Life in a complex world: Ethics for Christians

Life in a complex world: Ethics for Christians

Life in a complex world: Ethics for Christians is a series of three stand-alone Professional Development sessions designed to help Christians think carefully, biblically and pastorally about complex ethical questions they are already encountering in ministry, work and everyday life.   

Each three-hour session offers a focused deep dive into a contemporary issue with someone who has done the thinking. 

You can come to the session that speaks most directly to your context, or join us for all three as a short ethics series for your ministry, workplace or personal discipleship. 

Dates: Wednesday 21 October, Wednesday 28 October and Wednesday 4 November
Time: Three-hour Professional Development sessions from our Christian Ethics unit. 10am - 1pm
Format: In person and online
Cost: $70 per session 

Wednesday 21 October
Christian Ethics and Assisted Dying
Rev. Dr Andrew Errington 

This session will explore Christian thinking about euthanasia and assisted suicide. It will survey and assess the current situation in NSW, consider Christian responses and Christian disagreement on this issue, and think about the difference between what we hope for from public law and what we expect as individuals. 

Wednesday 28 October
Singleness and Marriage in (God’s) Perspective
Rev. Dr Dani Treweek 

Few areas of Christian ethics are as personally felt as singleness, sex and marriage. This session will trace marriage and singleness through the storyline of Scripture, from creation to new creation, and consider how the gospel and the hope of the resurrection reshape the dignity and purpose of each. Along the way, we will consider what faithful sexual ethics looks like for single and married Christians alike, and what it means for the church to honour both. 

Wednesday 4 November
The Purpose of Work
Rev. Dr Matt Aroney 

What Spiritual resources does the gospel give us to shape our work? Work is a context where God is at work in us; if we pay attention, it can become a place of moral and spiritual growth. All the disappointments and joys of work are opportunities to know and see more of Jesus. The good news of Jesus gives us a vision for our work, helping us morally discern good courses of action. All work is spiritual, and we can do all work for Christ, who is king of all. We will look at the Bible's teaching on work and how it can provide a new lens for morally discerning ourselves and our tasks as we work.

How this can help your ministry :

Ethical questions do not usually arrive in the abstract. They show up in pastoral conversations, Bible study discussions, leadership decisions, family situations, workplace pressures and moments of care. These sessions will help you think more carefully about the questions people are already asking you, and respond with biblical depth, theological clarity and pastoral wisdom. 

These PD days may help you: 

• grow in confidence when responding to complex ethical questions; 

• bring Scripture, theology and pastoral care together in your ministry context; 

• support people facing personal, painful or contested issues with compassion and conviction; 

• lead more thoughtful conversations in your church, workplace, school or ministry team; 

• reflect on how your community can live faithfully and wisely in a complex world.  

Ways to attend 

Join us for one Professional Development session or attend all three. Each session is available in person or online. 

Attend individually, or come with others from your church, school, workplace or ministry team so you can learn together, reflect together and keep the conversation going afterwards.