A series of two e-conferences, 0n 17 and 24 April 2020, brought together some 25 participants to reflect on the socio-economic-ecological impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and how it offers the world an opportunity to rethink and reshape financial and economic systems so that these give priority to ensuring and investing in the health and well-being of communities and the planet. The initiative was co-sponsored by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Lutheran World Federation, World Communion of Reformed Churches, and Council for World Mission.
“In the harsh light of COVID-19, we see more clearly the great inequality of income and wealth. We see the massive gender inequities and generational disparities of our economies”, said Prof Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri, WCC Deputy General Secretary. “Our responses to the pandemic could very well rewrite the world for the better, and fundamentally transform the way we live, what we eat and buy, what we produce, how we distribute goods and where we invest”, she added.
“Our economic systems must prioritise people over profit. We must not forget to protect the livelihood and basic needs of people”, said the Rev Dr Martin Junge, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation. “COVID-19 is further calling us to a theological and ethical renewal where we address inequality, poverty, and public policies to ensure enough resources and equal access to health services. Now is the moment to reinvigorate this conversation”.
The 'Economy of Life in a Time of Pandemic' e-conference sessions were part of and promoted by an initiative of the four organisations called 'New International Financial and Economic Architecture' (NIFEA), which seeks to promote an alternative financial system that should emerge from the imagination of the margins, from those who have been left out of social-economic and political decision-making.
The Rev Dr Chris Ferguson, World Communion of Reformed Churches General Secretary, emphasised that the current global scenario calls us “to show up and carry forward the core visions and core themes of NIFEA and that these have to necessarily be transformational”, he said. “We need to raise the questions about debt and taxation. Our next steps, including our short term steps, cannot be less than radical.”
For Council for World Mission General Secretary, the Rev Dr Collin I. Cowan, “the shape and magnitude of the pandemic may have obscured us but the writings, which have been on the wall for a very long time, all pointed to some global catastrophe for which we would be little prepared because self-serving nationalism, callous disregard for the poor and xenophobic attitudes and behaviour have kept us cornered, cocooned and ill-prepared for any disaster of this magnitude”, he said.
The speakers brought up historical political factors that have led up to and continue to frame the crisis, as well as the theo-ethical and moral implications and the necessary short and long-term transformations in policies, institutions and systems which are needed to relieve and prevent more suffering, but also, more critically, to tackle the roots of the crisis.
The two sessions led to the development of a common message from the convening organisations, which will also be the basis of advocacy towards key financial and economic institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, G20 and United Nations
* The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, by the end of 2012 the WCC had 345 member churches representing more than 500 million Christians from Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other traditions in over 110 countries. The WCC works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church.
* World Council of Churches http://www.oikoumene.org/en
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