Presented by Cardus and the Marketplace Institute, Regent College

“God and the Global Economy” was a two day conference that invited some of the best thinkers and practitioners in international political economy and theology to respond to the Pope’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate. These responses will continue to refine and expand on the dialogue that the Pope has created through this important document, and bring some of its critical insights—and problems—into Protestant focus. The conference featured an emphasis on both theological and theoretical reflection on the one hand, and policy development, institutional design and implementation on the other.

The papal encyclical Caritas in Veritate published in July 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI continues a tradition of sophisticated theological engagement of catholic social teaching with contemporary issues in political economy. The encyclical has aroused considerable interest and debate, especially amongst Catholics and evangelicals. The organisers of this conference were behind the publication in August of an open letter signed by many prominent evangelicals (see www.doingthetruth.org) and published in First Things and Books and Culture. The letter recognises the significance of the encyclical and calls on Christians, especially evangelicals, to engage and respond to it. This conference is part of that response.

Stephen Long is Professor of Systematic Theology at Marquette University and the author of The Divine Economy: Theology and Market, which details a Christian approach to economics based in the school of Radical orthodoxy.

Paul Mills is a Senior Economist in the IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department.

Fr. Raymond de Souza is a trained economist, father within the Kingston Archdiocese and regular contributor to various Canadian publications.

Paul Oslington is professor at Australian Catholic University where his appointment is jointly in the School of Business and School of Theology. He was previously Professor of Economics and Finance at University of Notre Dame.

Ray Pennings is a Senior Fellow and Director of Research at Cardus and is one of Canada’s top authorities on industrial relations, public policy and political activism.

Mark Polet brings 33 years of experience as a professional biologist reconciling the tension between man-made and natural ecologies through environmental impact assessments, habitat restoration, and integrated environmental and occupational health systems in thirteen countries. As an entrepreneur, he has established three environmental firms, and currently works for Klohn Crippen Berger. Mark is also a liturgical poet.

Iain W. Provan is the E. Marshall Shepherd Professor of Biblical Studies (Old Testament) at Regent College. He has authored commentaries on 1 & 2 Kings, Ecclesiastes & Song of Songs, and Lamentations, as well as numerous scholarly articles.

Peter Stockland is the Executive Director of the Centre for Cultural Renewal. Mr. Stockland comes to the executive director’s position from Readers’ Digest Magazines Canada Ltd., where he was vice-president of English-language magazines. He currently runs his own media relations company, Prima Communication, in Montreal.

Gideon Strauss is president of the Center for Public Justice and editor of Comment. From 1999 to 2009, he was research and education director for the Christian Labour Association of Canada.

Paul Williams (BA, MA, MSc (Oxford), MCS (Regent College)) is David J Brown Family Associate Professor of Marketplace Theology and Leadership at Regent College.He is also a Director and Economic Advisor to DTZ Holdings, an international real estate consulting and investment banking group. He came to Regent from his most recent role as Chief Economist and Head of International Research for DTZ.

Jonathan Wellum is the current CEO and CIO of RockLinc Investment Partners and was formerly the CEO of AIC Limited.

Emile Van Velsen is Sector Manager on Policy, Communications and International Departments at CNV (National Federation of Christian Trade Unions in the Netherlands).