Society of Christian Ethics
P.O. Box 5126 St, Cloud, MN 56302-5126 Pho 320.253.5407 Fax 320.252.6984

Working Groups

African and African-American
The purpose of this working group is to support the work by current African and African American Christian ethicists and to create a systematic process for recruiting future Ph.D. students and for identifying and fostering development of African and African American Ph.D. students in ethics. In particular, the working group will: (1) support the professional development, research, and publications of African and African American ethicists, and convene concurrent sessions and focused interest group discussions at the Annual SCE meeting related to African and African American approaches to ethics. (2) The working group will seek ways to nurture, cultivate, mentor, and support African American Ph. D. students in ethics, towards the successful completion of their degrees and first job placement.

  • Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan, Professor of Theology & Women's Studies, Director of Women's Studies, Shaw University Divinity School, 118 E. South Street, Raleigh, NC 27601; tel: 919-716-5522, email:  cduggan@shawu.edu
  • Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Brite Divinity School, TCU Box 298130, Fort Worth TX 76123; tel: 817-257-7140, email: s.floyd-thomas@tcu.edu
  • Keri Day Harrison, Vanderbilt University; tel: 615-322-2776, email: keri.l.day@vaderbilt.edu

Asian and Asian-American

Muslim - Christian - Jewish Ethics

  • John Kelsay, Florida State University, Dept of Religion, Tallahassee FL 32306-1520; tel: 850-644-0209, email: jkelsay@garnet.acns.fsu.edu

Latino(a) 

Caucuses

Junior Faculty Caucus 

  • Kathryn Blanchard, Alma College; tel: 989-463-7136, email: blanchard@alma.edu
  • Melanie Barrett, University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary; tel: 847-837-4523, email: mh2058@columbia.edu  

Student Caucus

This is an opportunity for students to meet, develop friendships, and discuss issues of mutual concern and interest.  All students and others interested in issues related to graduate students in ethics are welcome. For more information, or if you wish to be added to our student e-mail list, please contact the co-conveners.

  • Lauren MacKinnon, Graduate Theological Union; tel: 510-684-0166, email: lmmackin@uncg.edu
  • AnneMarie Mingo, Emory University; tel: 404-508-0308; email: amingo@emory.edu

Women's Caucus

Women's Caucus welcomes all women of the SCE.  Topics for discussions have ranged from internal SCE policies and goals to issues around teaching and research.  Please join us.   

The Women's Caucus has submitted a statement, Enabling a Family-Friendly Institution: Creative Practices, which the Board approved in January 2007, to go to the membership at the 2009 Annual Business Meeting.

As a follow up to the Society's commitment to family friendly practices and dependent care, the Women's Caucus has put together articles and guidelines, "Balancing Scholarship with Family Care", for academics who have responsibility for the care of dependents, i.e., children, siblings, parents or grandparents. These guidelines address best practices and practical advice for graduate students and tenure track faculty.

 

Interest Groups

African and African-American Approaches to Christian Ethics

This Interest Group provides a forum in which to discuss Christian morality from an African- American perspective.  The group will examine and discuss moral dilemmas that challenge and complicate the lives of th Africa-American community.  The goals of the Group are: (1) to bring together different voices in the community with regard to a variety of issues, (2) to address problems peculiar to the Black community, (3) to analyze and to celebrate distinctive cultural practices and ways of living, (4) to develop public policy for addressing problems besetting th Black community, (5) to identify or develop better dialogue between Society members and te African-American Church, and (6) to develop a network among interested members.  The group will identify specific areas of interest for each new meeting.

  • Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan, Professor of Theology & Women's Studies, Director of Women's Studies, Shaw University Divinity School, 118 E. South Street, Raleigh, NC 27601; tel: 919-716-5522, email:  cduggan@shawu.edu
  • Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Brite Divinity School, TCU Box 298130, Fort Worth TX 76123; tel: 817-257-7140, email: s.floyd-thomas@tcu.edu
  • Keri Day Harrison, Vanderbilt University; tel: 615-322-2776, email: keri.l.day@vaderbilt.edu

Anglican Theological Ethics  

This Interest Group provides a forum for papers and conversations centering on the Anglican contribution to the field of Christian ethics or moral theology. Presentations and papers focus on historical and contemporary topics related to our general theme. Participants from all traditions who are interested in joining our discussion, or in offering a contribution, are most welcome. A subsidiary purpose of our group is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas between persons who teach or work within Anglican ecclesial and educational institutions.

Christian Ethics and International Affairs

  • Harold H. S. Oh, New York Institute of Technology, 1855 Broadway, New York NY 10023; tel: 212-261-1596, fax: 212-261-1704, email: haroldoh@nyit.edu     

Christian Ethics and Literature/Literary Theory 

  • Todd David Whitmore, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556; tel: 574-631-6407, fax: 574-631-4268, email: whitmore.1@nd.edu 
  • Gerald McKenny, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556; tel: 574-527-8101 x 2712, fax: 574-285-5486, email: mckenny.4@nd.edu

Christian Ethics and the Enlightenment

Given the flood of recent work on the British Moralists, Kant, and the history of modern ethics more generally, now is an opportune moment for reassessment by both detractors and defenders of Enlightenment moral thought. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, understandings of natural law, rights, and virtue were transformed in ways that deeply shaped subsequent moral thought. Is Enlightenment moral thought to be rejected for its individualism, stress on autonomy, overreliance on reason, secularizing thrust? Is Enlightenment moral thought to be lauded for developing concepts of tolerance and individual rights which Christian ethics should embrace? Or do both of these positions rely on questionable characterizations of the period?

  • Thomas A. Lewis, Department of Religious Studies, Brown University, Box 1927, Providence, RI 02912; tel: 401-863-3571, fax: 401-863-3109, email: Thomas_Lewis@brown.edu

Christian Ethics and the Professions

The goals of this group are (1) to clarify the relationship between Christian ethics and the professions, (2) to improve the dialogue between Christian ethics and professional ethics, and (3) to provide mutual support for members of the SCE interested in professional ethics. To achieve these goals, the Group?s objectives are: (1) to encourage the membership of the Society to present papers that will promote the achievement of Interest Group goals, (2) to meet annually to discuss current ethical issues with practitioners in various professions, and, (3) to develop a network among interested members.

Church and Academy

This group seeks to provide a setting for critical reflection for those who are involved in both the church and the academy. In particular, it seeks to strengthen connections between the academic study of Christian ethics and the realities of congregational life, along with stimulating mutually critical interaction between these publics. It is our hope that both intellectual reflection and congregational life will be nurtured by such interaction. 

  • Paul A. Lewis, Assistant Professor, Department of Christianity, Mercer University, Macon GA 31207; tel: 478-301-4166, email: lewis_pa@mercer.edu
  • Roger J. Gench, New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Ave NW, Washington DC 20005-4790; tel:: 202-393-3700, email: rjgench@earthlink.net

Comparative Religious Ethics

The purpose of the Comparative Religious Ethics Interest Group is to encourage and facilitate the cross-cultural study of religion and morality within the SCE.  The Group provides a forum for discussions of methodological, historical, and substantive issues in the comparative study of religious ethics, and it seeks to identify and develop resources for teaching in the fields of comparative ethics and world religions.  

Covenantal Ethics

The Covenantal Ethics Interest Group will continue its discussions of biblical, historical, theological, ethical, and social dimensions of the covenantal theme. We continue to be concerned with the fruitfulness of the covenantal theme for social ethics and the ways in which an ethical stance which takes covenant seriously may differ from some other prominent contemporary stances. All are welcome to participate.

