Pastor Code of Ethics

Pastoral Covenant & Code of Ethics

Maine State Advent Christian pastors represent Jesus so it is essential that we act with integrity, aware of appropriate boundaries in our relationships with others. Because we cannot attain such lofty goals alone, we recognize the importance of established lines of accountability in our lives. As ministers of the Gospel and ambassadors of Jesus, the Lord of the Church, we affirm our commitment to the Scriptures as our authority for life and practice. We recognize this document as an attempt to compliment our biblical understanding of our high and noble calling. And we attest to this document by signature not from compulsion but our desire to “fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Confessing Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God and proclaiming Him as my Lord, I reaffirm my vows as an ordained or licensed Advent Christian pastor. Relying on the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, I commit myself to:

Grow in faith, grace, knowledge and love through the practice of spiritual disciplines, study, continuing education and acts of service.
Live a life that honors my commitment to my family, including our need for privacy and time together.
Maintain diligence in my sexual life, guarding my heart and my relationship with my spouse by avoiding pornography in its various forms and giving no appearance of impropriety in my relationships with members of the same or opposite gender.
Manage my personal finances as a trustworthy steward by giving faithfully to the congregation I serve and being careful in all financial obligations to contract no indebtedness that I will be unable to repay in a timely fashion.
Preserve my emotional, physical and spiritual health, refraining from overindulgence that results in abuse of my body - the Lord’s Temple.
Schedule adequate time for physical and spiritual renewal, recreation and vacation.
Shun the use of my position, power and authority to exploit another.
Acknowledge my primary ministry responsibility to the congregation with whom God has placed me.
Be open to service beyond the local congregation but only if my doing so does not impair my ministry to that congregation. I will accept such responsibilities only after seeking the advice and consent of its governing board.
Hold in confidence all privileged communication received by me during the conduct of my ministry. I will not disclose confidential information in private or public except when, in my practice of ministry, I am convinced that the sanctity of confidentiality is outweighed by my well-founded belief that the parishioner/client will cause imminent, life-threatening or substantial harm to self or others, or unless the privilege is waived by the one giving the information.
Preach and teach the Gospel, administer the sacraments and, in so far as I am able, provide unbiased pastoral care without regard to gender, race or station in life.
Refrain from accepting any gift that might compromise my personal integrity or the congregation’s ministry.
Encourage the ministry of my successor upon my retirement or departure from a pastoral position. I will refrain from interference in his ministry and that congregation’s life, making it clear to former parishioners that I no longer hold the pastoral office in their congregation. I will perform weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc. within the former parish or for a member of that parish only at the invitation of the new pastor. I will apply this same standard when asked to perform such services in a parish I never served.
Engage with fellow pastors in constructive relationships that include nurture, discipline, theological dialogue and spiritual formation.
Avoid all hints of proselytizing from other Christian congregations.
Exercise a moral and spiritual commitment to truthfulness, avoiding plagiarism of another’s ideas and work by acknowledging sources for sermon and written material.
Guard the honor of Jesus Christ and the welfare of His Church with every fiber of my being and every resource at my disposal.
Place the unity and wellbeing of this congregation above my own. At the conclusion of my relationship with them for whatever cause, I will do everything in my power to insure that conclusion is one that contributes to its health and does not disrupt its unity.
Speak well of the congregation I serve to God and to men.