Tapestry of Faith: The Wi$dom Path: An Adult Program on Money, Spirit, and Life

Activity 3: Economic Justice - What is Our Responsibility?

Part of The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 15 minutes

Materials for Activity

Preparation for Activity

  • Make copies of Handout 1.
  • Write this definition of “economic justice” (from Urban Dictionary) on newsprint, and post:
    • Economic justice: the ability of everyone, no matter how much money they earn, to participate in their local and global economy and have a say in how public resources are distributed
  • Arrange for participants to have comfortable places for writing.
  • Divide a sheet of newsprint into two columns, title them “Awareness” and “Action,” and post.
  • Write the following questions on a sheet of newsprint, and post:
    • What choices of ours diminish, marginalize, or endanger people we don’t even know? Why don’t we know more about the effects of our choices?
    • How can an individual, a household, or a congregation honor the commitment in the UU Statement of Conscience? How can we move from “not knowing” to “awareness” toward action?

Description of Activity

Call attention to the definition of economic justice you have posted, Lead a discussion, asking:

  • What is meant or implied by “participate” in the global economy? What kind of participation is just and fair?
  • What does it look like when all participants in an economy “have a say” in the distribution of public, or shared, resources?
  • How would you expand or alter this dictionary definition?

Next, distribute copies of Handout 1, Economic Globalization Statement of Conscience Excerpts. Invite participants to read it. Call attention to the italicized sentences in the conclusion of the Statement of Conscience.

Distribute paper, pens, and markers. Invite participants to find a comfortable spot and to take about five minutes for reflection, journaling, or drawing in response to the italicized sentences in the Statement of Conscience. Ask:

What are your fears, and how do you resist change? What would you need individually, or what do we need collectively, to grow in awareness and move into action?

After about five minutes, sound the chime and help participants form pairs. Ask them to consider the posted questions for about five minutes.

Sound the chime after five minutes to regather the large group. Invite each pair to offer a highlight or two from their conversation. Then brainstorm together ways in which individuals, families, congregations, and communities might become more aware of the impact of their choices and the ways in which they might act to make choices more in line with Unitarian Universalist principles. Record ideas on newsprint in the appropriate column, "Awareness" or "Action."