January 29, 2010
By Lynette Wilson

In summary of the discussions, panels and lectures presented during the Trinity Institute's conference on building an ethical economy, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams identified four repeated themes in his closing remarks: language, education, definition of self and trust.

"Building an ethical economy is something that will engage us on all of these levels, and I trust and hope that in the light of these discussions that engagement will indeed go forward," Williams said. "We belong to churches and communities of faith, have resources that we are bound to share … We are able to hold up models, images, ideals, not as distant abstractions, but as matters rooted in our very identity and faith."

To build the kind of ethical economy Christians envision, Williams said, it is necessary to examine language usage and challenge common assumptions; to look beyond education as the transfer of knowledge, to include what is gained through practice and relationships; for people of faith to establish a clear definition of themselves (identifying the myths and fantasies that need to be shed); and to establish a trust at all levels of society that will hold humanity together.

Williams was in New York to participate in the Trinity Institute's 40th National Theological Conference – "Building an Ethical Economy: Theology and the Market Place," exploring the intersection between economics and theology, held at Trinity Wall Street in New York's financial district Jan. 27-29. The conference officially began Jan. 27 with an evening Eucharist, where Williams celebrated and Archbishop of Burundi Bernard Ntahoturi preached.

The archbishop opened and closed the conference. Williams' lecture "Theology and Economics: Two Different Worlds?" began day two of the conference Jan. 28.

In exploring the intersection between economics and theology, the conference sought to explore questions and themes including: "Is capitalism a belief system?"; "What is wealth and how should it be measured?"; "constructive models of economics and consumerism"; and "envision ways to build an economy that is both ethical and just." The conference included presentations, panel discussions followed by Q&A sessions and theological reflection groups.

During his visit here, the archbishop also made a stop at St. Ann's Episcopal Church in the South Bronx, and participated in a panel and gave the address at an event organized by the office of the Anglican Observer at the United Nations Jan. 26 and held at the Desmond Tutu Center on the campus of The General Theological Seminary. He also took part in discussions at the United Nations and, along with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, met with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

William's wife, Jane Williams, a theologian and writer, accompanied Williams on his visit. Jane Williams met with bishops' spouses, including Richard Schori, the husband of the presiding bishop, and Karen Sisk, wife of New York Bishop Mark S. Sisk, at a luncheon Jan. 27. Similar to the Episcopal bishops' spouses' network, Williams has formed "The Spouses Vine," the Anglican spouses' network, she said.

The archbishop is scheduled Jan. 30 to give the annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, New York, and to receive an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from the seminary.

Episcopal News Service
Lynette Wilson is a reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service.