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(part of the Order's
mandatory code
and adopted from exemplars found
in the main stream denominations)
The code of
professional conduct is a mandatory document for all members of the
Order and is fairly detailed in its contents. Whilst not prescriptive
in its application, it embodies all the standards expeceted of
members of the Order in conducting themselves in the outworking of
their ministries in the Order's name.
These
opening sections of the code are included so that members of the
public are aware of the minimum standards expected of members of the
Order. Bound by the disciplines of love and service, we expect the
highest standards from our members as representatives of the faith,
representatives of the Order and as discerning and mature Christians.
We do not and will not tolerate anything less.
Further
details of the code can be had from any of the members of the Order
or can be sent as an attachment by e-mail by request or be downloaded
from the home
page on this
web site. Please contact the Order's
Northern Office
if you have comments about the conduct of members, whether good or bad.
Key Points
1 Basics of priestly calling
1.1 The clergy are
entrusted with the privilege and responsibility of being servants and
leaders in the ministry of the Church.
As pastors,
spiritual guides and representatives of the Christian faith, they are
in a position of trust in their relationships with those for whom
they have pastoral care.
1.2 The clergy
will often find themselves in the powerful position of meeting people
at the limits of their vulnerability.
1.3 All personal
and professional conduct is bounded by common sense, sensitiveness to
need, spiritual discernment, moral, social and cultural conventions
and practices, canon law, civil law and legal sanction.
For clergy in the
Order of On Call Clergy and the Province and Jurisdiction for On Call
Ministry, serving as ordained pastors, ministers, priests and
religious signifies the voluntary undertaking of obligations which go
above and beyond the requirements of civil law and commonly held
social, moral and cultural practices.
2 Caring and
compassion, faith and works
2.1 Caring for one
another is the responsibility of the whole Church and is an extension
of the justice and love of the Incarnate God disclosed in Jesus Christ.
Compassion is
essential to pastoral care. The clergy should enable other members of
the worshipping community to share in this pastoral care.
2.2 The clergy
have a particular responsibility to minister sensitively and
effectively to the sick, the dying and the bereaved.
2.3 In their
ministry, pastoral care and working relationships, the clergy must
endeavour to offer equal respect and opportunity to all.
2.4 The clergy
minister through their own broken humanity, being aware of their own
need to receive ministry.
2.5 The clergy
should discern and make clear their own limitations of time,
competence and skill.
At times they will
need to seek support, help and appropriate training.
2.6 The difference
between pastoral care and formal counselling is always to be recognised.
2.7 The clergy
should be aware of the help available from accredited agencies so
that it can be commended where appropriate.
2.8 There is risk
in all pastoral work.
The place of the
meeting, the arrangement of furniture and lighting, and the dress of
the minister are important considerations in pastoral care.
The
appropriateness of visiting and being visited alone, especially at
night, needs to be assessed with care.
The clergy should
recognise the importance of knowing themselves and their own
emotional needs.
2.9 It is
essential in pastoral care to acknowledge appropriate physical,
sexual, emotional and psychological boundaries.
Inappropriate
touching or gestures of affection are to be avoided.
2.10 The clergy
should be aware of the dangers of dependency in pastoral relationships.
Manipulation,
competitiveness or collusion on either side of the pastoral encounter
should be avoided.
Self-awareness
should be part of the relationship.
2.11 The clergy
should be aware of the potential for abusing their privileged relationships.
2.12 When help or
advice is being sought, any note-taking should be mutually agreed.
2.13 Every
ordained person should have appropriate training in child protection.
2.14 The Order's
guidelines and requirements must be known, understood, accepted and
be observed without exception as these are distinctive and formative
theological expressions of the Order's work and purpose.
3 Pastoral care
3.1 Good pastoral
care will seek to bring about Christ-like wholeness, both personal
and corporate.
The development of
trust is of primary importance for honest relationships within ministry.
3.2 The clergy are
placed in a position of power over others, in pastoral relationships,
with lay colleagues, and sometimes with other clergy.
This power needs
to be used to sustain others and harness their strengths, and not to
bully, manipulate or denigrate.
3.3 In pastoral
and caring relationships the clergy should be open to God and to the
needs of the other person.
It is important
for clergy to be sensitive to the situations in which they are
placed, especially with regard to the pastoral care of children,
young people and vulnerable adults.
3.4 The clergy
should be aware that those for whom they care may be distressed and vulnerable.
The power
conferred on a minister in such situations should be acknowledged,
used positively, and never abused.
3.5 It is always
wrong to exploit or manipulate. Improper questioning or physical
contact (see 2.9) can be emotionally or sexually abusive.
3.6 Spiritual
authority must be exercised with gentleness and sensitivity, and the
minister should be aware of the possibility of spiritual abuse.
3.7 Pastoral care
should never seek to remove the autonomy given to the individual. In
pastoral situations the other party should be allowed the freedom to
make decisions that may be mistaken.
3.8 In leadership,
teaching, preaching and presiding at worship, the clergy should
resist all temptation to exercise power inappropriately.
3.9 The clergy
should thankfully acknowledge their own God-given sexuality.
They should be
aware of the danger of seeking sexual advantage, emotionally or
physically, in the exercise of their ministry.
3.10 In their
personal life the clergy should set an example of integrity in
relationships and faithfulness in marriage.
3.11 A person
seeking pastoral guidance and counsel from the clergy has the right
to expect that the clergy person concerned will not pass on to a
third party confidential information so obtained, without their
consent or other lawful authority.
3.12 Unless
otherwise agreed, the clergy are accordingly not at liberty to share
confidential information with their spouses, family or friends.
3.13 The content
and process of a pastoral relationship may need to be shared with
certain other people, such as a supervisor or supervisory group,
consultant or other involved colleagues.
Such sharing needs
to be carefully restricted so that it does not involve any breach of confidence.
Should it be
desirable to discuss the relationship in such a way as to involve a
breach of confidentiality, the consent of the person seeking pastoral
guidance must first be obtained.
3.14 The clergy
should be aware of the circumstances in which confidential
information can or should be disclosed to third parties, particularly
where the safety of children is concerned.
In these
circumstances, the clergy should refer to the guidance in the
Province and Jurisdiction and Order's child protection policies.
Children or
vulnerable adults who disclose evidence of significant harm will need
to know that their concerns will be taken seriously and referred to
the appropriate statutory agency (usually Social Services) so that a
proper investigation can take place and practical help be obtained.
In such cases the
welfare of the child or vulnerable adult should be regarded as of
paramount importance.
If contemplating
such a disclosure, however, the clergy should seek appropriate legal
and other specialist advice. Special considerations apply where
information is disclosed in the context of formal confession (see
paragraphs 7.2 and 7.3).
3.15 It is
important to safeguard the right of parishioners to share personal
information with one minister and not another.
In a team
situation, it may be advisable to create a policy to avoid the danger
to ministers within a team of being manipulated and divided by the
sharing of personal information with one and not another.
Assistant clergy
in training posts should make it clear that information given to them
will normally be shared with their training incumbent. |
