A Ministerial Code of Ethics:

for
Clinical Pastoral and Spiritual Care

Stacy Burdick

LE 8548 Integrity, Communication & Decision-Making

Professor: Dr. Bruce Bronoske

March 2019

Laws will do little to promote ethical conduct unless the ministers to be guided are
persons of character. Integrity is central to [that character], it is not an option – Joe E. Trull.
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Preamble
Joe Trull says, “The word that sums up the content of a ministerial code is the same word

that characterizes ministerial ethics: integrity.” The Hebrew term for integrity is [‫ ֹּתם‬tome], and

means whole, sound, unimpaired. Trull continues, “In reality, no human being has arrived at

wholeness. The important thing, … is direction, not destination, [being preceding doing]. A

code of ethics for [chaplains and all the friends of God] is intended to guide the pilgrim on that

journey” towards wholeness.1

Similarly, Henry and Richard Blackaby point up that “God’s primary concern for people

is not results but relationship.”2 God desires a relationship, with His creation, that can be trusted

for time (our earthly pilgrimage) and for eternity (our presence with Him for eternity.) Why?

Because we are created for friendship, with Him for time and eternity. However, without whole-

person integrity, a friendship with God may be difficult to sustain.

Clinical Pastoral Spiritual Care (CPSC)

(An Introductory Synopsis)

The primary mission of CPSC is to enhance the spiritual well-being of the whole-person

by providing care to persons in biological, psychological, social and spiritual need, in diverse

pastoral settings. “Persons” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups,

organizations and communities, and “need” refers to “crises” of various life and death sorts.

A defining feature of CPSC, is the chaplain’s focus on individual spiritual wellbeing,

within a social context of participation of community and family, within clinical and home,

macro and micro environs. Fundamental to CPSC, is charitable attention to the issues of

. Joe E. Trull and James E. Carter. Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation for Church Leaders (Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2nd ed. 2004) 211, loc. 4410. Kindle.

2
. Henry & Richard Blackaby. Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda. B&H Publishing,
Nashville, TN. revised 2011. p. 127.
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spiritual strength and distress that create, contribute to, and address challenges and joys in living

as it is essential to each person’s cultural experience of spiritual health, and meaning in life and

relationships. CPSC chaplain professionals seek to enhance the capacity of persons to identify

and use their spiritual, religious and existential strengths, assist in accommodating personal

practices when appropriate and community resources, but not limited to these. Clinical chaplains

seek to promote and advocate for the responsiveness of healthcare and community resource

organizations, along with social institutions and family systems, in acknowledging and

integrating the spiritual dimension of persons in the services they provide.

The mission of CPSC is rooted in a set of core values which are the foundation of the

CPSC’s purpose, perspective, and contributions to whole-person well-being. The purpose is

inclusive of reconciling personal and family, intra and interpersonal relationships to God.

Personal and Family Relationships

In relation to Self and Family: What Trull says is relevant to me: “The character of a Christian

minister is foundational; being precedes doing. Developing the right virtues are absolutely

essential to effective ministry.” 1 Tim 1:5 describes how “the goal of our instruction is love.”

“The minister must grow in faith [through love] and morals as do all believers. Learning how to

[love and] make good moral choices is a lifelong process” not innate to fallen humanity.3

Respect and promote the rights of people to self-determination: Assist people in their efforts

to identify and clarify their goals. CPSC professionals promote the interests of the person and

foster strength, integrity, and healing, according to the person’s agenda. CPSC professionals

have a duty, to sometimes limit a person’s right, to self-determination, when in their professional

3
. Joe E. Trull and James E. Carter. Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation for Church Leaders (Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2nd ed. 2004) 63, loc. 1203. Kindle.
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judgement, the person’s actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent

risk to self or others. Such action is always an interdisciplinary team (IDT) decision.

Respect people’s rights to privacy and confidentiality: CPSC professionals do not solicit

private information from persons, without their permission, unless it is essential to conducting a

CPSC assessment, screening, evaluation, or research. Once private information is shared,

standards of confidentiality apply. Appropriate confidential information may be disclosed to

other members of the IDT, within the setting of care according to organizational policies in

documentation and creation of a comprehensive treatment plan of care.

