The Bible is a good place to learn about why authority in the Church has nothing to do with authoritarianism, patriarchy or legalism. This lecture offers a close reading of the book of Esther with ethical questions in mind about the exercise of authority by both women and men.

ESTHER REED is a lecturer in theology and ethics at the University of St. Andrews. She is the editor of the journal Studies in Christian Ethics, and is the author of several books, including The Genesis of Ethics: On the Authority of God as the Origin of Christian Ethics. She is a member of the Methodist Church of Great Britain and has served on its Faith and Order Committee, and on the Methodist European Theological Committee. She is currently writing a book on human rights in Christian ethical perspective, and is pursuing interests in health-care, medical ethics and approaches to moral reasoning.