The Salvation Army Booth College

This unit equips current and aspiring ministry practitioners with a critical understanding of Christian ethical approaches and their application in faith and life. The unit critically engages with core theological sources for doing ethics, common ethical approaches, and Christology as a starting point for doing ethics. Students will examine and analyse Christian ethics in the contexts of the Christian community, the environment, human relationships, pastoral care, social ethics, and digital culture. This unit also reflects on the place of Christian hope in individual and community ethical decision-making and conduct.

The unit code contains information on the level of study, field, discipline, unit and college. Click here to learn what the unit code for this unit represents.

27 July 2026 - 30 October 2026

Weekly hour-long Zoom sessions. 

We recommend that you allocate 9 12 hours a week for all study activities.

48 points, including 24 points in CT

This course will use both asynchronous and synchronous teaching methods. Asynchronous elements include: course notes, require reading, additional readings and other materials (e.g., audio-visual, websites etc.), assessment tasks, online discussion spaces. Synchronous elements include: online tutorials, assessment support.

Students are expected to attend all Zoom meetings having completed set readings and film viewings ahead of time, ready to engage with their peers and with faculty.

*This unit is offered at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. Students may engage with people across both levels when this unit is delivered.

Our assessments are designed with our curriculum values in mind. Visit our curriculum values here.

Assessment 1 - 10%

Assessment 2 - 40%

Assessment 3 - 50%

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Evaluate theological sources and principles that may guide an ethical response in complex ministry and ministry-related situations.

2. Analyse and compare core ethical approaches in Christian ethics.

3. Examine the role of Christian communities in developing the ethical lives of individuals and communities.

4. Develop and apply a coherent theological ethical framework to a situation of ethical decision-making in relationship to a particular community or ethical issue.

5. Critically reflect on the role of ethics for individuals engaged in ministry or ministry-related contexts.

There is no required text for this unit.