The Spirit of Gentleness: The orientating virtue of Christian Ministry

Abstract

This thesis argues that gentleness is the orientating virtue of Christian Ministry. It shapes and leads the other virtues into their proper application within a ministerial context. Gentleness is defined against trivializing conceptions of gentleness, and instead is rooted on a scriptural and theological basis. Gentleness is defined mostly as the restraint of our own power and strength over others. To demonstrate and define the role that this gentleness plays, a set of four narratives from the lives of specific exemplars are utilized, these being: Fred Rogers, L'Arche Communities, Etty Hillesum, and Martin Luther. This thesis follows the narrative virtue ethics of Alasdair MacIntyre, adding also the theological anthropology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, to show the importance of community, tradition, history, identity and faithfulness in the pursuit of Christian action. This project stands in dialogue with the socio-political climate found in 2020-2021, searching for a uniquely Christian ministerial voice within this ungentle time of violent crisis. It proposes an awareness that can generate reconciliatory, just and radical-faithful action from Christians.