Ethical Jazz: A Reflective Space for Anabaptist Healthcare Providers

At the December 2024 MHF Board Meeting in Baltimore, we heard a clear call from our community: Anabaptist healthcare professionals are seeking deeper engagement with the ethical questions they face in clinical practice, institutional life, and personal vocation. In response, MHF launched Ethical Jazz, a monthly space of listening, discernment, and moral imagination.

Inspired by Dr. Randy Longenecker’s “Clinical Jazz”—a small-group model rooted in reflective practice and collaborative problem-solving—we adapted the approach for the unique character and values of the MHF community. Each Ethical Jazz session brings together a small group of MHF members to listen carefully and respond thoughtfully to a real-life ethical dilemma offered by one participant, called the jotter.

The process is simple but profound. The jotter presents a story, image, or case that captures a live ethical question from their own context. Through intentional conversation and reframing, the group supports the jotter in discerning a “pearl” of wisdom—an insight or next step that aligns with their convictions and context. These sessions foster a safe and honest space for shared discernment, grounded in Anabaptist commitments to humility, peace, and community.

Why It Matters

Ethical Jazz sessions make space for the questions that don’t often get asked:

• How do we live out our faith in ethically complex workplaces?

• How do Anabaptist values guide our decisions as clinicians, administrators, caregivers, and neighbors?

• What does it mean to act justly and walk humbly in the healthcare world today?

These conversations help cultivate the courage and clarity needed to act faithfully in real-world dilemmas, while strengthening the bonds of shared learning and trust among members.

Join Us

Ethical Jazz sessions are open to all current MHF members. We meet monthly via Zoom, and each session welcomes new voices and returning participants.

📬 Watch your email for the MHF newsletter announcing upcoming session dates and registration details.

Support Ethical Jazz

Ethical Jazz is only possible through the generous support of the MHF community. If this program resonates with you, please consider:

• Renewing your MHF membership

• Making an additional contribution to sustain Ethical Jazz and related programs

Your support helps us continue cultivating a compassionate, theologically rooted healthcare community.