The WCC has been unable to take this step to date, deciding instead to embark on process which explores only how the economy affects the church. The fundamental ethical issue has to do with how one opposes the notion, and practices attached to this notion, of a value-free economy. How do religious communities get involved in discussion with business sector, banks, and other economic organizations to introduce questions of justice, for example. Materialism has great power over minds and hearts of people. The central pastoral question concerns the way in which globalisation reduces the space for mercy.
Churches are heralds of mercy, grace and justice.
Their support base is being reduced in the globalisation process. This must be resisted. The more one becomes a competitive person, the less one cares about others and the consequences of one's own decisions upon others. This is reflected in the idea of 'private care', which has become important to health policy. The religious movement follows suit by spiritualising, and thereby privatising, biblical texts on justice and similar themes.