Beyond Blame: making accountability work

There is understandable scepticism that the social and political structures that affect everyday life can be held to account. It is not difficult to find poor performance that hasn't been challenged, systemic problems that are repeatedly investigated without real change, and public policy that lets down those most in need. This day conference will look head on at the challenges of accountability whilst opening up your own work to the same questions.

Three people who are in positions of being held to account and holding others to account will be asked to open up about the challenges they face:

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol

Vic Rayner, CEO, National Care Forum

Christine Allen, Director, CAFOD

Key issues will be drawn from their accounts and participants given an opportunity in small groups to reflect upon them. Alongside this, Dr Helen Cameron (practical theologian and Research Associate, Centre for Baptist Stuides, Regent's Park College, Oxford)will summarise some of the current academic thinking about accountability and relate it to themes in Christian theology.

The Revd Dr Mike Long, minister of Notting Hill Methodist Church, will offer a closing reflection linking the day's presentation to his experience of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

This conference is for everyone involved in organisational life and leadership - both those within churches and faith organisations, as well as those within secular organisations.

The conference will be held on Zoom and a link will be sent out a few days in advance of the event, along with other relevant information.