EKD Press Releases

Nikolaus Schneider: "The Economic System Must Serve"

EKD Council chair calls for a humane economy

February 07, 2012

Präses Nikolaus Schneider, the chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), today expressed his concern with regard to the current state of financial markets and economic policy: "All economic systems and any financial policy must be conceived with people in mind and for the sake of people." They must be measured in terms of whether and to what extent they cheat people out of a fair wage and their fair share, or exploit, humiliate and degrade them," Schneider said today in Mainz.

Referring to Jesus' words in the Gospel of Mark that tell us that the Sabbath was made for the sake of people and not people for the sake of the Sabbath, Schneider insisted that economic and financial policy must serve "a social and solidary human community." Both must be measured according to "whether and to what extent they serve the selfish greed for profit of the few, or combat un-solidary lobby politics and clientelism."

Schneider emphasized that it was not the role of the church and theology to "demonize" profit-oriented entrepreneurship and material wealth per se. But it was important that people also gather "heavenly treasures" as they gather "earthly treasures." And this only happens - as the Bible witnesses - when people open their hearts and hands to the wants and needs of their fellow human beings. And provided they do not idolize earthly treasures as their one and only goal. Hence, "economics cannot claim to have total control."

Hanover, February 07, 2012

Press Office of the EKD#
Reinhard Mawick