Church Leaders And Ethics

Church Leaders And Ethics

1 Timothy 3:14-15 - These things I write to you….so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Ministerial ethics are the standards, principles, and broad guidelines that Christian leaders must observe. Ethical practices are upright, honorable, moral, lawful, above-board, and full of integrity.

The conduct and lifestyle of modern-day Christian leaders is always under scrutiny. Those who have been called to preach the Gospel should exhibit Godliness and integrity.

THE AUTHORITY OF CHURCH LEADERSHIP

The world watches those who claim to follow Jesus and the effectiveness in proclaiming the Gospel to reach souls for Jesus is at stake.

Ministry is a call to serve both God and people. They are firstly accountable to God, but also to church members and those who receive ministry.

The Old Testament is filled with stories about Biblical leaders who did not apply Godly ethics and thus brought shame upon themselves as well as to their nation.

Samson was appointed by God as a judge over Israel. He spent a lot of time with prostitutes in Philistine which led to his untimely death. Jacob was the father of the tribes of Israel. He cheated his brother and father-in-Law.

David was king over Israel. Yet he murdered Bathsheba’s husband Uriah so that he could take her as his wife. These are but a few examples of the failings of God-appointed leaders in the Old Testament.

Authority to minister comes from Jesus Christ and He is the head of the church. Christian leadership must never be manipulative or authoritarian. Ministers are servants of Christ, who should endeavor to become servant leaders as modeled by Jesus.

People enter ministry as a response to a call from God. It is this call that requires that all Christian leaders carry out their ministry in a professional and accountable manner.

Leadership in all its dimensions must always be accountable. It is essential that ministers act responsibly in the best interests of those they serve.

Pastors should be able to demonstrate some evident virtues that correspond and not contradict the message they try to communicate to others. Moral failures, so common among ministers, reveal a huge gap in the sphere of ethics. Ministerial ethics is an attempt to fill this gap.

Ministerial ethical misconduct mostly occurs in the areas of sex, money, and power. If integrity in one of these is compromised, the ministry is in danger.

The pressures of ministry are often the causes of improper behavior in a minister’s conduct and relationship with others. Pastors should lead by example and the flock always mirrors the spiritual state of the pastor.

Integrity, authenticity, credibility, and competence should be addressed if it is lacking in the life of the minister.

Ministry is fraught with difficulties, frustration, and even failure. The greatest failure, however, may be the failure to find the power for ministry in the spiritual rather than the physical realm.

RELATIONSHIPS

Christian leaders have a particular responsibility to respect and enable all who are parts of the creation of God to fulfill their calling as children of God. Ministry should bring encouragement and correction. Christian leaders are called to encourage, nurture and guide those who come under their leadership, recognizing the dignity of all made in the image of God.

Relationships between a minister and the members of a congregation are essential. Pastors are called to serve rather than to be served. Ministers also have relationships and responsibilities within the broader community which are based on their responsibilities within the faith community. They have a responsibility to their peers, to the local community of faith, to the wider church, and to society.

The pastoral relationship occurs within a faith community whose life and relationships are established by Jesus Christ. The pastoral relationship has its meaning as the church enables others to meet Jesus.

It is the seriousness of the pastoral relationship and the vulnerability of people in that relationship, which make it necessary for leaders to appreciate their unique position and the way they touch people’s lives.

They exercise considerable influence and power. It is essential that each individual minister recognizes the power they have and understand the boundaries that must be observed within their ministry.

Because the pastoral relationship occurs in a deeply intimate community, friendships will develop. These will, at times, challenge the capacity of the Christian leaders to provide the pastoral care that belongs to their role as pastor. They have the responsibility to discern the boundaries of the pastoral relationship, to offer professional pastoral care when it is required, and to discern when their relationships overstep the appropriate level of friendship and intimacy or when they are exercising power inappropriately in relation to others in the pastoral relationship.