The Code of Ethics

Personal Standards:

A Member will maintain a disciplined ministry in such ways as keeping hours for prayer and devotion, endeavoring to maintain wholesome family relationships and/or relationships with significant others, regularly engaging in educational experiences for professional growth and development, and renewing one's ministry through recreation and vacation. All of which promote wholeness.
A Member will deal honestly with fellow professionals, organizations and with those served. A Member will not misrepresent educational credentials and qualifications for engaging in a given area of ministry.
A Member will not use knowledge, position or professional association to secure unfair personal advantage, knowingly permit his or her services to be used by others for purposes inconsistent with his or her ethical standards, or use affiliation with the Academy of Parish Clergy for purposes that are not consonant with the stated purposes of the Academy.
A Member will maintain professional practices that will serve the public and will advance the profession of ministry.
A Member will be accurate in all public presentations of his or her ministry. In all presentations, written, oral or visual, the Member will carefully distinguish between personal opinions and the stands of this organization or other organizations with which the Member affiliates.

A member will maintain good standing in his or her faith group.
A member will deal honorably with the record of his or her predecessors and successors in ministry. A member will use discretion when relating to a former place of ministry.
A member will show respect for the traditions and practices of the faith group out of which he or she has been called to serve. Out of respect for this tradition, the Member will challenge those current practices of which he or she is aware which are not in keeping with the highest standards of religious practice.
A member will give encouragement only to those movements, agencies, practices and products which have been thoroughly investigated and receive his or her full personal approval.

A member will respect the integrity and protect the welfare of colleagues.
A member will maintain all relationships on a professional basis, refraining from disparagement and avoiding emotional, sexual or any other form of exploitation.
A member will seek to enhance, not to degrade, the reputations of fellow professionals and colleagues.
A member will strive to challenge prejudicial discrimination on the basis of sex, race, age, disability, marital status, or on any other unfair basis.
A member will show respect for the beliefs of persons of other faith groups and will not attempt to change the beliefs of others without a clear invitation from those persons to do so.
A member will not engage in plagiarism but will give due recognition to the sources from which material is derived.
A member will respect the religious convictions of colleagues or groups with which he or she serves and will avoid the imposition of his or her theological positions upon fellow professionals.

A Member, without neglecting his or her obligation to his or her primary context of ministry, will recognize his or her obligation to minister within the community-at-large in which he or she lives.
A Member will seek to cooperate with other members of the community-at-large who are committed to the welfare of the community as a whole, being aware that styles of ministry may vary according to particular community issues and needs.
A Member will recognize an obligation to serve the public with honesty, integrity and care.
A Member will comply with the professional standards of the organizations to which the Member belongs, and with other state, community and institutional requirements which are commensurate with the Member's area of ministry as long as those requirements do not violate a Member's strongly-held moral and ethical standards.

A Member will guide all actions to reflect the principle that service is primary and remuneration is secondary to the practice of professional ministry
A Member will engage in, and encourage, sound fiscal practices, maintain accurate financial records, and protect the integrity of funds entrusted to his or her care.
A Member will uphold the principles and the practice of adequate compensation for all members of his or her profession.
A Member will use discretion in using his or her professional standing in requesting or accepting personal favors or discounts.
A Member will use his or her own personal discretion in accepting or refusing remuneration or honoraria for professional services rendered. A Member will give thoughtful consideration to his or her own understanding of the value of ministry and the value placed on it by those who come to him or her for professional service.
A Member will show due respect for the property which is entrusted to his or her care which is used to aid in the practice of ministry.

A Member will respect the integrity and uphold the welfare of those served. A Member will maintain those relationships on a professional basis, avoiding emotional, sexual or any other form of exploitation.
A Member will respect the confidentiality of those served and will not divulge privileged information without the permission of the person served.
A Member will respect the religious convictions of those served and will deal with persons with respect and sensitivity in regard to their religious beliefs.
A Member recognizes the trust placed in him or her by those served. A Member will show care and respect to those who place their trust in him or her and will never use those relationships to enhance one's personal gain.