The main British party conferences were about to sidestep the economy, but the latest bank crunch has made the topic unavoidable, says Simon Barrow. But do politicians or the churches have anything meaningful to say?

Christians should be working for non-discrimination in faith schools because the Gospel is a message of sacrificial love not selfishness, says Simon Barrow. The Accord coalition's proposed reforms offer a constructive way forward.

Christians have lived in conformity to the ethics of Caesar too long, says Simon Barrow. As Christendom fades, fresh possibilities for peace emerge from a renewed understanding of what it means to be the Body of Christ.

Gordon Brown's recent poll humiliations have left him seeking to rebuild support, says Simon Barrow. The 'faith constituency' is one that he has a particular interest in - and it won't go away.

Why Prince William should carve out a new role for himself as peacemaker. As the recent focus on the growing death toll in Afghanistan brings into sharp relief, the best way to honour those affected by the disfigurement, maiming and killing which accompanies all wars, is not to glamorise those who do it.

When it comes to religion and public life, there is frequently unhelpful confusion in the debate, says Simon Barrow. Initial responses to the Von Hugel report on church and welfare illustrate this.

Globalisation constructed as top-down control and the triumph of the powerful needs to be disrupted by a different and gentler logic, says Simon Barrow. But will we choose Pentecost or Babel?