During the past years the project of ecumenical social ethics was initiated without the burden of dogmatic questions. Joint positions in questions relevant to society could be formulated without a prior consensus in fundemental controversial theological issues. Consequently the question arises whether the wished and aspired joint proclamation of social ethics of the churches really rests on a consensus in fundamental issues of the Christian faith or whether public pressure and the changed normative situation cover up differences which could prove themselves to be exclusive. There are agreements in three areas: in the understanding of the Gospel as foundational, in the biblical teaching of man being created in the image of God as a fundamental article of theological anthropology and in a joint proclamation of the churches as an ecumenical task. Returning to a biblical perspective a consensus in the ethical demands of the Gospel and in the universal claim of biblical ethics can be established which does not exclude but rather include the differences betweeen the traditional denominational positions. This consensus can be called a >differentiated consensus< similar to the case of the >Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification<. Thus ecumenical social ethics has been relieved from the pressure of having to fully agree in language, form and contents in all conceivable questions.

Enthalten in:
Zeitschrift für Evangelische Ethik; 2001/2 Kommentare, Studien, Berichte, Dokumentationen, Diskussionen, Rezensionen, Bibliographie (2001)

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Serie / Reihe: Zeitschrift für Evangelische Ethik

Personen: Thönissen, Wolfgang

Schlagwörter: Ökumene Evangelische Kirche Katholische Kirche Menschenbild Ethik Bioethik Studie Medizinische Ethik Ebenbildlichkeit Interkonfessionelles Gespräch Christliche Sozialethik