Fall 2010 (Volume 33, Number 2) Catalyst the Civic Engagement Creates Change 4 Put Faith into Action... 6 Building on 40 years (and more)... 7 I N S I D E constrained the voluntary sector’s ability to publicly advocate for alternative approaches to a sustainable economy. 2) The constraint of the mainstream view of government’s economic role Should government stimulus spending have aimed simply to “increase aggregate income,” or should it also include simultaneous concern for the redistributional impact of its stimulus spending? Shouldn’t it also help reverse the “growing gap between rich and poor”? Church work for a sustainable economy is constrained by the mainstream economic view that government should spend on things which bolster the traditional economy, and need not aim also to create the just social infrastructure required to enable families and communities to participate in good, long-term, full time work. The church’s prophetic voice – that calls government to create policy that addresses the needs of the marginalized, those whom the Bible identifies as the “widow, the poor, and the orphan” – runs up against a narrow view of government simply stimulating growth in a market economy. Ecologically-sound economic recovery policies must also simultaneously serve those “falling through the cracks.” 3) The constraint of the “normal & self-evident” A third constraint churches face in working for a sustainable economy is rooted in our tendency to view economics through the prism of what we consider “normal.” If the Christian community takes a “view from the outside” at the “normal” economy, we would see new realities. First, we would see that our current economy and economic debate is not, first and foremost, about a sustainable economy at all, but instead is premised on the assumption of continuous rapid economic growth. Second, taking a “view from the outside” would help us see that our drive to constant economic growth is integrally linked to a number of unprecedented, interlocking global challenges, i.e. resource depletion, increasing levels of pollution, species extinctions, climate change, poverty and hunger in the global south, global human migrations, etc. To Build a Sustainable Economy... By John Hiemstra Many people of faith are inspired by the idea of a “sustainable economy,” that is, to dream dreams and envision images of: • an economy that is actually based on care and enough; • that prioritizes the immediate needs of the most vulnerable; • that closes the growing gap between rich and poor; • an economy that is based on long-term ecological sustainability; • that is mindful of the needs of future generations; • and that removes factors that feed cycles of violent conflict. The churches and the voluntary sector face at least four constraints in working for a sustainable economy. 1) The constraint of established expectations The recent financial crises (2008-2009) brought into plain view what our governments expected the role of churches to be in economic life. While the Canadian government increased spending in mainstream segments of the economy (physical infrastructure and support for the financial sector), churches and faith- based NGOs were expected to charitably rescue those who fell through the cracks of the government’s Action Plan and existing government services. This service role is a classic role that the churches have willingly played over the ages, and generally done so effectively. The central motive has been “the love of God and neighbour,” that is, “We give, because much has been given to us.” However, the government’s expectation that business, churches and NGOs would simply follow each of their established roles, while the government fixed the traditional economy through public spending on infrastructure, really ...continued on page 3 Citizens for Public Justice
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Fall 2010 (Volume 33, Number 2)
Catalystthe
Civic Engagement Creates Change 4
Put Faith into Action... 6
Building on 40 years (and more)... 7
I N S I D E
constrained the voluntary sector’s ability to publicly advocate for alternative
approaches to a sustainable economy.
2) The constraint of the mainstream view of government’s economic role
Should government stimulus spending have aimed simply to “increase aggregate
income,” or should it also include simultaneous concern for the redistributional
impact of its stimulus spending? Shouldn’t it also help reverse the “growing gap
between rich and poor”?
Church work for a sustainable economy
is constrained by the mainstream
economic view that government
should spend on things which
bolster the traditional economy,
and need not aim also to create
the just social infrastructure
required to enable families and
communities to participate in
good, long-term, full time work.
The church’s prophetic voice –
that calls government to create
policy that addresses the needs of
the marginalized, those whom the Bible
identifies as the “widow, the poor, and the
orphan” – runs up against a narrow view of government simply stimulating
growth in a market economy.
Ecologically-sound economic recovery policies must also simultaneously serve
those “falling through the cracks.”
3) The constraint of the “normal & self-evident”
A third constraint churches face in working for a sustainable economy is rooted in
our tendency to view economics through the prism of what we consider “normal.”
