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Debt


In recent years growing concern has been expressed about the growth of personal debt and its implications particularly for poorer families.

In January 2008 the Church of England compiled a Post Christmas Debt Check for consumers worried about Christmas and New Year spending. It can be accessed online as a pdf file on the Matter of Life and Debt pages, at www.cofe.anglican.org/debt.

 In July 1993 a Private Members Motion on the subject was debated by the General Synod. The following motion was carried:

'This Synod:

  1. express its concern at the mounting level of personal debt and call upon members of the Church of England to be involved both locally and nationally in tackling this problem, in particular by:
    1. contributing their own Christian insights;
    2. becoming informed of the facts established by recent independent and Christian research;
    3. supporting representations to commercial, financial and official bodies whose activities are relevant to the problem; and
    4. contributing to efforts to reduce the adverse consequences of debt, for example by:
      1. education in money management;
      2. debt counselling; and
      3. protesting against pressure techniques.
  2. and furthermore urge the pastoral staff of dioceses and colleges to be particularly aware of the incidence of debt amongst ordinands and clergy and to include clear financial guidance in the training schemes before and after ordination.'

Further information and resources

Free list of publications and resources including Your Money Matters pack with video (for 14 to 16 age group), available from Credit Action, Howard House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln   LN6 3QN (Tel: 01522 699 777).

Coping with Debt, CTS Publications, 192 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1PD.