Ethics Colloquium

The BTI Ethics Group is composed primarily of people teaching ethics in the BTI institutions, with additional participation from other professional ethicists in the Boston area. In addition, doctoral ethics students who are at the dissertation stage are cordially invited to attend meetings. The Group meets on average four times every Fall and Spring for a meal and discussions around a presentation or theme. Call the BTI Office for details about schedule and meetings. 

2009-2010
November 11, 2009 Professor Bill Everett to present a talk on his recent novel, Red Clay, Blood River (2008). His novel explores the dynamics of oppression and redemption by drawing on the memory of the narratives of the native American “Trail of Tears” and the “Great Trek” in South African history. His presentation would offer all of us an opportunity to focus on the challenge of voicing ethical questions or struggles in a form—in this case, that of the novel— that opens them to the imagination of a popular audience.
December 16, 2009 Report on the Parliament of World’s Religions
February 10, 2010 Program in Honor of James Nash
April 21, 2010 Ministry and Sexuality

2005-2006
Acknowledging Celebrated Contributions to the Field of Social Ethics from the Schools of the Boston Theological Institute

1) Boston University School of Theology: “The Significance of Walter Muelder’s Social Ethics Today: The Present Status of Personalism”; Thursday, March 16, Episcopal Divinity School, 6-7 dinner; 7-9 papers/discussion. To begin our discussion on March 16, we will have three panelists:
• James Nash, environmental ethicist (on the way that Muelder influenced his work);
• Ruy Costa, Executive Director of Episcopal City Mission, (on the way that Muelder shaped his work in Liberation theology and liberation ethics); and
• Thomas Massaro, S.J., Weston Jesuit School of Theology (on the current status of Personalism in the Roman Catholic Community).

2) Andover Newton Theological School & Harvard Divinity School: “The Contributions of James Luther Adams”; Tuesday, April 18. Details forthcoming.

2004-2005
• April 12, 2005: "Religion and Politics" This meeting will be focussed on the theme of "Religion and Politics," and will take place in the Berkeley Room at Andover Newton Theological School. The two presenters will be Thomas Massaro and Richard Pierard, who will offer Roman Catholic and Evangelical perspectives, respectively.The gathering will begin at 5:30 PM in the ANTS Dining Hall for refreshments and will continue there for dinner (6PM to 7PM). The two presentations will be made in the Berkeley Room (7 PM to 9 PM). In anticipation to this meeting, please feel free to read Thomas Massaro's paper Catholic Bishops and Politicians: Concerns about Recent Developments, as well as Richard Pierard's paper Evangelicals and the Political Gospel. Please RSVP to Norm Faramelli at 781.899.5624.

2003-2004
• November 19, 2003 (5:30-8:30pm) Professor Tom Shannon of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (and adjunct at Weston Jesuit School of Theology), will speak on The "Bio-Ethics and Human Dignity." respondent will be Dr. Mugur Roz, Research Fellow, Health Sciences and Technology Division, Harvard-MIT. We anticipate a lively discussion following the presentation and response. (Download a paper here.) (We will gather at 5:30PM in the Private Dining Hall at Episcolal Divinity Schoo. Since EDS is not serving dinner on Wednesdays, we will walk to the Cronkite Dining Room, Radcliffe, for dinner (cost will be $10.25 per person). We will return to the Private Dining Hall at EDS for the program, which will run from 7PM to 9PM.
• January , 2004. Joselle Lima (a Brazilian Theologian), to be held at Episcopal Divinity School.
• March 17, 2004 Professor Dr. Ruy Costa, Director of Episcopal City Mission and principal author of the background paper on Globalization for the National Presbyterian Church will present a paper entitled "Globalization and Culture." The meeting will be held at Andover Newton Theological School.

1999-2000
• April 6, 200 (5:30-8:30pm) Professor William Everett (ANTS) will present a discussion on the basis of his new book, The Politics of Worship: Reforming the Language and Symbols of Liturgy (Cleveland, United Church Press, 1999. EDS, Small Dining Room.

1997-1998
• October 30, 1997 Mr. Bill Kovach (Nieman Foundation at Harvard University), on Ethics in Journalism
• February 19, 1998 rof. Severyn Bruyn on The Moral Economy
• May 7, 1999 Prof. Jeffrey Sachs on International Economics, an article from Foreign Policy, Spring 1998