ETHICS AFTER EASTER - Axiom #3

Moral theology is not the same thing as, but is intimately related to, pastoral care. Moral theology begins with the consideration of generic principles; pastoral care begins with the consideration of a particular situation. (Chapter 1)

So why read a book on ethics and moral theology? As one parishioner notes, "This is just Episcopal propoganda!" And, given the fact that ETHICS AFTER EASTER is part of "The New Church's Teaching Series," it's not a completely invalid observation!

Still, we as a individual Christians and as members of a parish community recognize that we are called not only to thank God in our worship and liturgies, but also to do God's work in the world and reach out to others in need.

John 21.17 Jesus said to Peter the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.'

"Feed my sheep," Christ commands Peter on the shore after the Resurrection, and we, in turn, respond to that call, for we are all called to pastors, "shepherds," of those both within and out of our beautiful churches. How we pastor those in need does require that we examine our call, look at those factors by which we reach out to our community, and assess our effectiveness and proper use of resources.

This is why pastoral response to the world is guided by our understanding of morality and ethics - it's not just an academic exercise, it is integral to our ongoing exploration of how we DO Christianity and not just BE Christians.