 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Richard A. Yoder, PhD, MPH, Calvin Redekop, PhD, and Vernon E. Jantzi, PhD. Eastern Mennonite University, Dept of Business and Economics, 1200 Park Rd, Harrisonburg, VA 22802, 540-432-4152, yoderra@emu.edu
Purpose: What are the values and ethics that inform the practice of faith-based health and development practitioners? This paper presents an ethical framework inductively derived from a sample of individuals with roots in the Anabaptist/Mennonite faith tradition – a historic peace church going back to the 16th century – who have worked with a wide cross-section of development institutions.
Methods: Data for articulating the ethical framework was derived from a content analysis of 20 papers written by Anabaptist/Mennonite practitioners of development using unobtrusive measurement techniques. In their papers, each practitioner responded to a common set of six questions. From the responses, common values, themes and patterns were identified which then formed the core data for building an “ethic of development.” The practitioners were selected using criteria of gender balance, a representative mix of organizational affiliation (private/public, large/small, grass roots/public policy), and sector mix.
Results: The ethical framework, building on the means-ends framework typical of most ethical systems, articulates (1) a set of four ends common to the work of the practitioners, (2) a larger set of common means used by the practitioners in moving towards the ends, and (3) the common value set underlying the means and goals. The specific contents of each of the three elements are presented. The paper concludes with a discussion of key tensions and opportunities experienced by the practitioners in their work settings.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.