Pastoral ethics

Pastoral Ethics

The world has many bars, clubs, whore houses, gambling houses and strip joints to entertain freaks, liars, cheaters, weirdos, con men, hit men, criminals, drunkards and gossipers. The preachers should NOT have these people practice their craft inside the church; although it is prudent to invite them to be converted in order for them to abide by good principles.

Today it is apparent that some churches entertain just anyone, doing just anything. For example, this writer has heard many women who fornicate with pastors say: "He is just a man like anyone else."

This comment is irresponsible and careless like an individual with a loaded gun firing wildly into the streets.

The preacher is NOT like anyone else. He/she is drafted into the church to live and guide the flock by carefully carved principles. If he/she (it is often he) believes that there may be an unset of faltering, the reasonable thing to do is to step aside and deal with the issue.

The preacher should also be looking seriously on the behavior of his/her congregation to ensure that each one abides by Christian principles. This task should not be a side show, but it should be a priority. You see, the Public is very observant of the church members. If the church congregation does the same things as the "sinners" then why join the church?

The membership of many churches may be increasing but the God-like principles of the members have plunged and many skeptics have gone further to the left, rather than embracing Christianity.

Yes, we do understand that many preachers were 'converted' while serving time in prison; while others took up the "pastorship" as simply a job. Therefore, it is the duty of the congregation to monitor the activities of the preacher and assist him to toe-the-line or get the hell out of the "pastorship" field.

Can you imagine a pastor having sex with a sister of the church and he comes on pulpit to preach to people? In fact in some churches pastor is having sex with several sisters.

Can you imagine pastor having sex with a brother and comes to the pulpit to preach to people?

This is like hearing that a little kid's doll colored red, white and blue, was robbed a few chains down the street and while the robbers is passing you see the three colored doll, yet you reach out and buys it from him.

Folks, if a whore enters the church, she has no qualms whatsoever enticing the pastor. She believes there is nothing wrong with the behavior. As a matter of fact, those women who have sex with pastors are generally forever single and practice the first profession. They will never settle down and live a decent life.

Clergymen are obligated to live by a specific code of pastoral ethics. They should understand these basic principles which will guide them in their pastoral duties.
DO NOT allow fools to tell you that the pastor can do a little sin once in a while because: "...he.she is a human like anyone else."
Ethics means: "studying and analyzing right from wrong." Pastoral ethics then, is a basic standard of conduct which determines what is appropriate, acceptable, and expected in a pastor's life; both personal and professional; not only while on the pulpit!
Every professional should recide these words: "Contribute to success or someone else will take your place."

Code of Pastoral Ethics
Commitment to excellence in ministry characterized by:

Faithfulness: to God, spouse, and family
Committed to faithfulness to God through daily prayer, worship, and reading, meditation, and study of God's Word.
Commitment to maintain a close personal walk with God.
Commitment to faithfulness through emotional and sexual purity.
Commitment to the maintenance of a strong marriage and strong families.
Commitment to faithfulness to our families through Godly leadership, biblical love, and devotion.
Commitment to receive and provide training for the family.
Integrity:
Commitment to be above reproach. Anyone can own a car, a house and money in the bank. Your integrity is one of the few things unique about you.
Commitment to personal integrity in keeping with the qualifications for leadership.
Conducting one's self in an honest and professional manner, always reflecting the highest biblical integrity. We will endeavor to do right regardless of the situation.
Commitment to keeping ourselves above reproach in all areas of life.
Commitment to moral soundness, honesty, and uprightness.
Service:
Commitment to Godly servant leadership.
Commitment to refrain hypocrisy.
Recognition that we are servants to the people that God has entrusted to our care.
Commitment to being servants in the likeness of Jesus Christ.
Commitment to mutually building up the body of Christ, recognizing and affirming the different gifts in the assembly.
Committed to discussion leading to restoration of harmonious relationship between members of the body and members and others.
Commitment to diligently preserving unity in the body of Christ. That is, not knowingly participate in the division of any church; and not personally participate in the start of another church in the same vicinity.

Accountability:
Commitment to , family, to peers, the public, and to the ministry
Commitment first and foremost to accountability to God, and to our spouse regarding spirituality and faithfulness.
Commitment to accountability to our peers regarding personal integrity.
Commitment to John Public who are your worst critics.
Commitment to accountability to the leadership of the church.

Confidentiality:
Commitment to strict confidentiality in ministry except when information must be divulged in accordance with the law. In such case, individuals concerned to be apprized of all mandated disclosures.
Commitment to confidentiality in ministry and consider a statement made in confidence a trust not to be shared unless with that individual's express written permission. The confidence placed in the pastor is of significant importance. People will confide in their pastor more than their family or friends.

Stewardship:
Commitment to good stewardship of what God has entrusted to our care.
Honesty and open in all of our financial dealings.
Absolutely no lying for any reason.
Promptly pay all debts as soon as possible.
Refrain using our position to gain any financial privilege or leverage.
Commitment to guard our hearts against greed and materialism.
Commitment to good stewardship and will be totally forthright in all financial undertakings.
All contributions are gifts to the Lord's work that have been entrusted into our care.
Commitment to lead from the front. The leader who operates from the back will have to depend on messages from the front; which may not be truthful.

