Contributions by churches to public discourse have become disconnected from the fabric of communal relationships in which Christians stand by virtue of the reconciling work of God in Jesus Christ. We argue individualistically, legally, ideologically, but seldom as members of a body for whom relationships of basic trust with others are fundamental. This book seeks a strategy for recovering these missing connections. The heart of the argument is that churches need to recover the vocation of providing primary moral formation, of shaping people's moral identity, long before politicized policy arguments begin.

This book details the development and contours of Karl Barth's robust and lively vision of Christian and ecclesial life in the early years of his career. In this remarkable work Michael O'Neil investigates Karl Barth's theology in the turbulent and dynamic years of his nascent career, between 1915 and 1922. It focuses on the manner in which this great theologian construed Christian and ecclesial existence. The author argues that Karl Barth developed his theology with an explicit ecclesial and ethical motive in a deliberate attempt to shape the ethical life of the church in the troublesome context within which he lived and worked. O'Neil adopts a chronological and exegetical reading of Barth's work from the initial dispute with his liberal heritage (c.1915) until the publication of the second edition of his commentary on romans. Not only does this work contribute to a broader understanding of Barth's theology both in its early development, and with regard to his ecclesiology and ethics, it also provides a significant framework and material for contemporary ecclesial reflection on Christian identity and mission.

This book introduces Christian ethics from a theological perspective. Philip Turner, widely recognized as a leading expert in the field, explores the intersection of moral theology and ecclesiology, arguing that the focus of Christian ethics should not be personal holiness or social reform but the common life of the church. A theology of moral thought and practice must take its cues from the notion that human beings, upon salvation, are redeemed and called into a life oriented around the community of the church. This book distills a senior scholar's life work and will be valued by students of Christian ethics, theology, and ecclesiology.

Highlights the key elements of the Catholic moral tradition and lays the foundations for Christian ethics through experiential reflections of right action toward persons, communities and personal choices.

This book is an introduction to the field of theological ethics with a Trinitarian perspective that guides pastors, ministry leaders, and students about how to think in a gospel way about the moral formation of persons and communities, about ethical inquiry and action, and about the tone and content of engagement in the public square.

Happiness and the Christian Moral Life introduces students to Christian Ethics looking at ethics as a path to the "good life" and happiness, rather than a strict set of rules or regulations. Revised and updated throughout, the second edition maintains the book's distinctive focus on happiness. Each chapter now features a list of suggested readings to point students and instructors towards further resources. Other changes to the second edition include a more fully developed account of Augustine's understanding of happiness, new discussions of how technology shapes relationships and happiness, and consideration of the relationship between the natural law and the virtues.