A Christian Social Agenda for the 21st Century
Rediscovering
Christian Social Thought
Theological Conference 23 October
2009
Christians in
Politics
National Summit
24 October 2009
Centre for Theology and Ministry
Parkville Melbourne
Dinner Friday Evening 23 October
2009
with special guest
Phillip Blond from the UK
Register Here
Call for Papers
Phillip Blond is Director of the British
thinktank ResPublica and a lay Anglican theologian and political theorist
and influential policy advisor and advocate. His Red Tory thesis has
electrified the British political landscape and gained support from both
left and right as he advocates the abandonment of neo-liberal values and
economics in the name of a new communitarian consensus. He is said to be the
'philosopher king' to the next British Prime Minister, David Cameron,
crafting a new radical centrist social vision based on a revived role for
civil society via a powerful critique of state and market monopoly.
According to Blond the Anglo-Saxon world has been dominated by a liberal
consensus that has produced a broken society and a broken economy, and
Christian Social Thought provides our best resource in charting a future
beyond the current failed consensus. His perspectives are turning the
left-right spectrum in the UK upside down in a way not seen for a century.
Papers and presentations are invited
for two events on Friday 23 October and Saturday 24 October with special guest
Philip Blond. The two events will be complementary, but very different in style.
Rediscovering
Christian Social Thought
Theological Conference 23 October 2009
This
event is a formal conference, academic in style.
Expressions of interest are invited in presentation of
papers on the following themes:
-
Historical formulations of Christian Social Thought
-
Catholic
Social Thought and distributism in Australia
-
Anglican
and reformed traditions of Christian Social Thought
in Australia
-
Economics, capital ownership and markets in
Christian Social Thought
-
Associative relationships in theology, economics,
and society
-
Re-framing social justice
-
Theological liberalism and conservatism/political
liberalism and conservatism
-
Christian Social Thought and notions of Left and Right
Papers will be allocated 30 minutes (20 minutes
presentation and 10 minutes discussion).
Christians in
Politics: A Christian Social Agenda for the 21st Century
National Summit 24 October 2009
This
event is a political action summit, strategic and
action-oriented in style. Expressions of interest are
invited in presentation of ideas, strategies and
proposals in the following two areas:
Perspectives on social and economic policy::
- Persons and social
relationships in public policy
- Building the economic assets
of the bottom half of society
- Making markets and
competition serve social purposes
- Community and associative
principles in governance and policy
- Localism and globalism in
Christian thinking
- Church institutions and
public service delivery
- Rights and responsibilities
Strategic perspectives on:
-
Christian identity and values and social plurality
-
Processes of public policy change
- Christian communities and processes of empowerment of
citizens and neighbourhoods
- Diversifying and deepening public debate
- Christian participation in
reform of the political system
Expressions of interest in presenting a paper,
proposal, or workshop should
be forwarded, in no more than 300 words by 30 September 2009, to:
Vern Hughes
Conference Convenor
vern@civilsociety.org.au
Tel: 0425 722 890
Register Here
Enquiries:
Scott Stephens
0411 320 349
