- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- Part 1 - Terms of Reference
- Part 2 - Common Provisions
- Section 1 - Ministry in Cooperative Ventures
- 211 The ministry of the whole people of God
- 212 The ministry of word, sacrament and pastoral oversight
- 213 Locally Provided Ministry
- 214 The ministry of deacons and of self supporting appointments
- 215 Authorised lay workers
- 216 Parish councillors
- 217 Collegiate appointments
- 218 Letter of appointment
- 219 Code of Ethics
- Section 2 - Parish life, order and mission
- Section 3 - Worship
- Section 4 - Financial matters
- Section 5 - Property resources
- Section 6 - Dissolution procedures
- Section 7 - Amendments
- Part 3 - Guideline agreements
- Part 4 - Guideline papers
- Part 5 - General information
- Part 6 - Checklists
- Index
Green Pages
219 Code of Ethics
219.1 Preamble
This code is intended to be used by Ordained and Lay Leaders, Educators and Pastoral Carers, both paid and voluntary. This code is a statement of how the Partners in the Cooperative Ventures in Aotearoa New Zealand understand the standards of conduct by those members (both ordained and lay) who undertake the work of pastoral care, in the name of the church and as part of the Body of Christ.
219.2 Background
The church is a community bound together by faith, hope and love. We all share responsibility for its mission, to be a sign and instrument of the communion of human kind with God and with one another? Our rule of life is the inseparable two?fold commandment of Jesus ? Love God and love your neighbour as you love yourself. We are committed to living by this law of love as professional ministers and lay leaders, accountable for our ministry whatever its setting, This accountability is expressed in a minimal way through the acceptance of the responsibilities of this code of ethics.
The responsibility for adhering to the code rests with us. It has no official standing in the church, and no official body exists to enforce it and there are no sanctions against those who do not follow it. The code is offered to enhance the dignity of pastoral care and to give the public greater confidence that we are committed to standards of excellence and to a high quality of service.
The code is not to be taken as legal advice. When in doubt about the appropriateness of one's actions, ethically or legally, consultation with experts in related fields is always wise. This code is not instead of the codes or standards of practice of the Partners, but is intended to stand alongside them.
219.3 Statement
With God's help,
1) I will keep spiritually and emotionally healthy by following a regular discipline of spiritual growth and adequate personal recreation and selfcare.
2) I will act with integrity, dealing openly and honestly with those under pastoral care, maintaining a safe environment and upholding their best interests, rights and wellbeing, rather than my own.
3) I will respect the privacy of individuals and confidentiality of information. The only exception is where there is clear and imminent danger to the person or others, at which time he/she will be informed of those limits.
4) I will affirm the dignity and worth of each person and will ensure pastoral care is available for them without discrimination on grounds of their age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religious belief, economic status or physical or mental abilities.
5) I will acknowledge that people in pastoral care come from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and will act therefore with awareness, sensitivity and responsibility,
6) I will recognise that it is my responsibility, whose role and status gives me greater power, to maintain personal and professional boundaries in pastoral relationships.
7) I will not abuse the relative power of my position by taking advantage of people for personal, financial or institutional or spiritual gain.
8) I will not subject anyone to sexual exploitation, harassment or abuse, and recognise that any sexual intimacy in the pastoral situation is totally unacceptable.
9) I will recognise that there are limits to my competence and will refer people to others better qualified when this proves necessary or desirable. I will not attempt clinical counselling without appropriate training.
10) I will use regular professional supervision, where appropriate or some similar process, to ensure accountability, good time management, appropriate theological reflection and a high standard of pastoral care.
Signed ................................................................................................
Witnessed ..............................................................................................
Dated (at time of appointment) ..........................................................