  • Douglas F. Ottati, Union-PSCE, 3401 Brook Rd, Richmond VA 23227; tel: 804-278-4290, email: dottati@union-psce.edu
  • Douglas Schuurman, Professor of Religion, St. Olaf College, Northfield MN 55057; tel: 507-646-3091, email: schuurma@stolaf.edu

Environmental Ethics  and Theology 

The Interest Group on Environmental Ethics and Theology is grounded in the conviction that the environmental challenge raises critical issues of faith and ethics for theological education. Participants network together to exchange syllabi, circulate available resources, and cooperate in efforts to build a more concerted response to the ecological crisis.

Ethical Issues in Higher Education

Civic education and engagement: The bridge between liberal and professional learning.  Although founded to educate clergy and public leaders, American universities seem to have drifted far from that early mission.  Today, most universities view their primary responsibility as educating for career success. Even traditional liberal arts colleges feel the pressures of the student-as-consumer mentality and demands for professional skill development.  Common ground for liberal and professional learning can be found in programs that view student education as more than the development of a set of skills. Colleges and universities can revise their definitions of student Achievement to include ethical and civic competencies, values that cut across liberal and professional learning.

Ethics and Catholic Theology

The purpose of this group is to advance discussion in moral theology and social ethics by looking for new and fruitful sources. Its goal is to foster substantive theological discussion as it relates to the practice of moral theology and social ethics in the Catholic tradition. To this end, the group provides participants with an opportunity to reflect on how developments in Catholic theology can and should inform work in ethics.

  • William Mattison III, Catholic University of America, 106 Caldwell, Box 571250, Washington DC 20064; tel: 202-319-6504, email: mattison@cua.edu
  • John Berkman, Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology; tel: 510-883-2055, email: jberkman@dspt.edu 

Ethics and Law

The Ethics and Law Interest Group considers a wide range of interconnections between law and ethics, such as: theological and ethical assumptions that inform law; whether existing laws and court decisions are ethically justified; and whether laws or jurisprudential conventions should be changed.

  • M. Cathleen Kaveny, University of Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame IN 46556, tel.: 219 631- 7844, e-mail: kaveny.1@nd.edu

Ethics and Political Economy

This Interest Group meets annually to broaden and deepen our understanding of the interaction of ethics and economics. Our normal procedure is to invite an outside scholar or practitioner (usually an economist from the local area of the SCE meeting) to speak on an agreed-upon topic and then to proceed with discussion of attendant descriptive and normative issues. This allows us to focus on a timely question and to engage with an economist or other expert whom most of us would otherwise know only through the written word.

  • James P. Bailey, Assistant Professor of Moral Theology, Department of Theology, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA  15282; tel: 412-396-4087, email: baileyj@duq.edu
  • Rebecca Todd Peters, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Elon University, 2260 Campus Box, 100 Campus Drive, Elon, NC 27244; email: rpeters@elon.edu 

Ethics and Sexuality

This group explores questions of sexuality and sexual relations from both contemporary and historical perspectives. 

  • Cristina Traina, Department of Religion, Northwestern University, 1940 Sheridan Road, Evanston IL  60208; tel: 847-491-2938; email: c-traina@northwestern.edu

Evangelical Ethics

The goals of this Group are 1) to analyze evangelical contributions to Christian ethics, 2) to evaluate evangelical ethics in relation to other approaches, 3) to consider the ethical implications of evangelical theologies, 4) to bring ethical reflection to bear upon the evangelical subculture, and 5) to share approaches to teaching ethics in evangelical institutions. 

  • Wyndy Corbin Reuschling, Ashland Theological Seminary, 910 Center St., Ashland, OH 44805; tel: 419-289-9873; tel: 419-207-9781; email: wcorbin@ashland.edu
  • Jim Thobaben, Asbury Theological Seminary, 204 N Lexington Ave, Wilmore KY 40390-1199; tel: 859-858-2369; email: jim_thobaben@asburyseminary.edu

Families and the Social Order

This group gathers members concerned with questions regarding both relationships internal to families, and those between families and the social order. Past agendas have included presentations and discussion on members' research, panels of representatives from church and public policy  institutes concerned with children and families, and analyses of recent  popular and scholarly publications concerning these issues.

