Ecclesial Theology and the Virtue of Forgiveness

Pastors have a vocational calling to help people and societies develop virtue, specifically the virtue of forgiveness. In a world full of conflict, the capacity to move beyond the cycles of violence and pain, is essential to human flourishing. We want to learn from the recent gains in the social sciences, as well as contribute a theological perspective to the social science conversations. The project will bring together the social sciences and the pastoral vocation with a view to exploring how the virtue of forgiveness grows and flourishes. Grant programming will answer such questions as, What preconditions create a hospitable habitat for forgiveness to flourish, and in what ways can pastor theologians both learn from, and contribute to, the fields of research being conducted by social scientists regarding virtue and character development? To answer these questions, we will conduct four theological symposia for our 80 Pastoral Fellows, launch six new clergy study groups, launch ten new seminary student study groups, and produce written and video content from our programming for distribution through our online platforms. This project will impact 140 pastors and 100 divinity students who will gain insights from the social sciences, specifically with respect to how the virtue of forgiveness can be nurtured and developed. This impact will be extended through their respective ministries, as well as online through our video distribution.