God,
The Cosmos
& The HumanConditon

Sources,
Revelation,
Scriptures, Holy Texts

Organization:
Hierarchy
Leadership, Ministries

Calendar
Time Line
&/or Feast Days

Prayer
Worship Ritual

Views on the Moral Life

God is both transcendent and immanent.

God's primary attitude toward humanity is grace and forgiveness.

The world is created by God and is good: embodiment is good. (Celibacy is not valued)

While humans are

"sinners", God's grace overcomes sin.

We do not earn salvation but receive it as a gift.

Our task is to be channels of the divine love we have received from God.

Primary document is the Holy Bible whose authority is viewed variously.

Most see scripture as revealing both God and human inspiration, although some see scripture as a human document while others view it as infallible.

Various- from bishop-led, to     lay-centered leadership.

No one form of leadership or polity.

 Forms range from congregation in style

Baptists,

Disciples,

United Church of Christ

to more connectional

Episcopal

Methodist

Different from Catholicism no special spiritual status is given to clergy.

Clergy/bishops are considered as part of the "priesthood of believers."

Impossible for any human to claim infallibility:

  To do so is to be idolatrous.

Focus on conscience in matters of faith, along with the authority of scripture and tradition.

Varies.

Some follow traditional cycle of Christian seasons (Advent, Lent, etc.) while others follow the secular calendar, with few holidays (merely Christmas and Easter

Various, primarily congregational – both informal and formal.

Focus on personal experience of God.

Personal prayer is important

Worship of God in everyday life.

We worship God in our secular professions as well as in our ordained.

Both loose and strict constructionist in terms of Biblical authority.

Our moral life gives glory to God.

Various views on abortion, euthanasia, etc. (Strict pro-life and pro-choice positions are idolatrous.

Neither suffering nor death are the greatest evils.

Morality must be updated to respond to the times.

Interplay of absolutes and concrete moral situations.

The Church is constantly reforming.

Notions of Body & Spirit
Physician – Patient Relationship

Individual Autonomy vs
Community

Views on Rx:

Transfusion
Transplant
Organ Donation Autopsy

Views on
Suffering/Death:

Sustaining vs.
Withdrawal of Life Support

Who's at the
Bedside –

Spiritual Care
For the Patient &
Care for the Dead

Covenant oriented.

Love oriented ethic.

Living in the style of Jesus as model:

   Embracing God's   

    suffering and  

    redemption.

Care for the poor.

Holistic spirituality, embracing body, mind, spirit, and relationships.

As we give to the poor, we give to God.

Polar and complementary.

We are individuals in community.

Health care is a social as well as a personal issue.

Ethics are communal as well as individual.

Concern for the poor.

No prohibition to any of these provided that they reflect personal choice.

Suffering is meaningful, may be a source of spiritual growth.

Palliation is always appropriate.

Various views on euthanasia, suicide…

Strong prohibition by some…others see freely chosen euthanasia as a reflection of God's compassion and God's will in certain situations.

God may be the supreme relativist in the concrete expression of love.

Brain death valid for withdrawal of live support

Good dying embraces body, mind, spirit, and relationships.

Pastoral and medical care should complement each other.

Openness among some to alternative healers.

Death as communal as well as individual.

Strong support for hospice movement as human care of the dying.