|
NOTES
FROM
AN ORDINAND
While I am on my "overseas posting" at St John's, Milford my study life continues and this term
we are looking at Ethics. Why you might ask, should I need to study anything like this as part
of my ministry training? It's true that all Christians have a duty to be informed about matters
of morality and ethics. However, as a Christian Minister I may be called upon to provide information,
advice, even counselling and resources to help other people make the right choices as they face
what are often seen to be impossible dilemmas. Of course, I cannot hope to be an expert in every
field but I think it is important to have enough knowledge to be able to make intelligent comments
and give wise counsel. I don't expect to be making proclamations about what is right and wrong
all the time. I do think it desirable, though, that I am able to open up discussions, provide
other parts of a picture and capable of aiding and abetting the decision-making process by others.
It looks as though it is going to be a tough term. The background reading we have to complete
each week is significant and daunting! There is a lot of theory but also a great deal of practical
work, thinking and discussions planned to ensure that we students can make connections with
what is going on in the real world.
As Christians we will be looking at how our Christian faith influences our moral vision and
life. We will also be looking at the content of Christian morality and how and why such Christian
ethics might be not be shared by or are even objectionable to others. For example, many Christians
hold that abortion and euthanasia are always wrong because they contravene the principle of
respect for life. Even within Christian groups there are disagreements. Some Christians and
churches hold very strong views on issues such as abortion, birth control, homosexuality and
war, to cite but a few examples, that are radically at odds with other Christians. We will be
looking in detail at all these subjects as we seek to understand how and why we make ethical
decisions. We will be looking at what influences our decision making in everything from the
trivial to the life threatening. Every day we make ethical decisions ranging from "Should I
support Fairtrade?" and "Should I buy this brand of tuna?" through to "Should I have an abortion?"
or "What shall I do for my terminally ill relative?"
All around us we are faced with difficult decisions. As a Christian I am called to live in the
world and relate my faith to context as I seek to share my faith. It is not possible to be a
Christian in a vacuum, taking no account of what is going on in society locally, nationally
and globally. The Church is often accused (and sometimes with justification) of being out of
touch with reality. My prayer is that during this term I become more aware of the issues which
tax the minds and hearts of so many people. I don't expect to discover definitive solutions
but hope I will understand some of the problems and know which questions to ask.
Peter Muir
|
|
