Christian ethics can never be a matter of mere avoidance. It must be characterized by hopeful engagement—by the courageous choice to do good, again and again, in the real conditions of ministry.
We Hope to Do Good is the second module of Choices for Abundant Living: An Ethics Training Course for Clergy. Building on the theological and practical foundations established in Choices for Abundant Living, this module invites commissioned and ordained ministers into deeper formation around power, boundaries, relational integrity, and sustainable compassion.
This is not a course designed to scare clergy into compliance. It is an invitation to growth—grounded in the conviction that all people are made in the image of God, and that the ethical life is one that protects dignity, strengthens trust, and fosters human flourishing. The training draws from Christian ethics, pastoral theology, and social-scientific insight to equip clergy for faithful leadership that is rooted in love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self.
Across seven chapters, Module 2 explores:
Hope as a theological and ethical virtue—not as optimism, but as resilient perseverance toward the good.
Personal and positional power in ministry, and how “power for” differs from “power over.”
Roles and boundaries, including warning signs of blurred boundaries and how boundary crossings can lead to harm.
Microaggressions as boundary violations, and the spiritual and relational cost of failing to recognize the image of God in one another.
Inner formation for ethical living, including facing the shadow, understanding shame triggers, and doing the work of authenticity.
Defense mechanisms and how unacknowledged patterns can distort reality, damage relationships, and contribute to boundary slippage.
Relational competence and relational resilience—skills for mutuality, repair, and growth-fostering relationships.
Compassion fatigue and trauma stewardship, with practical attention to self-care as an ethical responsibility in caregiving vocations.
Module 2 also includes a closing ritual centered in prayer, recommitment, and the sharing of the Lord’s Table—reminding us that ethics is not only a set of rules, but a way of living shaped by grace.
If we are called to do good, we are also called to do it wisely: with humility, with boundaries, with accountability, and with a hope that is strong enough to remain present to pain without being consumed by it.
To learn more about We Hope to Do Good or to bring this training to your context, watch for upcoming details and availability.
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