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Industrial and Economic Affairs


Work and the Economy

In 2003 an agreement was made with the William Temple Foundation in Manchester to provide briefings on Work and the Economy. The first of these briefings was on the Cancun Trade Talks held in the autumn of 2003. Further work on this issue is now underway with a briefing paper on the economic effects of refugees in Britain following the Synod's debate on Asylum Seekers in February 2004. The Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, Bishop Richard Lewis, takes a particular interest in Industrial & Economic Affairs and the Industrial Mission Association. A close relationship is maintained with the Urban Bishops Panel.

There are also chaplains who specialise in ministry on Work and the Economy, and many of these belong to the Industrial Mission Association. These chaplains are ecumenically organised and operate on approximately a county level. They have an important role in developing an understanding of the local economy. Many teams have expertise in working with unemployed people, training, and the role of women in the workforce.

The Church of England also participates in ecumenical study of work and the economy. The current project is called 'Prosperity with a Purpose' and is managed by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. An earlier ecumenical study was the July 1997 report Unemployment and the Future of Work. The Report of the Enquiry was debated by the General Synod in July 1997 when the following motion was carried:

'That this Synod:

  1. welcome the report of the Churches' Enquiry into Unemployment and the Future of Work;
  2. reaffirm the Christian understanding of work as a sharing in God's creativity, and a means to human flourishing and service to others;
  3. endorse the report's conclusion that "providing enough good work for everyone to do" should be a major policy objective for our society and Government;
  4. commend the policy objectives identified on page 2 of the Summary for serious consideration by Her Majesty's Government, political parties, employers, trade unions, educational institutions and all those who have an influence on the labour market;
  5. further encourage parishes, dioceses and church members to develop and contribute to partnerships for the creation of employment opportunity, especially at the local level;
  6. encourage entrepreneurs at all levels of scale to engage in new business activity, recognising the benefits that such risk-taking can bestow on fuller employment; and
  7. request the Board for Social Responsibility to consider ways in which the Church of England can work with ecumenical partners to follow up the Churches' Enquiry and to report on progress to the Standing Committee by 31 December 1998.'