CPSC professionals respect the person’s confidentiality when communicating with

family members or significant others except when disclosure is required for necessary treatment,

granted by the person’s permission, or for the safety of any person as required by law (i.e.

Advance Medical Directives, etc.)

Integrity: CPSC professionals behave in a trustworthy manner. They act honestly and

responsibly both individually and as members of the organizations with which they are affiliated

and / or employed.

Dignity of and respect for the person: CPSC professionals are sensitive to spiritual, religious,

existential, cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual-orientation and other expressions of diversity and

affirm the dignity and value of each individual. CPSC providers, through empathy, endeavor to

eliminate discrimination in all its forms and expressions.

Ethical Responsibilities to Persons: CPSC professionals understand people to be any clients,

patients, counselees, members of a faith/spiritual/cultural community, family members, staff,

students and others to whom they provide CPSC. CPSC professionals demonstrate respect for

the spiritual, religious, existential, and cultural values of those they serve and do not impose their
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own personal values and beliefs on those served. My agenda waits for the patient narrative.

Congregational Relationships

As CPSC professionals, the marketplace is our congregation. We bury their dead, visit

their sick, comfort their families, and generally share in being with people, building personal

relationships. “Knowing one another personally and sharing the experiences of life aid in

building good [pastoral] relationships … [in the marketplace.] Through compassionate care and

concern, a [marketplace] minister lets people know that they are [valued and] important. And all

of this rests on the personal integrity of the minister.”4 Weese would say that. “a significant

aspect of church culture is the [integral] social contract between a church and its members that

keeps them connected. This social contract is the glue that holds a church together.”5

A Servant Role Model: In Phil 2:4-7 Paul’s words describe Jesus as the embodiment of the

servant model in His conception, birth, life, death and resurrection, for “… the Son of man did

not come into the world to be served, but to serve ….” Trull says, “Responsive is the word that

best describes the servant model of ministry. The minister who acts as a servant responds to the

needs of the people, the directives of God, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” as Jesus did.6

CPSC professionals become Christlike servant role models within the marketplace.

Competent Marketplace Service: The clinical chaplain represents their competencies,

education, training, and experience relevant to their practice, in an accurate manner and provide

services only within the boundaries of their certification or credentials. No professional

identification, degrees, certification, or credentialing should be used that are false, misleading,
4

. Joe E. Trull and James E. Carter. Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation for Church Leaders (Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2nd ed. 2004) 90, loc. 1755. Kindle.

5
. Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree. The Elephant in the Boardroom: Speaking the Unspoken about
Pastoral Transitions (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers, a Wiley Imprint 2004). Loc. 905, Kindle.

6
. Trull and Carter. Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation for Church Leaders () 92, loc. 1801. Kindle.
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fraudulent, or deceptive. Specialized services, techniques, or interventions should only be

represented and engaged in if the CPSC professional has the appropriate education, training, or

supervised experience to discern and serve the needs recognized in the marketplace.

Culturally Competent: Understanding and respecting cultural diversity, its function in human

behavior, community, the marketplace and recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures is

essential. CPSC professionals should have and maintain a knowledge base of cultural

competence, particularly that of persons they serve in the moment, and are able to demonstrate

sensitivity to that culture and to differences among people and cultural groups. This includes,

but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual identify, gender identity or

expression, age, marital status, political belief, religious, spiritual, existential or no belief system,

immigration status, mental or physical disability, and social indicators such as literacy,

homelessness, incarceration and income level.

Christlikeness: Jesus invites CPSC professionals to “Be perfect, … as your heavenly Father is

perfect” (Matt. 5:48). A standard of [Christlikeness] can never be based on people or our own

accomplishments. The standard of Christlikeness is determined by Christ and one’s obedient

faithfulness to Him and His Spirit. In 2 Cor. 7:1, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Patient/Client Rights: CPSC professionals will provide services to persons only in the context

of a professional based relationship. CPSC professionals should use clear and understandable

language to inform clients of the purpose of the services, limits to services, the person’s right to

refuse, and provide opportunities for persons to ask questions, in order to experience informed

consent. In instances when clients have difficulty understanding the primary language used in

the setting, CPSC professionals should take steps to ensure comprehension, including arranging

for a qualified interpreter whenever possible. When a person lacks the capacity to provide
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informed consent to CPSC services, permission should be sought from an appropriate surrogate

caregiver (i.e. healthcare representative, etc.) of the person, seeking to ensure that the third-party

acts in a manner consistent with the person’s wishes and interests.

