Gentle Shepherding: Pastoral Ethics and Leadership - Paperback

by Joseph E. Bush Jr (Author)

Gentle Shepherding provides conceptual resources for understanding moral responsibility in ministry, encompassing the minister as a moral agent, enabler of virtue, and leader in congregational and societal matters.

The book offers an introductory exploration of pastoral ethics, especially those without prior ethics coursework, while also engaging experienced pastors. Integrating moral principles within a Christian context, Gentle Shepherding focuses on pastoral ministry and relationships.

Each chapter introduces moral principles and ethical reasoning within the context of ministerial practice, offering case studies for reflection and discussion. Chapters topics include the shaping of moral character in community, nonmaleficence in ministry, respecting permission in pastoral care, duties of fidelity, and the theological aspects of pastoral vocation.

The book's foundation draws from the author's pastoral and teaching experiences, with the hope of passing on valuable insights gained through interactions with students, colleagues, and congregations.

Gentle Shepherding offers a rare balance in an introduction to pastoral ethics, one that identifies deeply with the pastoral vocation and brings it into conversation with a developed body of ethical theory. Helping ministers and seminarians to think anew about their responsibilities and the moral quandaries in pastoral practice, Gentle Shepherding integrates theory with practice, providing case material for further reflection and discussion and at least one case study or exercise associated with each chapter.

Author Biography

Joseph Bush Jr. has taught ecumenically and internationally in the subjects of pastoral ministry, ethics, church leadership, and practical theology. He was Head of the Department of Church Ministries at the ecumenical Pacific Theological College in the Republic of Fiji. At the Presbyterian School of Ministry in New Zealand, he taught in the area of "The Ministry of the Whole People of God in Church and Society." In Minnesota, at United Theological College of the Twin Cities, he has taught in the area of "Life and Leadership of the Congregation." Currently, he is Director of the Practice in Ministry and Mission Program at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Ordained in the United Methodist Church, Joseph Bush has served congregations in New Jersey, Fiji and New Zealand. His book with Chalice Press, Gentle Shepherding, was named one of the top ten for the year of 2006 by the Academy of Parish Clergy.