Code of ethics for elders
in the Worldwide Church of God
Most professions have a code of ethics that defines the standards the public can expect of that profession. The pastoral ministry should be no exception. While the Worldwide Church of God has always striven to maintain high standards for ministers, we did not have a formal a code of ethics until 1998.
Over several months, the WCG Pastoral Development staff worked with regional pastors and regional directors on preliminary drafts of the code. When they completed their work, a draft was sent to the entire field ministry for edits and input. The church also retained the services of the Ethics Resource Center in Washington, D.C., to advise us on wording, design and implementation of a code of ethics appropriate to a church organization.
Denominational headquarters feels that members should know of the ethical conduct that they can expect from their pastors. We sent an extra copy to pastors and encouraged them to place a copy on the church bulletin board or library, making it accessible to members and visitors. We published it in the church newspaper and are posting it on our internet site.
As with all WCG literature, this code of ethics is a living document and not a creed. It will be subject to revision as we grow in experience and the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. With that in mind, we welcome comments from members that could help improve, not only the wording, but the high standards we should expect from our elders.
Church Administration will develop a procedure of grievances and appeals that will accompany the code. Once this process is in place, all elders of the church will be expected to formally sign a statement of agreement to strive to live and abide by the code of ethics.
We pray all who read it will desire to live by the godly ethical standards that should be expected, not only for elders, but for all Christians.
By Ronald Kelly
Preamble
The Code of Ethics for Elders is designed to edify the body of Christ. We pray it will be embraced by all elders of the church serving in any and all congregational or administrative responsibilities. The code is intended to be a living document that helps shape our character as we constantly seek to make it better reflect Christ's will for us as elders in his church.
Ethics provides a framework for how people make decisions and judgments and how we act on them. Decision making for the Christian is ethical when it is firmly grounded in the Word of God and led by the Holy Spirit, for it is only in these that we find a basis for understanding the will of God.
As church leaders, we must submit ourselves to the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in the application of ethical principles of Scripture. Our Christian conduct must be based on the life and teachings of Jesus, the teachings of biblical writers and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The New Testament calls for the highest standard of reputation, ethics and conduct for us as elders.
As Christian leaders, we recognize that Jesus Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit. We ask him to change us so that the reality of his resurrected life is evident in our thoughts and actions. The ethical guidelines and principles in this Code of Ethics for Elders are set forth to tie in the realities of our ministerial activities with this transcendent reality of our Christian lives.
Therefore, as elders in the body of Christ, we must endeavor to conduct our lives according to the spirit of the ethical guidelines and principles set forth in this Code of Ethics for Elders.
Responsibility to God
Knowing that Jesus Christ is the living Head of the church, I will strive to conduct myself in a manner that brings glory to him. This means I will strive to:
- be a responsible servant of God.
- exercise faithful stewardship in my devotional life through the use of spiritual disciplines, the gifts of the Spirit and acts of service.
- exercise faithful stewardship of financial, physical and intellectual resources.
- accept accountability for all my actions and avoid situations that could reflect negatively on the name of Jesus Christ.
- maintain sexual purity.
- exercise Christ's servant-leadership.
Responsibility of denominational leadership to elders
In the spirit of Christian brotherhood, denominational supervisors are responsible to provide support as well as just and fair treatment for elders. This means if I am in a supervisory position, I will strive to:
- be accessible and promptly respond to requests from elders.
- provide sound and clear spiritual, ecclesiastical and administrative leadership.
- openly and respectfully communicate to an elder any serious complaints brought against him.
- provide reasonable time for feedback to requests for information from elders.
- handle sensitive and confidential information about an elder in a responsible manner.
- be sensitive to the personal and family needs of elders.
- be open and responsive to questions from elders.
- be subject to periodic performance evaluations.
- provide reasonable notice of moves, terminations and salary or benefit changes.
Responsibility to the denomination
As an elder of the Worldwide Church of God, I have a responsibility of loyalty to denominational headquarters and administrative supervisors. This means I will strive to:
- patiently and prayerfully study all doctrinal materials presented by headquarters.
- support and carry out all administrative decisions and policies of ecclesiastical supervisors. If I cannot in good conscience do this, I will immediately notify my supervisors.
- cooperate with, and seek assistance from, my ecclesiastical supervisors, my peers and members of my congregation(s) in the periodic review of my ministerial gifts and practices.
- respect my denomination and be responsible and respectful in discussions about fellow leaders—past and present.
- support and promote the worldwide mission of the church.
Responsibility to family
I will place my family responsibilities at the highest level of my priorities, second only to my relationship to God. This means I will strive to:
- spiritually, emotionally and physically support my family.
- be faithful to my spouse.
- be a responsible and dedicated parent to my children.
Relationship with the congregation
I will lead with justice and mercy, striving to express proper balance between strength and gentleness in all situations. This means I will strive to:
- provide sound and clear pastoral, spiritual leadership.
- help members develop spiritual gifts and mentor spiritual leaders in the congregation.
- give sermons that are biblically based, in theological agreement with the church and relevant to the life of the church.
- be committed to prompt reconciliation of interpersonal conflicts. I recognize that I must have personal courage, exercised with appropriate tact in facing opposition. I will encourage members of my congregation to seek help from my peers and/or ecclesiastical supervisors if necessary.
- be trustworthy in all areas of confidentiality, except as I am legally bound to disclose. I will not betray the trust of a member by disclosing personal information about that person to others without that person's knowledge and consent.
- be fair and consistent in my dealings with parishioners.
- honor and respect all cultures, genders and races.
Responsibility to fellow elders
As an elder of the Worldwide Church of God, I have a responsibility to respect and honor my colleagues. I will strive to cooperate with and support my fellow elders as we work together to further the work of Christ in the church. This means I will strive to:
- respect my fellow elders and will not speak against them publicly or privately, considering them partners in the work of God.
- respect the administrative boundaries of another elder's area of responsibility.
- treat the office of an elder in a manner so as not to be competitive or enhance my own status or position.
- serve my colleagues with counsel, support and personal assistance.
Responsibility to the greater body of Christ
Elders and members of the Worldwide Church of God are a part of the greater Christian community. This means I will strive to:
- avoid soliciting members from other church fellowships.
- seek to work in harmony with other Christian leaders and programs to strengthen the body of Christ and advance the kingdom of God.
- have respect for the greater body of Christ by not degrading or slandering other fellowships.
Responsibility to the local community
The local church is an integral part of the society in which it resides. An active, appropriate role in the community serves as a Christian example of love and is a witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This means I will strive to:
- be a responsible member of my community.
- accept reasonable responsibilities for community service, recognizing this is a function of my public ministry.
- encourage the involvement of the congregation in appropriate community events.
- comply with the laws of my government as long as they do not conflict with God's laws.
- take care not to allow political issues to create polarization within the congregation.
Copyright © 1998
