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- LICC's Capitalism Project

The Capitalism project has now ended, read a review of it's achievements.

Capitalism is the dominant global ideology. As an economic system, it has brought unprecedented wealth to some countries. At the same time, it has not yet succeeded in distributing this wealth, and the accompanying benefits of higher standards of healthcare, education and national infrastructure to the majority of the planet's population. How can we work to create a world in which all its people have the opportunity to flourish economically, relationally and spiritually?

A PRACTICAL & BIBLICAL RESPONSE

It is with such questions before it that LICC's Capitalism Project set sail 2 years ago into relatively uncharted waters. The Project Director, Dr Peter Heslam wrote: 'If Christians are to have a concern both for truth and for human flourishing, they cannot afford to ignore a system of belief and practice that so radically influences the prospects of both.' The urgency and importance of these issues have been underlined by the attacks on New York's financial centre, the scandals associated with the collapse of Enron and WorldCom, and the economic crises in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Project's objectives are to:

• Develop a Christian critique of the contemporary global market economy
• Identify areas for particular Christian/church concern
• Work in partnership with business leaders to develop practical models enabling communities to flourish relationally as well as economically.

PROGRESS TO DATE

For decades, Christians have bewailed the fact that the church is behind in its response to contemporary issues. In the case of capitalism, this is no longer the case. Over the past 2 years, Peter has rapidly brought the Project's influence to bear in a number of important arenas. He has lectured and taught widely, forged new and exciting links with the business and NGO communities and as a result of his pioneering efforts, has been delegated by the new Archbishop of Canterbury to represent the Anglican Communion on the issue of globalization at the World Council of Churches

The Project has also been involved in top-level conferences on economic globalisation in collaboration with the following partners:

• The World Alliance of Reformed Churches
• The Lutheran World Federation
• The World Council of Churches
• The Ridley Hall Foundation
• The Jubilee Centre
• The Association of Christian Economists

Peter's Grove Booklet Globalisation: Unravelling the New Capitalism (Ethics Series, 2002, E125) has met with huge demand and has been enthusiastically received in business, NGO and church constituencies. The booklet is now widely regarded as one of the best introductions available on a Christian perspective to economic globalisation.

Likewise, the JustShare Briefing Papers (on Control Capital, Cancel the Debt, Invest Ethically, Transform the WTO, Protect the Earth), largely written by Peter, has proved remarkably influential. The pack was presented to a meeting of the Cabinet last May Day and Peter was invited to discuss the issues on Radio 4 with Lord Brian Griffiths, Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs.

Peter is now widely regarded as the 'go-to' person on matters of connecting faith to issues of the market economy and the first 2 years of the Project have had a major impact in terms of equipping and informing the church. The Project is now in the position of being able to inform the opinions of policy makers, government leaders and CEOs, as well as keep the church engaged with the issues at the heart of the global economy.

THE WAY FORWARD

The next phase of the project will:

• Work with business in developing practical and socially responsible models of enterprise
• Inform and train NGO workers, business people, church leaders and organizations
• Develop a comprehensive theological response to the global economy
• Develop new resources to aid thoughtful engagement with the global economy

Although the work has made enormous progress in its first phase, it now needs significant funding to continue. The first 2 years were funded almost entirely by one individual, but that funding came to an end in September 2002. The Project is currently in the precarious position of drawing, on a month-by-month basis, from LICC's slender general funds. This cannot continue and if funding for the Project is not forthcoming, it will have to close.

Can you help? We need to raise 50,000 per annum to bring this Project to fruition. Perhaps you will consider becoming a Capitalism Project Partner, by making a gift of £500 to the work. You may be able to give more or less and you can also partner with us by supporting the Project on a monthly basis.

We believe very strongly that these issues must be addressed, not just for the benefit of churches, NGOs and businesses, but so that individuals can find the inspiration and resources they need to work out how to live with integrity in our consumer-led society.

You can give online through JustGiving.com's secure server. Click here to give online. The website takes all the major types of credit card (MasterCard, Switch, Visa Delta, Solo, Visa) and is a very easy way to make either one-off or regular donations. This way of giving is particularly recommended if your currency is other than sterling. If you do decide to give online, please send an email to Paula Cummings, LICC's Communications Manager, at paula.cummings@licc.org.uk so that she can ensure the funds are designated to the Capitalism Project.

LICC is also registered as a 501 (c) (3) tax deductible organisation through the American Fund for Charities. If you are a US tax payer and would like to make a donation in this way, please contact Paula for more details (regrettably, US tax deductible donations cannot be made through the website).

We hope you will consider supporting this vital research.