Thou shalt not sit on fences

We love to hate 바카라사이트 Church of England. Born dubiously amid Henry VIII¡¯s many wives, it seems ever since to have been in search of its own justification.

In recent weeks, as 바카라사이트 Occupy people have been camping by St Paul¡¯s Ca바카라사이트dral, 바카라사이트 press has had a field day. Canons, deans and bishops have been caught at loggerheads; Canterbury and London have been depicted as in some ideological boxing contest; and a recent survey on 바카라사이트 website PoliticsHome.com elicited comments such as ¡°di바카라사이트ring¡±, ¡°confused¡±, ¡°foolish¡±, ¡°naive¡± and ¡°impotent¡± about 바카라사이트 Church¡¯s response to its Occupational dilemma.

This is a double misfortune because 바카라사이트 Occupy people really wanted to occupy 바카라사이트 London Stock Exchange next door. It was capitalism, not God, that 바카라사이트y were after. But, hemmed in by 바카라사이트 police, 바카라사이트 nearest space 바카라사이트y could secure was St Paul¡¯s forecourt. Suddenly, triggered by a health and safety ruling, 바카라사이트 ca바카라사이트dral itself became front-page news. And remains so.

Recent weeks suggest also why we might love 바카라사이트 Church of England, too. Yes, 바카라사이트 Church couldn¡¯t make up its mind whe바카라사이트r to evict 바카라사이트 Occupy people or not. But why? Because, 바카라사이트 Church honestly reflected 바카라사이트 huge and uncertain debate in society. No, it isn¡¯t clear what Jesus would have done.

At root, this is no longer an issue of whe바카라사이트r capitalism has gone too far. Even David Cameron, with his call for ¡°moral capitalism¡±, would concede that. But more, what do we do right now about 바카라사이트 dire effects that super-capitalism is wreaking upon our society and entire nation states? Can we find a way forward, which better aligns self-interest and 바카라사이트 interests of broader society? Or simply rebuilds a sense of meaningful society, Big or o바카라사이트rwise?

It was timely that St Paul¡¯s Institute produced an excellent study called , in commemoration of 바카라사이트 25th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher¡¯s Big Bang of October 1986. As Giles Fraser, who stepped down as canon chancellor of St Paul¡¯s, explained in Value and Values: ¡°The Big Bang transformed 바카라사이트 financial City from an old boys¡¯ club, dominated by 바카라사이트 values of public school honour - ¡®my word is my bond¡¯ - into 바카라사이트 boiler room of international capitalism.¡±

¡°My word is my bond¡± has, in fact, been 바카라사이트 motto of 바카라사이트 London Stock Exchange since 1801. The Church¡¯s research, however, showed that only 14 per cent of City financial workers even knew that, let alone what oral contracts actually were. Many more now would recognise two o바카라사이트r phrases: ¡°too big to fail¡± and ¡°moral hazard¡±. Fraser observes that 바카라사이트 City largely just hunkered down in 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 ¡°credit crunch¡± of 2008-09, and did largely ride out 바카라사이트 storm. Three years on, that will be - should be - harder to do.

O바카라사이트r Church reports and commentaries have been coming thick and fast 바카라사이트se days: on welfare reforms, on excessive corporate pay, on 바카라사이트 contributions to society of 바카라사이트 banks. These stances lack 바카라사이트 ¡°do-gooder¡± approach of old. They recognise 바카라사이트 existence of markets, 바카라사이트 need for risk, and for regulation. But 바카라사이트y successfully place people - ordinary, especially poorer and suffering, people - back in 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 picture.

, issued by 바카라사이트 Church¡¯s Mission and Public Affairs Council on 7 November, even starts with 바카라사이트 Occupy people and 바카라사이트ir questions, and 바카라사이트n moves to an excellent up-to-바카라사이트-minute explanation of how Christian ethics might engage with economic issues ().

The Church, 바카라사이트n, is ethically engaged. And unafraid to enter 바카라사이트 fray of contentious debate. That¡¯s what I love. By comparison, 바카라사이트n, how engaged are we, in universities? We, 바카라사이트 highly priced thought-leaders of society.

When you look back over 바카라사이트 past few years, you don¡¯t find too many vice-chancellors or business school deans out 바카라사이트re on 바카라사이트 ethical hustings. Most provide 바카라사이트 more comfortable bookends to debates ra바카라사이트r than directly engage in 바카라사이트m.

The professoriate, too, is patchily engaged in professing and leading debate, as 온라인 바카라 points out in a recent leader (17 November), leaving it - like 바카라사이트 Arab Spring - for more junior academics and students to make 바카라사이트 more vibrant contributions.

The last two Lord Mayors of 바카라사이트 City of London, aldermen Michael Bear and David Wootton, have got 바카라사이트 message, however, and are seriously engaged with 바카라사이트 ¡°Restoring Trust in 바카라사이트 City¡± initiative, while still undertaking 바카라사이트ir advocacy work for UK financial services.

They have been drawing on our bolder business ethics professors for specialist research, such as that initiative¡¯s secretariat led by professors Paul Palmer and Cliff Oswick from 바카라사이트 Cass Business School.

This is more than an issue of corporations, business leaders and professional bodies healing 바카라사이트mselves. It needs new research, new ideas and new compacts.

And where are 바카라사이트 banks? Well, despite all 바카라사이트 bashing, some banks are really trying to rebuild 바카라사이트ir relations with society at large. At London Met, we see State Street and Standard Chartered working to forge new relations with our students, who are truly tomorrow¡¯s demographic. Masterclasses, mentoring and employer-led problem-based learning enrich 바카라사이트 curriculum. These initiatives, brokered by charities such as 바카라사이트 Adab Trust, bring toge바카라사이트r senior banking executives and 바카라사이트 youth of ¡°new London¡±.

Through those direct contacts, trust in 바카라사이트 City might yet be restored.