The General Synod, meeting this week in London, will have a number of important debates.  The one which may be foremost in the minds of some church people might be further discussion of the ordination of women as bishops.  But for the ordinary person in the street the debate on the current economic crisis will be an important guide as to whether the Church has anything relevant to say.

We all know we are facing the most serious recession since the Second World War, and comparisons are being drawn with the1930s.  That is because not only is there a downturn in the economy, which is causing redundancies and unemployment but we are facing a major financial crisis as well.

Of course, the Church should do practical things to help those affected.  We should be alert to the pastoral needs of members of our congregations and parishes - but also be aware of the expertise amongst people in our parishes who may be able to help.  Faith at Work in Worcestershire is running a workshop on 18 March for clergy and other leaders to provide information about redundancy, benefits, debt advice and so on.  If someone asked you for help would you know what to say or where to point them to?

The General Synod debate and what might flow from it also gives us an opportunity as the Church to look again at our present situation and ask some hard questions about how we have got where we are.  Reflecting on those hard questions would then encourage us to mine the Christian scriptures and tradition and use our present understanding to propose a way forward based on a deeper sense of the purpose of life and our relationships founded on love, mercy and justice.

We have allowed individual gain and disproportionate advantage to be too much at the centre of our financial relations.  This has been combined with a general pursuit of material well-being at the expense of our souls, which together have caused distortions that have brought us to a point where we face a violent correction.  If this recession is as bad and goes on as long as many forecast many people will be seriously hurt.  The Church with other agencies of compassion needs to be ready to help both practically but also to care for people's spirits.

Our economy and financial system is badly damaged by what has happened, particularly in the past six months, and a return to how we have been could not happen overnight.  But even if that were possible would we want it?  Christians should be pressing for an economic system that regulates financial power and does not allow it to build up in a small number of hands.  It should ensure that resources are used for the benefit of all of us, and especially the poor in this country and the developing world, rather than for speculation and the enrichment of a small number of very wealthy people.  It should count the whole cost of the things we produce so that the cost to God's creation is realistically included and we can better use the talent and labour set free by the downturn for more socially useful purposes and to ensure we put right the damage we are doing to our environment.

As Christians we need to mine the resources we have about what human life and flourishing should mean and think hard about what our faith teaches about our living together and inter-relationship.  At a time when many may question how we have got into the mess we are in, the Church must rediscover its nerve and offer new hope and possibilities so that the economy, which shapes so much of our lives, works more truly for our personal and shared well-being.

Phillip Jones