Moral Theology & Ethics

What is Christian Ethics & Moral Theology?

Candidates can look forward to a written exam in the area of Moral Theology & Christian Ethics - also know as Practical Divinity. This is the rubber meeting the road section of Christian life. How does what we believe affect the way that we as Christians act? Exploring that belief/action connection is the heart of Christian Ethics and Moral Theology.

Moral Theology and Ethics is a central element of the Anglican theological tradition. Practical Divinity, as this area of theology is also called within Anglicanism, connects faith and action. Anglicans have a long history of concern with both the moral dimensions individual and corporate life. Anglicans have been active in education, medical treatment, the anti-slavery movement, poverty relief and a variety of other areas of social concern. They have also focused on the individual moral life, with great attention to the development of virtue through a Rule of Life including regular prayer and study.

Wrestling with the nitty gritty details of how the fallen world wounds human hearts and how the Lord cares and restores them through His provision makes upon the central aspect of this Canonical Area. Candidates can expect questions on methodology and specific issues. Examples given are intentionally outrageous to provide maximum opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their ability to apply the teachings of Holy Scripture and Christian Tradition to the situations described.

Resources

Hayes, Richard The Moral Vision of the New Testament (HarperCollins, 1996). This text appears on many syllabi for Ethics courses at Anglican Seminaries and provides a good introduction to the integration of Holy Scripture and Christian Ethics.

Pinckaers, Servais The Sources of Christian Ethics A basic introduction to the history of the Catholic moral tradition. In addition to the contemporary books listed above, there are many primary source books from the Anglican tradition which offer greater insight into the deposit of wisdom offered by the Body of Christ throughout the centuries.

Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity Rev. Richard Hooker

Holy Living Rt. Rev. Jeremy Taylor

Sub-Sections of Moral Theology & Ethics

a. Ability to identify morally relevant information in a situation b. Evaluate using 3 methods: consequences, rules, character/virtue c. Resources from scripture & tradition d. Lives of the saints - exemplars of Christian life e. Mandated Reporter f. Individual & corporate g. Pastoral implications h. Sacrament of confession i. Cure of Souls j. Contemporary Moral Issues