Code of Ethics for Phoenix World Outreach

Believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and proclaiming him Lord and Savior of the World, I reaffirm my vows as an ordained or licensed minister or lay church leader. Through dedication and discipline I will lead and serve with integrity. Relying on the grace of God, I commit myself to the following:

Personal Conduct

• witnessing to the ministry of Jesus Christ
• dedicating time, strength, vitality & energy for effective ministry
• growing in faith, knowledge and the practice of ministry through the spiritual disciplines, study, continuing education & service
• living a life that honors my commitments to my family, including the need for privacy & time together
• taking time for physical & spiritual renewal, recreation & vacation
• being a faithful steward of God’s gifts to me by managing time, talents & financial resources responsibly & generously
• accepting responsibility for all debts, which I incur, & refraining from gossip
• keeping physically & emotionally fit & refraining from substance abuse & other abusive behaviors
• using my position, power & authority in non-exploitive ways
• maintaining high moral standards in my sexual behavior
• regarding all persons with equal respect & concern undertaking to minister impartially

Relationships To The Church I Serve

• nurturing & offering my gifts for ministry to the church calling forth & nurturing the gifts of others in the Church & joining their gifts with mine for the sake of the mission of Jesus Christ & the health of the church.
• preaching & teaching the gospel without fear or favor & speaking the truth in love
• administering the sacraments & services of the Church with integrity & not for financial gain
• working cooperatively with those whom I serve in the particular ministry to which I have been called
• administering the corporate finances of the Church with personal integrity
• refraining from accepting any gift which would compromise the Church’s ministry
• protecting confidences, with the exception of reporting known or suspected cases of physical or sexual abuse & neglect
• encouraging & participating in the regular evaluation of my ministry & cooperating with the Region in the periodic review of my ministerial standing
• seeking the counsel of my Sectional and District Leaders should divisive tensions threaten my relationship with those I serve

Relationships To Ministry Colleagues

• engaging in covenantal relationships with colleagues, which involve nurture, discipline, family support, vigorous dialogue, mutual teaching/learning & spiritual formation.
• supporting colleagues in ministry & their families while not exploiting their problems or crises
• performing pastoral  and leadership services within another congregation or for a member of another congregation only at the invitation of the pastor of that congregation
• supporting & at no time speaking maliciously of the ministry of my predecessor or another minister in the congregation in which I hold membership
• encouraging the ministry of my successor upon my retirement or other departure from a ministry position, without interfering or intruding & by making it clear to former members that I am no longer their pastor

Relationships To The Community & The Wider Church

• participating responsibly in the life & work of my community, bearing prophetic witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, working toward a just & morally responsible society
• participating faithfully in the life & work of all manifestations of the Christian Church (Phoenix World Outreach)
• seeking to know, understand & respect the diversity of opinions & people within the Christian Church (Phoenix World Outreach)
• being a responsible representative my Church & participating in activities that strengthen its unity, witness & mission