ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER
Developed by
Committee on Ministry
Presbytery of San Gabriel
ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS
All Presbyterian ministers of the Word and Sacrament have the responsibility, assumed in their ordination vows, to trust Jesus Christ as Savior, to acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and to believe in one true God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. They are further committed to obedience to Christ, under the authority of Scripture and guided by the Book of Confessions and the Book of Discipline. In their personal lives all ministers having received the grace of God, and acting as God’s servants, follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love their neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world. In both their personal and professional lives they strive to further the peace, unity, and purity of the Church, and serve society with honesty, intelligence, imagination, and love.
In all professional matters ministers of the Word and Sacrament maintain practices that give glory to God in Christ, advance the goals of the church, and nurture, challenge, and protect the welfare of church members, parishioners, clients, and the public. They give a full day’s work for a full day’s pay and are careful not to be slack or indifferent about their devotion to duty. Their practice of the profession will also seek to advance the profession itself, and include, but not be limited to, the following practices:
1. Ministers shall limit their pastoral counseling to those circumstances for which they are qualified, and shall make referrals to other professionals such as psychotherapists when needed.
2. Personal Information Forms (PIF), announcements of professional services, and other kinds of publicity are to be accurate, objective, dignified, and within the standards of generally accepted good taste.
3. Ministers shall give credit to all sources, especially in sermons.
4. Financial arrangements or expectations regarding preaching, speaking, counseling, weddings, funerals, and other professional services are to be discussed at the start of any such counseling or services and handled in a business like manner. Ministers who serve congregations are expected to offer their services to members of their own congregations without charge or honoraria for such services. While fees for the use of church facilities are sent by the session, honoraria or fees for the pastor’s services to non-members can be set by the pastor or by the session. When appropriate, all ministers stand ready to render services to individuals and communities in crisis without regard to financial remuneration.
5. Personal records of colleagues on staff must be stored in such a place as to maintain security and confidentiality.
6. Ministers shall avoid the disparagement of any person, and particularly of colleagues and other professionals.
7. Ministers should not be the financial or legal agents for members of their congregations.
8. Ministers have a legal and moral obligation to report to the appropriate civil authorities any cases of physical or sexual abuse of minors, persons with a disability, or seniors.
9. Ministers maintain professional competency throughout their careers.
10. Ministers will be faithful stewards of and fully account for funds and property entrusted to them and shall refrain from incurring indebtedness that might compromise their ministry.
11. Ministers will accept the discipline of the church and guidance as expressed through the actions of presbytery.
Ministers of the Word and Sacrament shall respect the integrity and protect the welfare of persons or groups with whom they are working on a professional basis.
1. It is the duty of a minister/pastoral counselor, during the counseling process, to maintain the relationship with the parishioner/counselee on a professional basis.
2. Ministers/pastoral counselors do not make unrealistic promises regarding the counseling process or its outcome.
3. Ministers/pastoral counselors recognize that the religious convictions of a parishioner/counselee have powerful emotional and volitional significance and therefore must be approached and counseled with care and sensitivity working for the parishioner’s/counselee’s best interest.
4. All personal communication from counselees or parishioners is treated with professional confidence except as state laws require otherwise. Ministers have a legal and moral obligation to report to the appropriate civil authorities any cases of physical or sexual abuse of minors, persons with disabilities, or seniors. Ministers have a legal and moral obligation to report any threat to do physical harm.
5. Ministers/pastoral counselors shall not engage in sexual activity with their parishioners/counselees, nor shall they take advantage of the parishioner’s/counselee’s vulnerability. Colleagues have the responsibility to report any sexual misconduct by Presbytery ministers to the Committee on Ministry. (Ministers shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with G-6.0106b.)
6. Ministers are encouraged to be aware of the effect that “special” friendships can have on other parishioners. Ministers should be accessible to the entire congregation. Dating within the congregation is particularly problematic. Ministers are strongly encouraged to seek such relationships outside the congregation.
Ministers of the Word and Sacrament maintain a vital association with their professional colleagues and with colleagues in related professions – health care, social services, legal services, and the like. This includes persons in the Presbyterian Church, those in other faith groups, and possibly some without any faith group connection. They communicate regularly with such peer persons and respect, support, and depend on them professionally and personally.
