ethics

Synod’s Shared Conversations

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Through a mixture of rain and shine, cool breezes and muggy stillness, General Synod spent three days engaged in ‘Shared Conversations’ about the Church and sexuality, the final event in a two-year process of conversations involving representatives from dioceses meeting to do the same around the country. Feedback from previous events had been somewhat mixed, and … Continue Reading

Westminster Abbey, Gucci, & Exotic Animal Skins

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David Clough, Professor of Theological Ethics, University of Chester, writes: Last week, Westminster Abbey found itself in the midst of an unusual controversy. Controversial enough for the Abbey to be hosting a high fashion show, but then People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury pointing out that Gucci, one … Continue Reading

Do we need Karl Barth’s help with ethics?

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I have a confession to make: I feel rather ambivalent about Karl Barth. As a theology undergraduate, I absolutely loved reading his Evangelical Theology. But when doing my PhD on hermeneutics and Revelation, I came across some of his later writing on saga, and was very much less convinced. In rejecting the legacy of Liberal Protestantism’s … Continue Reading

Is ‘inclusion’ a Christian virtue?

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Most people reading the title above will wonder what the debate is about—but in different directions. Some will say ‘of course is it’ and others ‘of course it isn’t’. The latest title in the Grove Ethics series explores this vexed question and is a powerful and important study by Dr Edward Dowler, formerly Vice Principal of St Stephen’s … Continue Reading

The Meaning of Death

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It is remarkable to think that it is only 11 days since the vote on the Assisted Dying Bill—a week is a long time in social media ethics. As part of ongoing reflection on this issue, Matthew Kirkpatrick of Wycliffe Hall in Oxford offers this reflection on The Meaning of Death—A Response to Lord Carey … Continue Reading

When can the state kill? Questions and issues in the case of Reyaad Khan

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Andrew Goddard writes: The Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons last Monday that our armed forces used a remotely controlled aircraft (or drone) to kill Reyaad Khan in “a targeted strike to deal with a clear, credible and specific terrorist threat to our country at home”. This action was authorised by the Defence Secretary … Continue Reading

False steps in the assisted dying debate

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I am reposting this guest article from Andrew Goddard written last year, since it gives such a clear and full response to the move today to change the law on assisted dying. As we approach the House of Lords’ debate on Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill, it is clear that there is a concerted attempt to undermine … Continue Reading

“Equal marriage”: Is There A New Christian Ethic for Sex and Marriage?

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In a guest post, Andrew Goddard reflects on the issues for a possible Christian ethic of same-sex marriage. Last week’s Supreme Court judgment in the US, following swiftly after the Irish referendum, has made the legalisation of same-sex marriage major news again. As in England, the Christian voices have been divided. There are those, including … Continue Reading

Tony Campolo’s change of heart

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I wrote this piece for Christianity Magazine blog last week. I have added some other perspectives below. It was with some sadness that I read of Tony Campolo’s change of heart on the question of same-sex relationships. But was with even greater sadness that I read his reasoning. I was sad because Tony has been a … Continue Reading