The logo on the machine is "Baptist Savings", a small but significant sign that a financial force is rising that could suck more business out of the big four banks.

Baptist Savings has seen its deposits grow in the last 12 months from $60 million to $85m, and it is shooting for $150m in the next three years.

As well as the lending to churches, the mortgage business, and the beginnings of an ATM network, Baptist Savings has also launched an insurance-broking division and offers funeral insurance as part of its growing portfolio of financial services.

The money it raises is lent out to build and develop Baptist churches, something the Christchurch earthquakes has increased demand for, but since the appointment of a business development manager it has been setting its sights wider.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• baptistsavings.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

Church acting general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra said the annual meeting which was disallowed in the past four years was crucial to the operations of the church.

"We're still awaiting the decision by the police on our permit application and, hopefully, the result will be favourable," he said.

Nawadra said the Church has submitted its conference agenda to the police as part of its permit application.

Church assistant general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra Banivanua said last year's agenda was submitted to the police.

He said the only changes would be the names and dates.

He confirmed that the names of church president Reverend Ame Tugaue and church secretary Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu would remain.

Director of Operations Police SSP Rusiate Tudravu said the sole authority on the matter was Police Commissioner Brigadier Ioane Naivalurua.

He said the commissioner had promised to consider the application and would make the final decision himself.

• Fiji Times
• Fiji Times
• Image: FijiVillage.com

During his speech he called for greater care for the environment, the development of sustainable and a more just economic system. The Tobin/Robin Hood tax made "economic common sense" he said.

Sorondo told Caritas delegates from around the world that finance and the economy can benefit society if they are tailored towards the common good, but financial institutions can be destructive if unregulated.

"Economics must not be exclusive," he said. The bishop called for economics to be seen in the context of other issues such as sustainable energy, the environment, education and social issues such as drug use and prostitution rather than just GDP.

Speaking at the London School of Economics he said that while some were seeking a change of culture, as a group the financial sector had failed to reform itself.

"Until a different culture has taken hold, I cannot see how a real and necessary change can take place," he said.

In his lecture "Good Life in Hard Times" he said the market, the state and society all exist to serve humanity and the common good.

Nichols argued strongly in favour of religious freedom, saying that it helped a thriving civil society and "increases our capacity to do good in the public square" and maintained that a society of many faiths, such a Britain, had a chance to export a new model of tolerant pluralism.

"Britain is a remarkable test case. We are living in a crucible in a global experiment of religious co-existence," he said. "In this country we have the opportunity, through the greater acceptance of the positive role of religion, to exemplify and perhaps export a new model of tolerant religious pluralism."

The archbishop argued that religious voices should not be excluded, but should not be given special privilege, either.

He said: "The mature and enlightened secular square should echo to the sound of many faiths, in dialogue with one another and with secular protagonists to the enrichment of all."

Related
Good Life in Hard Times - Archbishop Nichols speech and Podcast
Source: Catholic Herald
Image: Catholic Church in England and Wales (Flickr)