Profits or Prophets? The Role of Diaconia in a Changing Social Europe, With Reference to the Question of Values

A. Introductory issues  The social changes in Europe, over the last decades, and their impact on diaconia  The particular importance of changes in the area of values The redefinition of many traditional values, raising new ethical dilemmas in diaconia The increasing professionalisation of related fields, raising new professional expectations for the diaconal service

The Challenge  How does diaconia relate to the changing moral values of Europe in general and to the professional standards in particular?  The two categories should not be seen in isolation: the ‘professional standards’ reflect the broader moral values of society  The challenge becomes, then, more specific: what is relationship between Christian ethics and professional values?

The Biblical starting point  The supreme motivation of the early Christian life and service (diakonia) sprang from a profound sense of divine mission (after the prophetic model, supremely seen in Christ), rather than from any personal gain Luke 4:17-19; cf. Isaiah 61:1-2  Early Christians were working as prophets, not for profits!

The Contemporary Context  The orientation towards profit of many social services – often provided through ‘non-profit organisations”!  The memorable words of the famous economist Milton Friedman: “the social responsibility of every organisation is to maximise its own profit”  The need for a prophetic ministry, after the biblical model

The Meaning of Prophetic Ministry  Much more than doing a work which is not motivated primarily by profit  It means the ability to understand the socio- historical context and to speak and act uncompromisingly on God’s behalf within such a context  It means, in the case of Eurodiaconia, the capacity of understanding the professional (and, implicitly, moral) values of our European context and of responding to them in a way which is compatible with the values of God’s kingdom.

The Goals of This Presentation 1. to select some of the most widespread values of the helping professions (at European or world level) and ask the question of how compatible they are with the ethical tenets of the Christian faith 2. to identify and discuss some of the typical areas of tension between the Christian ethics secular professional values on the other, suggesting some possible ways in which the diaconal worker may approach such delicate issues in a ‘prophetic’ way.

B. The Broad Compatibility Between Professional Values and Christian Ethics Professional Values  Offering services in the clients’ prior interest  Social justice: offering equal chances; fighting discrimination and social exclusion  Respect for the dignity and uniqueness of the human person  The client’s right to self- determination Christian Values  Jesus’ teaching on servanthood (Mat. 20:26- 28; etc.)  The biblical emphasis on social justice (Micah 6:8); Jesus’ acceptance of socially-excluded groups (Mark 2:15-17)  The creation of human beings „after God’s image and likeness” (Genesis 1:26);  God’s self-sacrifice for humans (John 3:16)

C. Typical Areas of Tension Between Professional and Christian Values  a) Human body versus human soul  b) Religious versus secular exclusivism  c) Descriptive versus prescriptive approach to service  e) Issues of life and death; sexual and family ethics.  d) Sin, guilt and spiritual care

 The client’s right to self- determination  The value of human relationships  Integrity: acting with honesty and responsibility  Competence: acting within (and seeking to improve) one’s professional expertise  People’s freedom to choose, even against God’s will (Genesis 3:11; John 1:11; Romans 1:24)  Jesus’ summary of the whole Law as love for God and for one’s fellow human beings (Mark 12:28-31)  The holiness imperative (1 Peter 1:15-17)  Serving God and people within the limit of the received „talents” and with the challenge to multiply them (Matthew 25:14-30, 1 Corinthians 12)