  • Julie Hanlon Rubio, Department of Theological Studies, St. Louis University, 3800 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis MO 63156-0907; tel: 314-977-2892, email: rubiojh@slu.edu
  • Florence Caffrey Bourg, Sacred Heart High School/Loyola, 41 Sedgefield Drive, Harahan LA 70123; tel: 504-737-4126, email: florencebourg@bellsouth.net 

Health Care Ethics

The Health Care Ethics Interest Group meets each year to discuss ethical concerns in the general area of health care. Previous topics include access to health care, assisted suicide, and the approach taken by different faith traditions to theological reflection on health care issues. The group is open to anyone interested in any of these areas. Formal papers are not presented in the interest group, and the group encourages a significant amount of verbal and materials exchange among attendees.

  • Gerald Winslow, Loma Linda University, 11121 R Colean Pavilion, Loma Linda CA 92354; tel: 909-558-7786, fax: 909-558-7798; email: gwinslow@llu.edu
  • John Kilner, Trinity International University, 2065 Half Day Road, Deerfield IL 60015; tel: 847-317-8076; fax: 847-317-8101; email: jkilner@tiu.org

Lesbian and Gay Issues

Thinkers of the rank of Erich Fromm and C. S. Lewis have declared that loving and nurturing relationships between persons of the same sex were not so much morally wrong as psychologically impossible. Recently, however, the ethical debate had shifted. Especially in the political struggles over the legalization of gay marriage, feminists and liberationists have sought to define the conditions under which gay relationships might be morally right, psychologically healthy and socially constructive. Just what, if anything, our churches can do to foster such conditions remains a complex issue with far-reaching implications.

  • William C. McDonough, Department of Theology, College of St. Catherine, St. Paul MN 55105; office tel: 651-690-6072, email: wcmcdonough@stkate.edu

Liturgy and Ethics

Formed in response to growing interest in the role of worship in the Christian life, the Liturgy and Ethics group will provide a working forum for those interested in such questions as 1) embodied participation in worship and the formation of disciples, 2) sacraments and moral life (e.g., Eucharist, baptism), 3) the impact of cultural forces on congregational worship and moral action, historically, and presently 4) constructive theological work on worship?s proper relation to the moral life 5) connections between specific ethical questions (bioethics, ecological ethics, etc.) and liturgy.

  • M. Therese Lysaught, 100 Coughlin Hall, Marquette University, PO Box 1881, Milwaukee WI  53201-1881; tel: 414-288-3760, email: Therese.Lysaught@Marquette.edu
  • The Rev. Dr. Christian Scharen, Director, Faith as a Way of Life Project, Yale Center for Faith and Culture, Yale Divinity School, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven CT 06511; tel: 203-432-8671, email: christian.scharen@yale.edu 

Monetary Policy 

This interest group seeks to clarify the dynamics involved in the management of our little-understood money system, to recognize the enormous and pervasive power of the system, to discern the extent to which its impact could be made more beneficial, and to explore possibilites for bringing to public awareness these extremely important, but currently neglected issues. 

  • George Crowell, 10 Rossmore Ct, Unit 43, London, Ontario N6C 6A3, Canada; tel: 519-686-7522, email: georgecrowell@rogers.com

Moral and Religious Psychology

The purpose of the Moral and Religious Psychology Interest Group is to assist members of the SCE in research and teaching in the filed of moral and religious psychology. The Group will be open to discussions on historical and contemporary figures and theories, on methodology, and on comparative work.

  • James P. Gubbins, Interdisciplinary Studies Department, Salem State College, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970-5353; tel: 978-542-6179, email: james.gubbins@salemstate.edu

Pedagogy

This group provides a forum in which both newer and more experienced teachers/scholars can learn from one another about teaching religious ethics courses more effectively. The major goal of the session is to provide participants with ideas and practices that they can use in their own courses. As always, our conversation will include the exchange of pedagogical strategies relevant to the theme. You are invited to bring something to share: a syllabus, case, exercise, or teaching tip. 

