“An ecumenical school of Governance, Economics and Management (GEM) should be established to develop economic competencies and empowerment within the ecumenical movement. In addition, educational materials should be developed to enhance the economic and financial literacy of church members.” – World Council of Churches, Sao Paulo, October 2012
The founders of GEM School, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) hope to foster creation of a New International Financial and Economic Architecture. The central aim is to develop economic competencies and empowerment within the ecumenical movement. In the ecumenical movement, important documents concerning globalization and the economy have been published in recent years. However, despite their value, they do not adequately reflect theological perspectives or church concerns, nor did they substantially influence economic or business practices and ways of thinking.
To address these deficiencies, the Ecumenical School for Governance, Economics and Management (GEM School) was organized and held its first program in Hong Kong in 2016. Its curriculum is designed to develop competencies in mainstream economic knowledge and apply or transfer this sort of knowledge to theological forms of thinking, analyzing or interpreting the world.
A bridge of access between the economic and theological realms has to be built. Vocabulary and languages of the worlds involved must be learned. A curriculum that serves as this bridge contains multiple levels that accomplish the following tasks:
- Impart the basic knowledge of mainstream economics.
- Place the methods of economics in the necessary context, since economics is not just numbers, but a complex phenomenon of political, cultural, social or ecological components.
- Introduce the interdisciplinary structure and ethical implications of combining theological dimensions with economics and management.
- Develop ideas for transformative strategies. Political and strategic implications for churches are laid out and presented in projects.
Bridge-building among economics, management, ethics and theology is a journey of communication that starts with confusion. It demands the curiosity to take a step into an uncommon area of thought and experience. It will enrich competencies for leadership, for both theologians and economists. Structural thinking of economics helps Christians better realize the contexts they work and live in, and ethical thinking enriches leaders in business and economics. The well-balanced integration of both is the vision we pursue.
Martin Büscher is professor for economics/economic and business ethics at Protestant University Wuppertal/Bethel (Institute for Diaconic Science and Diaconic Management) in Germany. He also serves as dean of the GEM School.
