Social ethics 2026
A basic exploration of Christian social ethics in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition. Every session includes a brief presentation of some aspect of a process used in making decisions and an exploration of an issue.
Saturday morning February 28, March 7, 14, 21 10:00 – 111:15 am (Pacific)
On Zoom – a link will be sent before each session
Invited: Current and former participants in Shaping the Parish, members of St. Clement’s Parish in Seattle, subscribers to A Wonderful and Sacred Mystery, and former participants in a Pathways of Grace program.
Leaders: Sister Michelle, OA and Brother Robert, OA
Educational Session Design
All times are estimates
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Time |
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Activity |
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10:00 – 10:10 (Pacific) |
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Prayer - O God of peace .. Overview of session Other information |
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10:10 – 10:25 |
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Presentation (advance readings are optional, see below) Session 1 Obey your conscience, inform your conscience Session 2 Action grounded in worship and prayer Session 3 Humility Session 4 Freedom and responsibility |
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10:25 – 10:50 |
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Small groups (groups of three) Discussion of social ethics issue based on required readings (see below). Before going into groups and first thing group does before discussion For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us, Note: The “possible questions” are not required. Your group may find another starting place Session 1 Immigration Possible questions: What decisions, stances, actions have you taken on immigration? Does it leave you with a clear conscience, at peace with yourself? OR Are there things you need to do to further educate your conscience through prayer life or understanding immigration? Session 2 Assisted suicide Possible questions: John Macquarrie wrote about a form of reflection he called “Compassionate and Responsible Thinking,” - “Prayer is a thinking that takes us out of ourselves …enables us to see things in perspective, to attain the vision of them in their unity and interrelatedness” – For you, in regard to assisted suicide, does your reflection leave you torn, at peace with yourself, or something else? Session 3 War and Peace Possible questions: Imagine yourself as a new President, now one of the-people-in-the-room. What is the place of humility regarding decisions about beginning and carrying out a war? Session 4 Antisemitism Possible questions: Begin by focusing on the political tribe you identify with, more to the right or to the left, and note how that group tends to express antisemitism. What might you do to show step aside from abstraction and engage concrete responsibility? In your behavior? |
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10:50 – 11:05 |
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Whole group comments, sharing |
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11:05 – 11:15 |
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Intercessions We sit in silence. People may offer intercessions. Encourage the naming of people rather than causes, situations, or locations. We are “standing before God with the people on your heart,” Close with Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer |
O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Four sessions on Zoom. 1 hour 15 minutes per session. Doing the sessions in two parts: part one a presentation on an approach to social ethics, no expectation of advance reading. Part two a discussion based on a short reading about a topic with an assigned reading. The program might in itself be a form of contemplation and include a time of connected intercession.
Session 1 Part one: Obey your conscience, inform your conscience (Optional readings – Informing our conscience and The United States still prioritizes interests over values). Part two: Immigration (Assigned Reading - Immigration and social ethics; Optional reading - Immigration, social ethics and political pragmatism)
Session 2 Part one: Action grounded in worship and prayer (Optional readings - Worship lifts the soul out of its preoccupation with itself and Compassionate and Responsible Thinking Part two: Assisted suicide (Assigned reading - Legalizing Assisted Suicide? and Religious Groups’ Views on End-of-Life Issues )
Session 3 Part one: Humility (Optional readings - God graciously accepts that service Even when we are quite wrong, The people in the room, and The Merton Prayer) Part two: War and Peace (Assigned reading - The Just War Tradition and Let’s talk about war and peace. Optional reading - Aquinas vs. Clausewitz in Venezuela)
Session 4 Part one: Freedom and responsibility (Optional reading -Freedom and responsibility: endowed by their Creator and Abstract principle and concrete responsibility Part two: Antisemitism (Assigned reading - Antisemitism - yes, again)