If the Christian community takes a “view from the outside” at the “normal”
economy, we would see new realities.
First, we would see that our current economy and economic debate is not, first
and foremost, about a sustainable economy at all, but instead is premised on the
assumption of continuous rapid economic growth.
Second, taking a “view from the outside” would help us see that our drive to
constant economic growth is integrally linked to a number of unprecedented,
interlocking global challenges, i.e. resource depletion, increasing levels of
pollution, species extinctions, climate change, poverty and hunger in the global
south, global human migrations, etc.
To Build a Sustainable Economy...By John Hiemstra
Many people of faith are inspired by the idea of
a “sustainable economy,” that is, to dream
dreams and envision images of:
• an economy that is actually based
on care and enough;
• that prioritizes the immediate needs
of the most vulnerable;
• that closes the growing gap between rich
and poor;
• an economy that is based on long-term
ecological sustainability;
• that is mindful of the needs of future
generations;
• and that removes factors that feed
cycles of violent conflict.
The churches and the voluntary sector face at
least four constraints in working for a sustainable
economy.
1) The constraint of established expectations
The recent financial crises (2008-2009) brought
into plain view what our governments expected
the role of churches to be in economic life.
While the Canadian government increased
spending in mainstream segments of the
economy (physical infrastructure and support
for the financial sector), churches and faith-
based NGOs were expected to charitably rescue
those who fell through the cracks of the
government’s Action Plan and existing
government services.
This service role is a classic role that the
churches have willingly played over the ages,
and generally done so effectively. The central
motive has been “the love of God and
neighbour,” that is, “We give, because much has
been given to us.”
However, the government’s expectation that
business, churches and NGOs would simply
follow each of their established roles, while the
government fixed the traditional economy
through public spending on infrastructure, really...continued on page 3
Citizens for Public Justice
the Catalyst Fall 2010 (Volume 33, Number 2) 2
In Review
CPJ is pleased to welcome
David Pollock as our new
Finance and Administration
Coordinator. David brings
a wealth of knowledge
and experience having
previously served as the Executive
Director for the Tatamagouche Centre
and the Pembina Institute.
In September, we were
happy to be joined by two
new interns. Jennifer
Prosser, a graduate in
Political Science / Social
Justice and Peace studies
2010 AGM
CPJ on Top of the Hill
Welcome and Congratulations!
A Faithful Response to Poverty
CPJ members, board and staff gathered
on May 27 for CPJ’s 2010 Annual General
Meeting. Led by board Chair Kathy
Vandergrift, the meeting included reports
from Executive Director Joe Gunn and
board Treasurer Frederick Wind.
We were pleased to welcome new board
members Dwayne Hodgson (Ottawa,
ON), John Murphy (Canning, NS), Will
Postma (Toronto, ON), and Ericka
Stephens-Rennie (Ottawa, ON) and to
affirm Frederick Wind (Whitby, ON) for a
second term on the board.
Richard Shillington, a policy analyst with
Informetrica presented on Recession,
Recovery and Poverty: Is the End Near?
CPJ’s policy analyst Karri Munn-Venn
called for faithful action in response to
the challenges presented.
During the board meeting immediately
following the AGM, a new executive was
elected. Mark Huyser-Wierenga (Edmonton,
AB), Chair; Jim Joosse (Edmonton, AB),
Vice Chair; Jake Kuiken (Calgary, AB),
Secretary; Frederick Wind, Treasurer; and
Sheila McKinley (Chatham, ON) is the
new liaison with the program committee.
Thanks were expressed to outgoing
members for their passion and dedication:
Emily Hutten, Maria Paez-Victor, and
Nick Van Dyk. A special thanks needs to
go to Kathy who served tirelessly, first as
CPJ’s Vice Chair and then Chair, as well as
participating in the program advisory
committee.
The number of supporters of Dignity for
All continues to grow, particularly among
Members of Parliament (60) and Senators
(12). Close to 6,000 Canadians have
endorsed the campaign, but many more
are needed. Visit www.dignityforall.ca
and sign on today!
Citizens for Public Justice 309 Cooper Street, #501