Saturday, January 23, 2010
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Designed for church-workers, this workshop examines the moral responsibilities of the minister as a professional. Beginning with the theological foundations for ethics in ministry, this session will examine the “virtuous minister,” the moral duties of the ministerial profession, and the dynamics of power in the pastoral relationship. We will also address two critical boundary issues – sexuality and confidentiality – with an aim of developing a personal “code of ethics” that can serve as a guide for one’s role as a pastoral minister. While all are welcome, this day is especially designed for Catholic ministers, lay and ordained, professional and volunteer.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Reverend Richard Gula, S.S., PhD is a Sulpician priest and has dedicated his life to the education and formation of ministers in the Church. Professor Gula has taught in diocesan seminaries for twenty-three years and is currently Professor of Moral Theology at Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley. As a moral theologian, Professor Gula has tried to be a bridge between the community of academic theologians and the community of pastoral ministers. Besides teaching, Professor Gula is on the workshop circuit lecturing to clerical and lay ministers on topics in moral theology, medical ethics, and professional ethics. He is also involved in the world of health care as an ethics consultant to hospitals. His several books and many articles have addressed a variety of moral issues which pastoral ministers have to face today.