be realized only if strong financial markets are re-established? Should stronger international institutions be created or should more power be given to those already in existence, eg the UN and the World Bank?

Speakers: Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for International Development; Elizabeth Koepping, Lecturer in World Christianity, University of Edinburgh; Salil Shetty, Director, Millenium Development Campaign; Paul Vallely, Associate Editor of The Independent and Director of The Tablet.

Chair: Richard Chartres, Bishop of London
Admission is free and unticketed. Doors open at 6pm. 

A transcript of this debate is now available here

Meditative Services: Faith and Money

6pm Sunday evening services from 4 October to 1 November.

In a series of meditative Sunday evening series, we explore the connections between faith and money through key passages in the Bible. The services, led by The Revd Laura Burgess, will include music, readings and reflections.

Study Days

Bishop's Study Day for London Diocesan Clergy

The Root of All Evil? The church and money

25 September 2009, St Paul's Cathedral Conference Room

How should churches handle money - theologically and literally? This study day seeks to equip clergy with the tools to preach and teach effectively about money, as well as offer practical suggestions for fundraising and stewardship. An objective of the day is to offer ways to integrate theology and practice, including in liturgy. The training day is a partnership between St Paul's Institute and the Diocese of London's Continuing Ministerial Education programme.

Sixth Form Study Day

Values in Economic Life:

A Study Day for Economics A and AS level students

St Paul's Cathedral, 19 November 2009

The specification for A and AS level Economics speaks of the need for students to be aware of the value systems that underpin economic life. This study day will explore the importance of ethical values in two key areas of economic activity that relate to A and AS level specification: finance and economic growth. The day aims to inform students about the source of our value systems and how they influence business and economic policy.

Open Study Day

Treasure on Earth, Treasure in Heaven: Christianity and Money

Saturday 28 November 2009, St Paul's Cathedral Conference Room

Why is money so important that Jesus taught about it more than any other moral issue? This study day explores the role of money in our faith and our lives and how we can use our personal financial choices in our Christian discipleship.

The programme will conclude with a residential retreat in February 2010.

St Paul's Institute

3b Amen Court

London EC4M 7BU

020 7489 1011

Debate on March 31 2009: My Word is My Bond?
Rebuilding trust - the G20 and beyond

The first event in the 2009 St Paul's Institute programme was a pre-G20 debate by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, chaired by the Bishop of London. On the eve of the G20 summit, this debate dealt with the moral questions raised by the current financial crisis.
Money, Integrity and Wellbeing

Members of the public were invited to attend the debate and over 2000 people filled St Paul's Cathedral. Representatives from many City institutions, charities, universities, colleges and schools were joined by clergy and members of the public. Questions from the audience were put to the panel.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown conceded that the unsupervised globalisation of the financial markets crossed moral as well as national boundaries. Mr. Brown insisted that "we must (now) reshape our global economic system so that it represents the values we celebrate in our everyday lives.".

The Prime Minister identified four global challenges affecting this generation: "financial instability in a world of global capital flows, environmental degradation in a world of changing energy need, violent extremism in a world of mass communications and increased mobility, and extreme poverty in a world of growing inequalities."

Mr. Brown said that any response could take advantage of shared values and morals: "Now that people can communicate instantaneously across borders, cultures and faiths, I believe we can be confident that across the world we are discovering that there is a shared moral sense. It is a sense strong enough to ensure a constant replenishment of that well of values on which we depend and which must infuse our shared rules."

He called for a change in attitudes and approach: "The certainty is that there is always an alternative to fear of the future; and what conquers fear of the future is faith in the future.

On the question of the future of Banking, Mr. Brown said that bankers should act as ethically at work as they do at home: "In our families, we raise our children to work hard and to do their best. We don't reward them for taking risks that would put them or others in danger. We don't encourage them to seek short-term gratification at the expense of long-term value."

For a full transcript of this event click here