Professionalism:
Commitment to accurately and skillfully communicating the Word of God, always speaking the truth with conviction. The "pastorship" is not the conduit to spread idle gossip. Before believing or promulgating a story, regardless of whom the story emanates, it should be thoroughly checked out for accuracy. Some times, the person carrying the story truly believes it because of the source which gave it to him/her. However, we know many people as honorable decent citizens; while other people may know them as nothing but thugs. Professional thugs know very well that gossip is believed quicker when the conduit is respected. Remember that a story can travel faster if the conduit is popular or if he/she holds a respectable position.
A pastor should never betray the trust of anyone simply to be among the Joneses; social, economical or political.
Commitment to honoring our fellow servants in God's household. Refrain seeking to build a ministry at the expense of other legitimate ministries. Communicating with the rest of Christ's family to encourage unity and the proper allocation of resources.

The Needs of the pastor:
The pastor needs the congregation's support to effectively maintain a vibrant church. The members should not only warm bench, but all should participate in the building of the church.

Searching for a pastor:
Pastors are human beings. They also get frustrated, occasionally disheartened and uncertain, often lonely, and frequently dissatisfied with their own efforts and abilities.
Congregations may often without knowing it – pressure their ministers to produce success; which is a success generally measured by attendance numbers and the church's bank account.

The pressure from the congregation, however, is minor compared with the pressure he may put on himself to perform.
Any pastor who does not conduct research, form committees, and demand reports and performance, will not necessarily make the grade.
Any pastor who begins to perform inappropriate touching, comments, behaviors among the flock will find himself in deep trouble. It is for that reason that the pastor searching for a bride may wish to go far from his community to conduct his search. Why? If he courts a member and fails, he will have to separate himself or his lady friend from the church; or, he will be "between the rock and a hard place" afterwards.

At times he feels like a hypocrite when he preaches against sin because he knows that sin is still an influence in his own life. The Bible says: "All have sinned." However, his "sins" should be at the most minimal. He should not be the regular sinner who racks up a bag of sins per day.

Give him some credit. He may frequently compares his “success” with that of the church across the street, and feels he is not performing.
Some days he looks at the members and try to determine what they think of him. His conclusions may not be very positive depending on his performance. And, speaking about performance; he should know very well that if he commits acts contrary to the principles of the church, he should resign immediately. He should also feel confident, that if he makes a decision based on truth and justice, and then finds himself being frown upon by thugs; the church will be 100% behind him.
It is for these, and a compendium of other reasons why your pastor needs the support of the membership. He needs encouragement, appreciation, criticism, partnership, and prayer.

A church does not have to be big and full of fanfare to be effective. In part, the church should mold the community through various interventions. The church does not have to wait on one becoming a member in order to send a Christmas greeting to a resident; sending a tract which speak's God's words; or inviting the neighbors to a church picnic. The pastor can walk down the street, knock on a gate and offer a word of prayer, regardless of the household's denominational linkage. He can send a congratulatory or condolence message to a household regardless of whether there are members of his church residing there.

Your pastor search will determine the quality and direction of your church for at least 10 years.

We all know about churches that were in decadence before the current pastor came. Now they have a vibrant ministry in the community. That's what you want for your church.
But, unfortunately, we also know churches that were doing just fine before their last pastor blasted his way into town, and there is need for another search. So, a thorough search will alleviate the hurting, frustration and disappointment. That's what you want your church to avoid.
Critically, never judge a book by its cover. Some people can fool you every time with the gift of gab. Always have a method of cross-checking information.

There are a few rules to follow when on a pastor search. Use these as basic guidelines:
Exhibit patience
Exhibit thoroughness
Exhibit forthrightness
Ask many questions

Keeping the pastor:
Hell could break loose any where there is a large gathering.

Church members should always remember that you are in a church. Anything you hear, analyze it thoroughly before you pass it on. Keep gossip out of church business and things will work well.

Pastoral Books:

In Search of God's Man:
By Douglas E. Devore

Life in the Fish Bowl:
By F. Belton Joyner, Jr

Working the Angles:
By Eugene H. Peterson

The Reformed Pastor
By Richard Baxter

The Contemplative Pastor:
By Eugene H. Peterson

Community and Growth
By Jean Vanier

Classical Pastoral Care:
By Thomas C. Oden

The Emotionally Healthy Church
By Peter Scazzero

The Wounded Healer
By Henri J. M. Nouwen

Creative Ministry
By Henri J. M. Nouwen

The Art of Pastoring:
By David Hansen

Well-Intentioned Dragons
By Marshall Shelley

Pastors at Greater Risk
By H. B. London

How Your Church Family Works
By Peter L. Steinke

Leading With Love
ByAlexander Strauch

Biblical Doctrine of Infant baptism:
By Pierre Marcel

The Shepherd Leader:
By Timothy Z. Witmer

When bad Things happen to Good People
By Harold S. Kushner

The Pastor's Family:
By Daniel L. Langford

Counsel for Pastor's Wives
By Diane Langberg

Mad Church Disease
By Anne Jackson

Preventing Ministry Failure:
Michael Todd Wilson and Brad Hoffman

Before you Quit
By Blaine Allen

Clergy Burnout:
Fred Lehr

Clergy Killers
By G. Lloyd Rediger

Pastors in Pain:
Gary Preston

The Wounded Minister:
By Guy Greenfield, Ph.D.

Honorably Wounded
By Majory Foyle

Pastorial Politics:
John Gilmore

Leader That Last
Kinnman and Ellis

The Peacemaker:
Ken Sande

The Ten Commandments...
By Lawrence W. Farris

Moving on Moving Forward:
Anthony and Boerma

Things They Never Taught You in Seminary
By Deborah Bushfield

Introduction to Pastorial Ethics
By David Atkinson