PREAMBLE
This Ministerial Code of Ethics establishes moral and ethical standards of behavior to be adhered to by all persons licensed or ordained in the Church of God. It is generally assumed that all ministers will behave ethically. However, reality indicates that such assumptions are occasionally incorrect. Therefore, although the following is not a legal document and cannot alone create an ethical person, we attempt here to establish our expectations for professional conduct for all persons who engage in ministry on behalf of the Church of God.
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
1. My life will be lived for the purpose of giving glory to God and reflecting the character and countenance of Jesus Christ in all that I say, think, and do.
2. I will act in ways that uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, morality, and dignity of the gospel of Christ in general and the profession of a minister in particular.
3. I will maintain a life of personal and public integrity before God, the congregation I serve, and the wider Kingdom community both inside and outside the Church of God.
4. I will be known as a person of my word, always maintaining confidentiality where appropriate and being a person who speaks and lives by the truth in every context.
5. I will limit my freedoms rather than weaken ministry by refraining from all kinds of addictive, dependent, and self-destructive behaviors.
6. I will use my position to dispel gossip, resolve conflict in accordance with biblical teaching, and create a culture of trust and reconciliation.
7. I will enter into the pastoral relationship to benefit those I serve, not myself. This means that I will faithfully teach the Word of God, protect the vulnerable, and offer pastoral care to all regardless of race, gender, creed, ethnic origin, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation.
8. I will maintain appropriate boundaries between myself and parishioners, refraining from any behavior that manipulates, demeans, shames, wounds, coerces, or takes power over another person.
9. I will promote and support the ministry of my colleagues, rejoicing with them in their victories and weeping with them through their challenges.
10. I will give myself to serving the wider church as I am able and lead my congregation to be a valuable partner in the work of my Assembly of the Church of God as well as Kingdom work in my community.
11. I will always strive to grow in ministry through life-long learning and adequate preparation that will enhance my knowledge and skill levels in ministry.
12. I will honor the Church of God General Assembly’s resolutions on same- sex marriage by refusing to perform or participate otherwise in the leadership of the marriage ceremonies of same-sex persons.
PERSONAL CONDUCT
1. I will demonstrate my personal love for God as revealed in Jesus Christ in my life and ministry.
2. I will commit myself to biblical standards as I pursue holy living in all my thoughts, words, and actions.
3. I will cultivate a consistent devotional life, practicing spiritual disciplines of study, prayer, spiritual direction, and meditation.
4. All my sexual expression--including thoughts, words, and actions--will be reserved exclusively for my spouse. If I am unmarried, my pursuit of a spouse will maintain biblical teaching regarding chastity and purity outside of marriage. That means that I will maintain high moral standards and not engage in sexual misconduct, whether in person, by reading material, telephone, computer, or any other means.
5. I will limit my freedoms rather than weaken ministry by refraining from all kinds of addictive, dependent, and self-destructive behavior.
6. I will honor my family in all ways, holding my marriage as a sacred and holy union and raising my children to know and love the Lord and His church.
7. I will maintain good financial stewardship, managing my money wisely and honestly, exercising restraint in spending, and demonstrating generosity toward the church and others.
8. I will maintain appropriate boundaries in all relationships, avoiding blurring the line between vocational and personal relationships. As a result, I will avoid exploiting others for my benefit.
9. I will give adequate attention to self-care, maintaining good health physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When necessary, I will seek help from others to see that this is done well.
10. I will actively seek and maintain high standards of accountability to my family, my colleagues in ministry, and relevant leadership both inside the congregation I serve and the Assembly of the Church of God in which I reside.
11. I will strive to live a balanced life that honors my commitments to my family and friends, providing for sufficient privacy and quality time together.