I vaguely recall some course or some lessons taught in seminary on “Pastoral Ethics,” though I cannot find any notes on the subject. However, there always has been (and still is) a need for basic reminders to all who are in the ministry—especially for those whom Paul labels as “bishops” or pastors—about the matter of ethics in our labors as Christ’s servants.
In I Timothy 3, Paul begins a list of qualifications for a man who desires the office of a bishop with the word “blameless.” This would include, above all, a person’s morality: is he honest, trustworthy, pure, Christlike? What about his standard of ethics? The word ethics is defined as “moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity.” So, applied to those in ministry—specifically, in this discussion, to pastors—does he conduct his ministry on the basis of universally accepted moral principles? Is his ministry built upon a consistent ethical standard? In a generally deteriorating culture, it is not surprising that time-tested moral principles are being “stretched” today, and in some instances set aside entirely, even by men in ministry.
Since I am a pastor—or, for 50 years, was a senior pastor—I am going to speak to pastors in this post. Those of you who are not pastors may feel free to “listen” in, but again, I am speaking as a pastor to pastors. Yet the basic ethical principles demanded scripturally of men in ministry should also govern the lives of those to whom they minister, so there is probably something by way of application for anyone who reads this article. I am going to list some areas in which pastors, missionaries, and Christian-ministry laborers ought to be blameless in:
1) Do you pay your bills in a timely fashion?
2) Do you return things borrowed?
3) When members from another congregation of like faith visit your services, indicating they are looking for a church, do you contact their pastor to inform him that some of his flock are visiting your church?
4) When a person who is under church discipline, administered by another church of like faith, visits your church, do you accept them into your membership with no questions asked?
5) Do you sign checks on any of your church accounts as the sole signature required?
6) Do you sometimes mix church/personal purchases made when using a church-issued credit card?
7) Do you label as “heretic” (or similar names) people who differ with you on matters on which good men have historically differed? For instance, on communion (open, close or closed); eternal security; pre-trib, mid-trib or post-trib; mode of baptism; version of scripture?
8) Do you exercise “dictator-like” authority in your leadership of the congregation over which God has given you oversight? Is anyone allowed to differ with you, or even to criticize you?
9) When you give an evangelist or guest speaker a “free-will” offering, do you deduct any part of it for church expenses, or for any other reason, before giving your guest his offering?
10) Do you carefully protect confidentiality of those with whom you counsel?
11) Do you meet with women on church matters when there is no other person on-site while your meeting is taking place?
12) Do you cultivate friendships or relationships with members of churches you have formerly pastored because that relationship is financially advantageous to you?
13) When you sell bonds or have a fund-raiser for a project, are you careful not to use funds donated or given for said project for other pressing church needs?
14) Do you send missionaries the support you have promised to give them on a current, regular basis, or do you let several months transpire before you get around to sending them the support upon which they are dependent?
15) If you use a sermon or message that you read or heard another preacher deliver, do you give him credit for his original presentation?
16) Do you show preferential treatment in using people in your church/ministry because they are financially well-off?
17) Are you OK with the fact that you are accountable to your church through a group of deacons, or elders or advisors to the pastor?
18) Are you reticent to say “I’m sorry,” or “Please forgive me,” when it is apparent that you have offended another believer?
19) When relating to other pastors or ministries, are you genuinely interested in how God is blessing their work? Does rejoicing with them in victories come easy for you?
20) Would you accept a call to a ministry knowing that you differed with the church on a matter of faith or practice, but with the determination to bring the church in time to agree with your practice or position?
These are some questions that I have raised in light of my observations and experiences as a pastor and as a friend of pastors for half a century. Let me hasten to say that pastors, generally, are the finest people I know. Some of them are my closest friends. By far and away, those who have proven to be less than scrupulous in their ethics have been a minuscule minority. But, there are some out there who are the exception (just like undertakers, who are some of the finest people in the world—then you hear of one who has packed away scores of bodies for who knows what reason!).
So, pastor, I trust you passed the self-test above. No pastor is perfect, and we should be our own unrelenting watchdog; but, as long as we are in the body, there will be temptations. So I trust these reminders will have a positive effect upon you and your ministry so that the standard Paul set for Timothy and Titus (I Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6), “blameless,” will not be a problem to you. God bless you as you labor in love in ministry to the chosen flock over which God has placed you as His “under shepherd,” waiting the call and coming of the “Good Shepherd,” the “Chief Shepherd,” the “Bishop of our souls,” the Lord Jesus, Head of the Church.
“And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory.” (I Pet.5:4)
YOU and GOD 