Collegial Relationships

“Obviously, good relationships among [colleagues and community] leaders are crucial,

and trust is essential for these relationships to survive.”7

Professionality: Maintain relationships with persons on a trustworthy professional basis only.

CPSC professionals will not take unfair advantage of any relationship or exploit others to further

their own personal, religious, political, or business interests. They will engage in appropriate

physical contact with persons only after setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive

boundaries that govern such physical contact.

Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment actions, both physical and verbal including misconduct,

harassment, or assault, of persons by CPSC professionals is prohibited.

Negative Emotionality: Use of derogatory language and actions by CPSC professionals to or

about persons, their beliefs or any aspect of their culture, either by verbal or written means, is

prohibited. Included is any kind of language or actions that are forms of harassment, coercion,

intimidation, or otherwise abusive. Accurate and respectful language should be used in all

communication to and about persons.

Conflicts of Interest: Any conflicts of interest or appearance of conflicting interest(s) should be

avoided or corrected. CPSC professionals will not take unfair advantage of any relationship to

exploit others to further their personal, religious/spiritual, political, or business interests.

Community Relationships

. Joe E. Trull and James E. Carter. Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation for Church Leaders (Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2nd ed. 2004) 121, loc. 2416. Kindle.
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Importance of Community relationships: CPSC professionals understand that community

relationships among people and organizations are important to intra and interpersonal

relationships, support networks, and maturing partnerships. They seek to engage persons and

corporations as partners in the provision of CPSC services to address their challenges, joys, and

needs. CPSC professionals seek to resolve conflicts and promote effective communication and

understanding within the clinical and public community where they live, work and play.

Ethics of Community Involvement: CPSC professionals promote community partnerships as

integral to the care, respect, and dignity of all persons served. CPSC professionals are

committed to their community partners as advocates of community resources, provision of

knowledge and education, demonstration of competency, and commitment to quality

improvement and research. All community partners will be treated with dignity, respect, and

collegiality without discrimination.

Communal (Interpersonal) Competence: CPSC professionals who incorporate CPSC into their

community, professional relationships are informed by professional education, knowledge,

training, high academics and demonstration of interpersonal competence. CPSC professionals,

practice within their scope of training and continually develop and enhance their professional

expertise, through continued professional education.

Community Shepherding: Trull mentions, “The shepherd of God is concerned about

community needs […], as well as public morality. […] a [CPSC professional] has a public

ministry that is larger than the claims of a particular church” or parachurch ministry.8

Community Involvement: Trull quotes T.B. Maston saying, integral “Christian involvement in

a community must always be realistic: [Yes], Every culture is corrupted by sin. At the same

8
8. Joe E. Trull and James E. Carter. Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation for Church Leaders (Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2nd ed. 2004) 140, loc. 2829. Kindle.
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time, the gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful: Societies can be transformed. These two realities

create a healthy tension between Christian ideals and appropriate social action.”9 CPSC

professionals are concerned about social righteousness. The diachronic basis for this ethical

community involvement comes from the voice of the prophets from Eden to Golgotha.

Micah, whose name is (Mikayahu ‫מִי ָכ ָ֫יהּו‬, Heb.) meaning Who is like Yahweh says, “He

has told you, … what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to

love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 NRSV). I have to ask; am I like

Yahweh, in the way the Logos and the Rhema call me to reach my community? A significant

aspect of Christ’s commission for His church is her empirical Christlikeness to her surrounding

community: family, local, region and world.

Summary

Good moral character and ethical spiritual influence cannot be insisted upon, it comes by

way of God’s gifts, (i.e. mercy, grace, faith and others.) Faith is an imperative in one’s integral

friendship with God. Hebrews 11:6 indicates that, “… without faith it is impossible to please

Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who

diligently seek Him” NKJV. Eternal rewards abound for those who please Him past, present and

future; for His followers who diligently and with integrity, seek Him.

9
. Joe E. Trull and James E. Carter. Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation for Church Leaders (Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2nd ed. 2004) 141, loc. 2829. Kindle.