Chaplain Fellowship Ministries Member's Code Of Ethic!

As members of Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International we are committed to the Christian Ethics of cooperation and professional growth, equality, diversity, human justice and grace. We affirm and promote the value, dignity and worth of each person we encounter in the ministry. In following the model Jesus of Nazareth established for caring for people we covenant to:

Members are ordained and licensed chaplains and ministers called to serve God's people as commissioned by the sacred Word of God. In Christian grace and duty they respond with love and compassion to people's needs in their whole existence. We embrace the understanding that human beings are created in the image of God with uniqueness and freedom to think, act and feel.

1. Members will not in any way misrepresent themselves as law enforcement officers, federal agents or any other government entity. We are chaplains and ministers!

2. Members are aware of their own belief system, core of values, cultural background, attitudes, and behaviors and how these apply in a diverse society and with the help of God avoid imposing on those who come for pastoral care.

3. Members understand the high value and dignity of the human being and actively attempt to avoid allowing their personal needs to exploit others. They are aware of the power invested in them by their role and by the people seeking help.

4. Members recognize the sacredness of human relationships and do not engage in sexual intimacies with those coming to them for spiritual support. Chaplains do not engage in sexual harassment.

5. Members will actively attempt to understand and recognize the diverse cultural backgrounds of the people soliciting or receiving their pastoral care. Members serving as chaplains will not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, marital or sociological status or for any other reason.

6. Members will provide pastoral care considering people's own spiritual resources to cope with physical, mental, social, and spiritual challenges.

7. Members must make every effort to avoid accepting donations or gifts that would knowingly place a hardship on the donor or their family. Furthermore members will not accept donations or gifts that would place the donor's welfare, or their families welfare in jeopardy in any way.

8. Members will take an active roll in helping build Chaplain Fellowship Ministries by recruit new members for membership thereby assuring the future advancement of the ministry.

II. Confidentiality and Pastoral Relationship
1. Members serving as chaplains will respect the right of all those that come to them requesting pastoral care. Members serving as chaplains have to control the amount of personal information they want to disclose. Chaplains will respect people's right to privacy and avoid unwarranted disclosures of confidential information. When appropriate Chaplain Fellowship Ministries Members serving as chaplains must inform those requesting their help of the difference between privileged information which may be confidential and threats which may have to be reported. Chaplains take the initiative to clarify their limits concerning privileged information.

2. Members providing pastoral care to minors or to individuals who cannot decide for themselves will get the consent from the parents or guardians by them signing a waiver.

3. Members will obtain permission from the people to whom they provide pastoral care before taking notes or electronically recording pastoral encounters.

4. Members are responsible for securing the safety and confidentiality of any pastoral encounters and records they create, maintain, transfer, or destroy whether the records are written, taped, computerized, or stored in any other medium.

III. Chaplain's Competence and Pastoral Relationship
1. Members embrace the need of maintaining high standards of clergy and professional competence in the ministry. Members shall actively strive to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.

2. Members have a responsibility to read, understand, and follow the Standards and Code of Ethics of Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International Inc.

3. Members are committed to continue their pastoral and personal education to be better equipped to serve God's people.

4. Members recognize their boundaries of competence referring to other professionals as they see necessary.

5. Members in teaching positions will use their pastoral skills and human awareness to uplift those under their educational care avoiding emotional, physical, social and spiritual harm at all cost.

IV. Procedures for Processing Ethical Violations.
Members shall embrace the principle that a community comes together not to destroy their members but to build and restore each other. Therefore, Chaplain Fellowship Ministries or it’s Members will not engage in activities intended to harm pastoral care providers. Following the biblical counsel, Chaplain Fellowship Ministries will not entertain any accusation or complaints against an elder (Member/Chaplain) unless it is brought by two or three reliable witnesses.” In the event of an unethical violation Chaplain Fellowship Ministries will follow the process of restoration and redemption recounted in the Holy Bible.