Radical Abundance: A Theology of Sustainability

http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/webcasts/videos

Korten launches Agenda for a New Economy at historic church in the heart of Wall Street

The historic Trinity Church, founded in 1697 in the heart of what is now Wall Street, hosted a national conference of faith leaders January 21-23, 2009, the day after the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. The topic of the conference was “Radical Abundance: A Theology of Sustainability,” which addressed the need and opportunity to advance an economic transformation for justice and sustainability. More than 80 congregations across the United States participated via webcast and organized discussion groups based on professionally designed study guides.

Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth. was launched at this conference. See David's report.

You can view Korten's conference presentation "Spiritual Awakening, a New Economy, and the End of Empire" on the Trinity website. An edited print version of the presentation will appear in the March-April 2009 issue of Tikkun magazine.

Trinity Institute will produce a book and DVD on the conference proceedings to further spread the conversation beyond the original participants. Contact: Angelica Roman-Jimenez, aroman@trinitywallstreet.org or Wall Street Trinity Institute for more information.

The featured speakers were:
Majora Carter, famed South Bronx community organizer and co-chair of Green for All,
Sister Miriam MacGillis, founder of Genesis Farm and recipient of the 2005 Thomas Berry Award for her ministry on the new cosmology.
Timothy J. Gorringe, a leader in environmental theology from the UK.
Rev. Nestor Miguez, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, a leader in articulating a Latin American perspective on the life and teachings of Jesus.
David Korten, author of The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community and board chair of YES! magazine.

David offered this observation prior to the conference:

“Given the timing, reach, and location of this conference,I can scarcely imagine a more favorable opportunity to make a historic contribution to framing a new national conversation on the redesign of an economy that has failed environmentally, socially, and now financially. The conference organizers intend to highlight the relationship between spiritual awakening and economic transformation in the service of justice and sustainability. My presentation will frame the moral choice between money and life and the ways in which Wall Street has reproduced the historic practice of debt bondage on a national and global scale to maintain the structures of domination and expropriation that the world’s great religions have condemned for thousands of years.

"The publication schedule for Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth. Why Wall Street Can't Be Fixed and How to Replace it was timed to have the book available in time to launch at this conference.

“Working with the staff of the Trinity Church Institute has been a thrilling experience. They bring an exceptional commitment, spiritual sensibility, and professionalism to the work of making this a significant national event.”
http://www.davidkorten.org/