Living Well and Dying Faithfully – Pastoral Reading Group

What is it about?

This reading group will work through the book Living Well and Dying Faithfully, a collection of essays exploring death and dying from a Christian perspective, edited by John Swinton and Richard Payne.

The book comes out of a collaboration between the Universities of Aberdeen and Duke. Jonathan Norgate, who will lead the reading group, says ‘I have always found John Swinton a thoughtful and challenging theologian. This volume contains a rich collection of essays from theologians and medical practitioners looking at what it means for Christians to live and die well, and thoughtful reflections on how the church and its leaders can walk in love, truth and hope with those who are nearing the end of their lives.’

Who is it for?

The reading group is aimed at those with a strong interest in applying theology to the practice of pastoral leadership and care for the body of Christ, and who want to keep learning and growing as they lead and equip others in the Christian life. There is no requirement for prior formal theological education, but to make the most of the course you will need a good general theological understanding, and be able to engage confidently with more advanced theological texts.

What is involved?

A weekly online reading group with a 1.5-hour session, 12:00 – 1:30pm (GMT+1) on four consecutive Wednesdays:

• 29th April
• 6th May
• 13th May
• 20th May

There will be around 2 hours of pre-reading each week. The weekly sessions will not be lectures, but a guided discussion of the issues raised in the reading.