Phillip Blond presentation to Synod fringe event

Phillip Blond, the founder and director of the think-tank ResPublica, spoke about the role of the Church in the Big Society during a special Synod fringe event organised by Church Urban Fund.

In his presentation, thinker and theologian Phillip Blond made the case that state intervention - and market-driven approaches - have both failed in dealing with the causes and symptoms of poverty.

The Church has historically been active in providing key social services, such as education and home visiting, which have protected the poorest from marginalisation and destitution. As the state became increasingly active in these areas, Blond argued, the Church's key role has been sidelined. The challenge for the Church now is not to fill gaps in welfare, he says, but to recapture its radical place in society.

You can now download the slides from the presentation as a PDF; please note that these are Phillip Blond's views and opinions and may not be wholly representative of Church Urban Fund.

We are grateful to Phillip and to ResPublica for helping us to create a highly stimulating event.