Code of Ministerial Ethics
In My Own Life
- I will always devote time to seeking the will of God through reading the Scriptures and prayer.
- I will endeavor to keep myself physically and emotionally fit.
- I will seek in all ways to be Christ like in my attitude and conduct.
- I will seek mutual accountability and spiritual friendship with fellow Christians for personal encouragement and nurture in order to ensure faithfulness to my calling as a steadfast follower and competent servant of my Lord Jesus Christ.
- I will always devote time to seeking the will of God through reading the Scriptures and prayer.
- I will endeavor to keep myself physically and emotionally fit.
- I will seek in all ways to be Christlike in my attitude and conduct.
- I will seek mutual accountability and spiritual friendship with fellow Christians for personal encouragement and nurture in order to ensure faithfulness to my calling as a steadfast follower and competent servant of my Lord Jesus Christ.
- I will consider each member of my immediate family as precious gifts from God, and will carefully, lovingly and responsibly meet their needs as a sacred obligation before Him.
- I will be faithful and loyal to my family members, loving them as Jesus Christ loves His Church.
- I will give spiritual leadership in my home.
- I will remember that I am called to lead, but also to serve. I will honor all confidences shared with me unless compelled by law to do otherwise.
- I will be diligent in my duties as a clergy member, with God as my judge and my Shepherd.
- I will be Biblical in my preaching, presenting the whole counsel of God, speaking the truth in love.
- I will never violate a confidence given to me.
- I will strive to introduce people to Christ, and to build His Church.
- I will consider my call to the church a sacred responsibility and stand by my commitment to the church and leaders.
- I will seek the unity of the church and resist any attempts to divide.
- I will seek the unity of the church and resist any attempts to divide the congregation, either by supporting factions within the congregation or by my own initiative.
- I will administer the sacraments (ordinances) and rites of the church with integrity.
- I will be a brother in Christ to my fellow ministers.
- I will not seek to build my church at the expense of another church, nor my ego at the expense of another minister.
- I will not speak uncharitably of my predecessor, my successor or my colleagues.
- When departing from a church/ministry, I will not interfere with nor intrude upon the ministry of my successor and will refrain from pastoral contacts with former congregants except with the knowledge of and permission from the present pastor.
- I will participate in the larger fellowship of the denominations to which I am affiliated and seek to support them through prayer and action in their aims and objectives as long as they align with God's Word.
- I will seek to be responsible in my personal finances.
- I will seek to build a positive relationship with the community without sacrificing my ministry to the church.
