Friday May 25, 2018
2pm –4pm
Room E319 in Forgan Smith Building University of Queensland
Who’s Body, Who’s Life, Who’s Decision? A Wesleyan Reflection on
Personal Autonomy, Interdependence and Euthanasia’
David McEwan. Respondent: Dean Smith
The current debates in western cultures on assisted dying are usually framed as human rights issues centred on personal
autonomy – the rights of an individual to make absolute decisions about their own lives. This absolutizes personal choice
above all other considerations, making it the bedrock value of western culture. This paper reflects on a Christian
(especially Wesleyan) evaluation of such a secular framework, and argues that the essence of personhood is located in
interdependence, not autonomy. This interdependence is centred in our relationship with both God and neighbour, and
leads to a brief consideration of how this might help to reframe the current debate on euthanasia.
‘Educating Leaders for Christian Eco-Mission’
Clive Ayre. Respondent: Neil Pembroke
A primary purpose of theological education relates to Christian leadership; in particular, what is needed is education for
a more holistic approach to mission leadership. In theological terms, Christian mission includes Earthcare as an essential
element rather than as an “optional extra”. The potential of a theme of reconciliation, involving ecumenical, interfaith
and community aspects, is enormous. A function of theological education will be to help motivate future leaders to
move beyond an anthropocentric approach to theistic biocentrism, to see excess and “the trashing of creation” as sin,
individual and corporate, related to greed and the self-centredness of humanity. It involves expanding our awareness of
an issue about which Theology has something to say. The aim is to ensure that all leaders in mission, including clergy,
have at least a basic awareness of the validity and potential of eco-mission, with the practical and theological issues involved.
THEOLOGY@Brisbane 