Reforming Realism

Formed in response to the renewal of interest in Christian realism and the recent emergence of new realist proposals, this group will explore various realist options and the criticisms they have evoked. Can realism be 'reformed' both to account for the criticisms leveled against it and to become, itself, an instrument of 'reform' in the academy, church and society? 

  • Rebekah Miles, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX 75275; email: delony@flash.net or rlmiles@mail.smu.edu
  • Scott Kline, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, St. Jerome's University--University of Waterloo, 290 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G3; tel: 519-884-8111 ext. 28289, email: skline@uwaterloo.ca

Restorative Justice

This interest group on Restorative Justice will explore issues in this area that need the research and reflection of Christian ethicists, especially issues at the intersection of judicial criminal trials, forms of  public truth-telling about atrocities undertaken by governments, and the restoration of political community in the wake of such atrocities.  The group will share knowledge of significant work already being done in this area and will encourage members to consider addressing some of the pertinent issues in future SCE meetings.

  • Donald W. Shriver, Jr., 440 Riverside Drive, #58, New York, NY 10027; fax: 212-222-5112 or 518-392-2511, email: dwshriver@aol.com
  • Howard J. Vogel, Hamline University School of Law, 1536 Hewitt Avenue, St. Paul MN 55104; tel: 651-523-2120, fax: 651-523-2236, email: hvogel@hamline.edu

Scripture and Ethics

This interest group has as its primary focus the relationship between Scripture and Ethics.  Group members will receive a mailing from the conveners in late October giving details and suggestions for preparatory reading.

  • Brent Laytham, North Park Theological Seminary, 3225 W. Foster Ave., Chicago IL 60625-4724; tel: 773-244-6221; email: blaytham@northpark.edu
  • John Burgess, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 616 N Highland Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15206; tel: 412-362-5610 x2207, email: jburgess@pts.edu

 

Other Groups

Baptist Ethicists  

  • Ann Farley-Parker, Dallas Christian College; tel: 817-337-8786; email: farley-parker@dallas.edu
  • Glen Harold Stassen, Fuller Theological Seminary, 135 N Oakland, Pasadena CA 91182; tel: 626-304-3733, email: gstassen@fuller.edu

Fieldwork in Christian Ethics

  • Todd David Whitmore, Department of Theology, University of Notre Dame, 130 Malloy Hall, Notre Dame IN 46556; tel: 574-631-6407, email: whitmore.1@nd.edu

Lutheran Ethicists 

Presbyterian Ethicists

  • Heidi Hadsell, Hardford Seminary, 77 Sherman St, Hartford CT 06105; tel: 860-509-9502; email: hadsell@hartsem.edu
  • Chris Iosso, Presbyterian Church, 100 Witherspoon St, Rm 3607, Louisville KY  40202; tel: 502-569-584, email: ciosso@ctr.pcusa.org

Theology and Ethics Writers

A small invited group (of six members) whose purpose is to foster and support each person’s research and publishing efforts. Articles, book chapters, research and book proposals, etc., in various stages of completion, are circulated to all participants in advance. During the meeting we discuss each person’s submission (one per person), provide critiques, and offer suggestions for improvement. The endeavor is a learning experience for all, a means by which we encourage and prod each other’s research, and an opportunity to benefit from ongoing conversations about topics and projects of mutual interest.

 

  • James Calvin Davis, Munroe Hall 103, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753; tel: 802-443-3221, fax: 802-443-2450, email: jcdavis@middlebury.edu

     

University of Chicago Writers

  • William George, Dominican University, 7900 W Division St, River Forest IL 60305; tel: 708-524-6475, email: wgeorge@dom.edu
  • Susan Ross, Loyola University Chicago, Crown 321, Dept of Theology, 6525 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago IL 60626; tel: 773-508-2364, email: sross@luc.edu