DESCRIPTION: This introduction to Christian ethics aims to identify and
compare fundamental assumptions that shape how Christians practice their
Christian discipleship, seeking a method that aids repentance and correction,
and growth in wholeness and commitment to serve Jesus Christ as Lord in all of
life and ministry. The agenda will be set by the Sermon on the Mount, and so
the course will include issues of violence and peacemaking, sanctity of life,
sexual faithfulness, truth-telling, love, justice (economic, racial, and
ecological), and prayer.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: The first course objective is that you understand and
dialogue with some of the key variables in different ways of reasoning besides
your own. Second, that your own ethics grows in its relation with biblical
faith, especially Jesus' kingdom ethics, and in your ability to explain your
ethics to someone else. Third, that you increase your skill in teaching or
communicating your Christian ethics in your present and future places of
ministry and in helping others live Christian ethics. Fourth, that you be able
to reason articulately in relation to several contemporary ethical issues that
we will study. Fifth, that the course's holistic method, with its variables,
help you identify key ingredients in reasoning ethically about other issues
beyond those we can study in this one term.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Christian ministers teach Christians to be disciples
and to make disciples and to do the teachings of Jesus, equipping persons to be
Christians in character and lifestyle, followers of Christ, rather than unaware
captives of a secular culture. Christian ethics seeks to develop skills for
that central ministry, which is at the heart of what Jesus did and taught. Such
skills begin with growth in our own Christian ethics as well as in
understanding the fundamental assumptions in others' ethics. We will study how
biblical and theological faith are integrated with experiential information in
growing character and in confronting moral problems faced by church members and
other folks. We will include a focus on practices of Christian churches, not
only individual decision-making.
COURSE FORMAT: Lectures and discussion. Class will meet twice a week for
two-hour sessions.
REQUIRED READING: