Poverty and economics
What would you do if all the money you had in the world would not buy enough food to feed your family for the rest of the week? Dr Murdo Macdonald reflects on the difficult decisions faced by the poor in an article published in Life and Work in January 2010.
Scottish Budget 2012/13
Convener of the Church and Society Council, Rev Ian Galloway, wrote to all MSPs ahead of the Scottish Parliament debate on the Scottish Budget for 2012/13. He highlighted the concerns that the Church has for the impact of budgetary decisions on the most vulnerable groups in society, noting particularly the case of Scotland's Kinship Carers.
Read Rev Galloway’s letter and Scottish Government Minister for Children and Young People, Aileen Campbell MSP’s response.
Child poverty
The Scottish Government published a discussion paper on 'Tackling Child Poverty in Scotland', which you can read at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/11/15103604/0. You can read the Church's response to this below.
Economics Commission
The Church set up a Commission on the Purposes of Economic Activity in 2010. Three conferences took place to raise questions for this Commission: 'What Is The International Economy For?';'What Is The Market Economy For?';'What is the Social Economy for?'.
- A Right Relationship with Money: Read the General Assembly 2012 report
- Read a response from John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance in the Scottish Government
- Read a response from Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the UK Government
- Read a response from David Gauke MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in the UK Government
- Economics Working Group report to the General Assembly 2010
- Formation and membership of the Commission
- Response to the Scottish Parliament Scotland Bill Committee call for evidence on the Scotland Bill, March 2011
Personal contributions to the economics commission
- Introduction
- Banks, loans and credit
- From unsustainable old normal to the tough new world
- Health section
- Old equals new values
- Scotland, the global economy and the poor
- Looking at today's economy
- Taxation
- The economy is good for God
- The labour market
- The price of economic barbarism: an uncomfortable truth
Banking
In the summer of 2012 following the LIBOR rate-fixing scandal, the UK Parliament established a Commission on Banking Standards to investigate and make recommendations to improve ethics in the financial services industry. The Church and Society Council submitted evidence to the Commission’s initial call for evidence in August 2012.
Christians Against Poverty
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a national debt counselling charity working through a network of centres based in local churches.
Read about how your church can get involved: ‘Partner With CAP to bring Good News to Your Community.'
Preventative spending
The Church responded to the Scottish Parliament below.
The Ethics of our Clothing Choices
- Are we what we wear? The Ethics of our Clothing Choices - Read the Church and Society Report to the General Assembly 2011
Fair Food and Fair Trade
International trade may seem a remote issue, but when commodity prices fall it has a catastrophic impact on the lives of millions of small scale producers. Many are forced into crippling debt. Countless others lose their land and their homes. Too many farmers in the developing world have to contend with fluctuating prices that may not even cover what it costs to produce their crop.
As a consumer, you can play a vital role to improve the situation for producers. Simply look for the Fairtrade logo on all the products you buy. For lists of products and suppliers, and news from the Fairtrade Fortnight, please visit the Fairtrade website at www.fairtrade.org.uk.
Fair Trade in Food is a report highlighting the need to support Fair Trade for the developing world. It also emphasises that our local producers in Scotland struggle against trade regulations which cause many farmers to go out of business. The message is to ‘buy local’ and ‘buy fair trade’ whenever possible. The full report examines issues relating to the production and trade of food, and dealing with international trade justice, justice for Scottish producers and fairness to consumers.
What can we do about Fair Trade? includes ten ideas for congregations to respond to the challenge of the Fair Trade movement, including Bible study and discussion material.
Make your church a fairtrade church
Show for children - this is a script for a fun, interactive presentation to help children in schools and Sunday schools to understand the balance between ‘Fair Food’ and ‘Food Miles’. It is adaptable for different ages.
Other resources which might be useful
'Who is my neighbour?' worship resources
Download prayers and worship resources on the theme of justice. You are invited to use these any time and especially during services on Sunday 17 October 2010, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Discussion starters: Poverty and Consumerism
How can congregations respond to poverty in their community? The leaflet below gives inspiring examples of work being done throughout Scotland. '10 steps to Christian Ethical Consumerism' can be used as a discussion starter to help make shopping choices which reflect our concern for others.
Welfare Reform
The Church and Society Council responded to the Green Paper and Department for Work and Pensions below.
- Briefing for MPs on the Welfare Reform Bill 2nd reading, 9 March 2011 by the Church of Scotland and Faith in Community Scotland
- Letter to George Osbourne inviting him to listen to the poor about the impact of welfare reform on their lives, November 2010
- Reply from Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud to the letter sent to the Prime Minister, signed by a range of Churches and Christian organisations. This reply acknowledges a mistake by the Department of Work and Pensions and contains an apology. We have not yet heard from the Chancellor of the Exchequer about his response to our letter, as he made the same mistake in his address to Parliament in October 2010 on the occasion of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
- Letter to David Cameron about benefit fraud, October 2010
- Response to consultation on 21st Century Welfare, October 2010
- Reforming welfare response: reforming welfare to reward responsibility, Oct 2008
Fuel Poverty
The Church and Society Council submitted a paper to the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum stating the views of the Church of Scotland
Living Wage Campaign
Even in a wealthy society like the UK, people who work full-time can still live close to the margin of subsistence. Campaigners and churches are calling for the Government and employers to provide a living wage. Find information and campaign resources here:
- Church Action on Poverty at www.church-poverty.org.uk/livingwage/about-the-campaign
- Joint Public Issues Team at www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/livingwage/index.htm
National Ethical Investment Week
National Ethical Investment Week runs from 13–19 October 2013.
Download an Action Guide for Churches which provides ideas and resources for worship, displays, newsletter articles and letters to the local press.
Just Church Resources
How just is your church? These resources consist of 12 modules which can be adapted to suit house groups, youth groups, guilds and church services. The material could be used for a single evening focussing on justice or it could provide a six month programme. Resources are available to download free. A DVD with multimedia resources and extra support material is also available and printed copies can be ordered for a small charge.
- Visit the Just Church website.
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week
- Can you cast the first stone?
- 26 January – 3 February 2013
- Check out the website
Homelessness in Scotland
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Achieving the 2012 pledge: Scottish Churches Housing Action report submitted to the 2012 General assembly.
Homelessness in Scotland - Read the Church and Society report to the General Assembly 2011
Scottish Churches Housing Action
SCHA believes there can be a Scotland free of homelessness. They exist to mobilise the resources of the churches towards this end.
- Find out how you and your church can get involved at www.churches-housing.org
The Big Tax Return: Christian Aid Campaign
Imagine if poor countries had the riches to help them work their own way out of poverty. The truth is they do - but it's multinational companies that are reaping the rewards. Global accounting rules have to change. Find out how you can make a difference by visiting www.christianaid.org.uk
Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility
ECCR works for economic justice, environmental stewardship, and corporate and investor responsibility. ECCR builds awareness of these issues in the Church, links responsible investment and mission and uses international church networks to hear and give voice to the experience of communities impacted by companies' behaviour. Find out more from www.eccr.org.uk