Download a pdf file (64 pages) of this booklet, which was prepared by the Uniting Church Task Group on the Understanding and Use of the Bible, as appointed by the Standing Committee of the Assembly of the Uniting Church (Assembly Minute 97.31.14). This resulted from a request from the Eighth Assembly of the Uniting Church for a group 'to prepare and make available material on ways in which the Church
understands and uses the Bible in seeking to live in faithfulness to the Gospel' .  The studies contained in this publication are offered to the Church as a teaching tool that can be used by local church study groups to develop an understanding about the use of the Bible.

Outside the City Gate: A Bible Study ©
Written by Welwood L. Anderson and published by Friends of Unity, this booklet contains eight biblical commentaries and studies, with prayers, a Guide to assist leaders in small group studies, background notes, a glossary and references.  It uses material that has been presented in one form or another at meetings of Uniting Network, Unity and Friends of Unity and presents and explores inclusive, biblical traditions., with reference to issues of sexuality.

An informative and challenging article by Brian Phillips that crticises the way that our churches and their members accept unquestioned and uncritical use the Scriptures.  Questions are raised concerning tolerance, proof-texting, and overcoming simplistic approaches that are unjust.  Phillips propose some basic principles and gives an example of how one approaches biblical interpretation with integrity.  More ...

Can orthodoxy, as ‘right opinion’, ‘right doctrine’, or ‘right belief’, be traced as a single set of beliefs, back through the historical periods of the church from modernity, through the Enlightenment, the Reformation, the Middle Ages, post Chalcedon periods, formations of creed at Chalcedon and Nicaea to the early church, the Gospels and the apostles to Christ?  Is the church like a mighty tree, with individuals like leaves held on community twigs amid denominational branches that flow to a solid trunk and down to deep roots bedded in Christ?  Is this a valid image, allowing for a pruning, as heresies were excised from the trunk?  Or does being perched on your leaf and looking back along twig and branch give a myopic view, hiding the swamp below from which your particular viewpoint emerged on one of many trunks? More...

Doug Brandon's article, "Reverence for the Scriptures" (an external link) makes interesting reading.  Doug is not of open and affirming persuasion, and he styles himself as "evangelical" (aren't we all?),  however he takes EMU to task over some of its recent diatribe from its website.  This article is also available from the Assembly web site. ©

A scholarly overview of the "texts of terror" that are often cited in defense of restricting the participation of gay persons within the church or quoted against homosexuality per se.  This commentary uses literary criticism and historical-critical methods and the approach is consistent with the Uniting Church in Australia's Basis of Union (Paragraphs 5 and 11), and seeks to engage the Scriptures openly and critically, in our time.  It begins with reading the text, as given in the New Revised Standard Version of the English language translation of the Bible.  Where necessary to explain or comment upon translation from the original Hebrew or Greek, a transliterated form of the original language is used, to make understanding easier for those unfamiliar with Hebrew or Greek script.  More...