Living out the values of God’s economy of life requires us to understand life and all its riches as a sacred gift from God which must be approached with humility, regarded with reverence and respect, and valued as precious, never being taken for granted. This is the understanding that the Uniting Church takes into the public sphere as it advocates for justice, peace and the integrity of creation. It should also be the attitude that marks our relationship with the buildings, money, people and communities for which we have responsibility.

This guide is intended as an encouragement for faithful ethical decision-making across the life of the Uniting Church in Australia. It is based on the principles and commitments to the wellbeing of people and the planet as described in the Assembly Statement, An Economy of Life: Reimagining Human Progress for a Flourishing World. The Assembly Standing Committee has commended this resource for use across the Church and its agencies.

Each of the main sections starts with a short reflection and offers a series of questions designed to serve as conversation starters. The questions are not designed to elicit ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers but rather to help us ensure that our conversations and decisions are grounded in and framed by our faith, our church and our shared understandings of what it means to live faithfully.