Volume 10.1

In this issues we begin, as perhaps we should, with the first day of the week, the day of rest. Paul Stevens’ article on the Sabbath succeeds in drawing out the positive value of Sunday, as well as taking us into a wider understanding which will inform our daily work. An aspect of this is the biblical Jubilee directive, and Peter Heslam reviews the Jubilee Manifesto, a book designed to restore the damaged relationships within our communities, debt being just one cause of this.
The theme of debt is taken up by Antony Elliott, whose extensive banking experience led him to undertake a research project into the reasons why people become hopelessly in debt. The article ends with some countercultural suggestions for personal improvement based on scripture, and the need for us to be content with what we have.
This leads us to an impassioned article by Nick Spencer on the discontent generated by the power of Tesco and large supermarkets to destroy our town centres and social life. He ends with a call to take action against Tesco. John Lovatt replies with a more content consumer’s view.
The campaign against such big business is scrutinised by Peter Heslam in the context of David Cameron’s remarks about Christian Aid. Cameron appears to be in favour of Free Trade, but maintains he wishes to stand up to big business. Peter asks if he is being simply inconsistent?
Big business is again under scrutiny in a report by Richard Murphy of The Tax Gap Limited on the ability of large businesses to engineer their tax burdens to unfair levels. Richard wrote in FiBQ 7.4 of the scriptural basis for requiring big business to pay fair tax.
The Church of England General Synod caused a storm when it passed a motion commending disinvestment in Caterpillar, who supply the machines with which Israel demolishes Palestinian houses. Eve Poole looks at this venture into politics and concludes Synod was not right, but brave.
Finally, and in refreshing contrast, Richard Gutteridge reviews Authentic Business, about how a small business might be run in a perfect way.
We are pleased to find that the controversial article on The Equitable Company resulted in two very interesting letters from readers.