Abstract
Recent technological advancements in Bioethics have been rapid and incremental, leaving little time for Christian ethicists to reflect or develop a coherent methodological approach. To assess the situation in the Reformed Churches in South Africa (RCSA), a bioethical questionnaire was developed and administered during the synod in 2009. Three practical questions served as point of departure, viz. which bioethical issues confronted ministers in their work environment, which value judgement trends are evident when counselling members of their congregations and what theoretical frameworks or resources do they call upon when reflecting on these difficult situations? The survey consisted of 19 questions with several subquestions that sought demographic information to determine the population and information about bioethical issues confronting them, methodological strategies they apply and how they think they can contribute to the resolution of any such bioethical dilemmas. The results were tabulated and it was concluded that recent advancements in biotechnology cannot be ignored or dealt with in a piecemeal fashion any longer, either by the RCSA or its ministers. The need for clarity and analysis of the principles underlying those theories that guide or should guide their decision-making and pastoral care in dealing with bioethical dilemmas was emphasised. The findings highlighted the need for appropriate courses in Bioethics to be taught during initial theological training, as well as the need to keep the debate alive by offering workshops, seminars and short courses for practicing ministers to enhance awareness and allay fears and uncertainties in this very dynamic and morally challenging field of human and scientific endeavour.
Highlights
New and sometimes revolutionary and controversial developments in the biomedical sciences, reproductive technologies, medical genetics and biotechnology in the Life Sciences have occurred rapidly in recent times
Against the background of this contextual framework, the purpose of this part of the study was twofold, namely, (1) to conduct a comprehensive literature review on bioethical issues that arise in relation to data analysis and (2) to develop a survey, the ‘Bioethics questionnaire’2, with which to assess bioethical issues that arise during counselling sessions between ministers and congregation members
The present study set out to examine three questions by means of a survey amongst ministers serving within the Reformed Churches in South Africa
Summary
New and sometimes revolutionary and controversial developments in the biomedical sciences, reproductive technologies, medical genetics and biotechnology in the Life Sciences have occurred rapidly in recent times. It has been pointed out that in the American context, the clergy were not properly prepared to deal with this new knowledge and technological advancements In another recent publication concerning the child sex abuse scandal and crisis in the Catholic Church, Keenan (2005:117) comes to the conclusion that the Church needs to develop programmes that instruct pastors on the multitudinous ethical issues that are part of everyday ecclesial life. Against the background of this contextual framework, the purpose of this part of the study was twofold, namely, (1) to conduct a comprehensive literature review on bioethical issues that arise in relation to data analysis and (2) to develop a survey, the ‘Bioethics questionnaire’, with which to assess bioethical issues that arise during counselling sessions between ministers and congregation members Formulating this more pointedly, three practical questions serve as a point of departure, viz.:. The study aims to prove that the RCSA needs to provide this training through the development of programmes that instruct ministers, but empowers them with both theological and ethical principles as well as concrete knowledge of the multitudinous ethical issues that are part of everyday ecclesial life and which will become even more prevalent during the course of the 21st century
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