1. In relationships with ministerial colleagues serving the same congregation, the objective is to work together with a spirit of cooperation in building up the whole church. Specific position descriptions shall be prepared to describe the responsibilities, accountabilities, and interrationships of all ministers employed by the same congregation or governing body. Personnel committees and sessions should participate in the preparation of these position descriptions. Those who are in the position of Head of Staff should be especially aware of resources for conflict resolution. They should also be aware of the authority they hold by the nature of their office.
2. Ministers shall not engage in sexual misconduct with, or sexual harassment of, their colleagues or support staff, nor shall they take advantage of the vulnerability of a colleague or support staff person. All staff (ministers and support) should be fully aware of church policies in regard to sexual harassment. (Ministers shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with G-6.0106b.)
3. A minister shall not aspire to succeed any other minister in the employ of the same congregation. Innuendo, gossip, and inappropriately directed complaints shall be avoided. Ministers who serve the same congregation should be encouraged to speak openly and frankly about their differences and problems to the individual concerned. The principles of ethical, healthy relationships apply equally to professional, paraprofessional, support staff (secretarial and custodial employees), and volunteers. All staff members are given equal respect without prejudice or discrimination of any sort.
4. In pastoral calling and other home or hospital visiting, a parish minister’s first responsibility is to his/her own parishioners. Ordinarily a minister should not call on someone who is a member of another church unless initiated by that person or that person’s minister. Hospital chaplains, when calling on patients with an active religious connection, should, when appropriate, report their call to the home church pastor.
5. When a minister is called upon to officiate at a wedding, funeral, or baptism for families who are not members of the minister’s own congregation, the minister shall determine whether they are members of another church. If it is determined that they are members of another church, they shall be urged to secure the services of their own minister. If that effort fails, the minister shall seek to inform their minister of the circumstances.
6. When the relationship between a minister and a congregation is dissolved, the minister must announce publicly what that means, calling attention to the fact hat there will be another minister or interim minister to whom the people shall give their loyalty, and stating clearly that the departing minister should not be called upon for pastoral services or ceremonies except at the invitation of the current pastor. Ministers who are elected as pastor emeritus shall recognize that this is an honorary title and carries no job responsibilities or special privileges unless expressly stated by the session, in consultation with the pastor, and approved by the Presbytery.
7. The purpose of an interim pastor is to prepare a particular congregation for the coming of al new pastor soon to be called to this end, s/he will not seek to glorify him/herself or to mold loyalties to him/herself, but rather loyalties to the office of the pastor and, most of all, loyalties to Christ and to the Church. The interim cannot be considered as a candidate.
8. When a minister leaves the parish, s/he shall not influence the election of the pastor Nominating Committee or the selection of any successor. Visits to one’s former parish shall occur only at the invitation of the current pastor.
9. An installed pastor or a supply pastor has the responsibility to be courteous to any predecessor. If, in unusual circumstances, the current minister chooses to invite a former minister to participate in some service, this should be completely on the initiative of the current minister, not by indirect suggestion from the predecessor.
10. All ministers who fall into the category “other ministers” shall be active in the life of a particular congregation, but must respect the position of parish pastors regarding all ministerial functions within the community. Weddings, funerals, and baptisms should note be accepted by ministers without a parish unless an invitation has been initiated by the pastor of the church involved.
The Minister of the Word and Sacrament has the rights, needs, and gifts of all God’s children: privacy, intimate relationships, freedom, rest, meaningful work, recreation. The minister need not be guilt ridden, overloaded with work, duty bound, unhappy, obsessed with righteous rage.
1. Ministers shall work toward a balance between time at work and time with family and friends, recognizing the need of intimacy, dependence, and praise.
2. Health for a pastor includes recognizing problems and seeking therapeutic help when necessary. This would include, but not be limited to, family problems, alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual misconduct, compulsive behaviors, burnout.
3. Ministers shall plan for days of respite, study leaves for renewal, vacation for enjoyment, and, as appropriate, the minister shall also seek education, personal counseling, and spiritual direction.
Sessions are encouraged to be aware of these guidelines. Concerns about perceived unethical conduct may be discussed with the Committee on Ministry.