We are God’s stewards of God’s world.
*Some general principles of ethical decision making in the area of environmental stewardship include, in no particular order:
- valuing all the life of this planet as a gift from God
- treasuring every human being because each is made in the image of God
- managing resources for the economic and social good of society
- protecting the planet/environment from abuse
- sharing equitably the wealth created by development
- addressing questions of injustice and inequity
- meeting the demands of truth by transparency
Development of resources brings costs to the environment; the question society faces is whether that environmental cost is manageable and acceptable.
Social costs and social sustainability are also vital aspects of decision making. We also take a strong stand against NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) as morally indefensible.
Christians strongly support the social contract between the governed and the governors as intrinsic to the good order of society, and are committed to ‘speaking the truth in love’, courteous debate and open decision-making by elected governments; recognizing that public issues can be very complex and ultimately it is rarely possible to please everybody.
*From page 7 of my Presidential Address to Synod, Launceston 2007.
