2009 Tawney dialogue

CSM is very excited to annouce and to extend an invitation to our upcoming Tawney Dialogue. The date for your diaries is Thursday 7th May.

Come along at 5pm, for CSM’s Annual General Meeting (lasting until 6pm), followed by refreshments and the Tawney Dialogue at 6:15pm, finishing at 8:15pm. It will be held in the Atlee Suite, Portcullis House, Westminster.

We are very pleased to announce that our speakers will be John McFall MP and Bishop Stephen Lowe. The title of the dialogue is “Rewiring the global economy – can the church provide the spark?”

John McFall is the MP for West Dunbartonshire and the Chairperson of the Treasury Select Committee. His comment has been much sought after in the midst of the recent economic crises. This was recently highlighted in an unlikely way when the upturn in BBC iPlayer figures was put down to people downloading coverage of his committee’s hearings.

In a recent Guardian article (written before the G20), he argued the connection between the economic downturn and unemployment and challenged our government, and those around the world “to invest in creating jobs and bring about a world recovery”. (The Guardian 30 March 09. You can read the full article here).

Stephen Lowe is the Bishop of Hulme, in the Diocese of Manchester. He was involved in the Church of England’s ‘Faith in the Cities report’ and has been outspoken in critiquing the injustices of the global economic system.

In a General Synod debate in February of this year, Bishop Stephen talked of his fears for backlash if the crisis grew worse and if we again saw unemployment increase beyond three million.

"There will be a search for someone to blame… we've already seen some of it," he said.
"I fear that race relations will come under pressure. The far right sees the recession as an opportunity to expand."

As we lead up to the Tawney Dialogue, you will be able to read their preliminary positions on the website. Watch out for more here and join us on the 7th May.