Pastoral Ethics
Course Description
At the heart of the academic field of ethics is a question about the good. There are many ways of approaching this question: philosophical, biblical, traditional, to name a few. While this course will touch on these three and others, it is designed around the role of “pastor.” Therefore, our guiding question will be, What makes a pastor good? All of our explorations of ethical questions will be seen through the lens of the pastoral role. We will begin with a discussion of the calling or vocation of being a pastor, and then turn our gaze inward to ask “Who am I as a pastor?” We will then gain an overview of prominent philosophical and Christian models for ethics before turning to the various roles/practices/functions of pastoring in the 21st century.Offered | 2026 Winter |
Dates | Jan 12 - Apr 17 |
Days | Fri |
Format | Onsite and Online |
Credit Hours | 3 |
Room Number | Rm 013 / Online |
Teaching Faculty

Drew Melton
Sessional Lecturer
Drew holds postgraduate degrees from Wheaton College (MA, Biblical Exegesis) and University of Cambridge (MPhil, New Testament and Early Christianity) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Duke University with a dissertation focused on St. Augustine’s homiletics in conversation with 21st century preaching. He has served in various roles in pastoral ministry and the Christian academy since 2011 in the United States and England, and now in Canada. He joined the pastoral team at First Baptist Church in Vancouver in 2024 as their Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision. Drew and Brittany have two children.