Ministerial Ethics
Every member of the
A. The minister must ke
ep the nobility of his or her calling uppermost in mind.
B. The minister must hold high in outward acts the established reputation of the Christian ministry.
C. The minister must not use his or her ministerial position to get unethical financial gain, nor must he or she measure the service of office by their monetary equivalent.
D. The minister should dress in a becoming manner.
E. The minister should always speak with good will of another minister; and if called to supply the pulpit of a church with doctrinal tenets other than his or her own, upon accepting such call, should carefully avoid making any statement at variance with the tenets of said church.
F. It should be the aim of the pastor to make himself or herself a part of the home while making calls, but at the same time to guard his or her own essential character. Ministers should be careful not to indulge in gossip while making calls.
G. The minister will be very circumspect in his or her conduct toward the opposite sex. The ideal minister will hold people equal in his heart. There is neither "male nor female, bond nor free, Greek nor barbarian" in the kingdom of which he or she is made a minister.
H. The minister should be careful not to bring reproach on his or her calling by joining in marriage improper persons.
I. The confidential statements made to a minister by his or her parishioners are privileged and should never be divulged without the consent of those making them.
J. It is unethical for a minister to interfere directly or indirectly with the parish work of another minister; especially should he or she be careful to avoid the charge of proselytizing.
K. As fellow laborers in the Vineyard of the Lord and in the service of the same Savior, the relationship between ministers should be one of frankness and understanding.
L. The minister must confine moral conduct to the Biblical standards set forth in the disciplinary procedure and tenets of faith of the ECA Constitution.
