Ministerial Ethics: Moral Formation for Church Leaders

by Joe E. Trull

Ministerial Ethics provides both new and experienced pastors with tools for sharpening their personal and professional decision making skills. The authors seek to explain the unique moral role of the minister and the ethical responsibilities of the vocation and to provide "a clear statement of the ethical obligations contemporary clergy should assume in their personal and professional lives." Trull and Carter deal with such areas as family life, confidentiality, truth telling, political involvement, working with committees, and relating to other church staff members. First published in 1993, this edition has been thoroughly updated throughout and contains expanded sections on theological foundations, the role of character, confidentiality, and the timely topic of clergy sexual abuse. Appendices describing various denominational ministerial codes of ethics are included.

Genres: Leadership, Theology, Nonfiction, Philosophy

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2004

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good treatment of the subject, although I disagree with the major premise - "Pastors are professionals of the old 18th/19th century understanding." Because I disagree with the premise I was uncertain about the conclusion - "An ethical code should be written and adopted BECAUSE pastors are professionals." The idea of an ethical code seems good to me, but the reasons given for such code are suspect in my thinking.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

READ DEC 2012

Nice overview of the opportunity and challenge of code of ethics for ministry leaders. While the focus is largely on full time ministry professionals, much of what is covered would be good for the many lay leaders in today's churches.

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate these authors' attempt to write a comprehensive book on this subject. They cover a lot of ground with a decent level of nuance, but the beginning is pretty heavy on theoretical material of questionable importance, and there are a few places in the book where the authors simply name relevant ethical issues in certain situations but don't address them. "Pastors must decide how they will address these issues." I thought that's why I was reading the book?

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book on the topic of ministerial ethics and had a good portion focused on clergy sexual abuse. As a seminarian, I found this text to help establish my professional role and expectations as a future pastor.

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

Booooorrrringggggg!!

Read the appendices, and if desired, supplement with the main chapters for fuller explanations.

[Jennifer Passaretti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for a class. It was ok. Redundant at times.

[Dj Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read about the moral and ethical standards a person in ministry should maintain. Whether a staff pastor or as a lay minister, all persons in leadership should hold themselves to high standards.

[JJ Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to the art of ethics and an apologetic for pastors developing a personal code of ethics. It has a lot of really good things to say and some good, practical advice for how to avoid making some big mistakes in ministry.

[Cappy · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Success in ministry depends on how well you get along with people and how Christlike you are in behavior (pg. 18)."

"Ministerial ethics does not end when the [minister:] walks out the office door. In many ways it just begins. Ethics in ministry includes personal lifestyle, financial decisions, family commitments, pastoral responsibilities, congregational relationships, community involvement, and much more (pg. 19)."

"Ethically serious ministers should read widely from the great books that inform or inspire (pg. 46)."

Consider Darrell Reeck's thought that "astute people in actual practice use a mix of types of ethics...they achieve an artful ability to make appropriate ethical responses by drawing selectively from their repertoire of ethical knowledge (pg. 62)."

"A minister must work at being a person of integrity in his or her personal life (pg. 66)."

"'I may not make as many speeches, attend as many meetings, or write as many books for Christ. But I hope I will at least have lived for him in my own home' (pg. 71)."

"It really does not matter what denomination a fallen minister belongs to. All ministers are hurt when one minister fails (pg. 81-82)."

"When we each appear before the Lord in the end, he will not ask, 'What is your title?' but, "Where is your towel?' (pg. 92)"

"Ministers live with the realization that they risk misusing the power they have (pg. 95)."

"Wayne Oates points out that ministers, whatever their training, do not enjoy the privilege of deciding whether to counsel people or not...Inevitably, people will bring their problems to their pastor, seeking personal guidance and care (pg. 103-104)."

"'You can't pay people to do the things that ministers routinely must do. They need to think God has called them or ministry is miserable (pg. 115)."

"People are more impressed by a preacher's life than be sermons. They hear the person more than the sermon (pg. 128)."

"Ministers should be professionals without becoming mere professionals (pg. 135)."

"God has not abandoned the world; neither should the church or its leaders (pg. 142)."

Consider Charles Swindoll and Wilbur Reece's sense of the God we want:

"I would like to but $3 worth of God - not enough to explode my soul or disurb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of God to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please." (pg. 152-153)

"An old Scottish professor liked to say that there were just three qualifications for ministry: the grace of God, knowledge of the Scripture in the original languages, and gumption. The first, he said, is available if we pray for it; the second can be ours if we work for it; but the last is a gift of nature (pg. 160)."

Consider Paul Crouch, of Trinity Broadcasting Network, who declared publically that "The Almighty is my only watchdog." (pg. 195)

Consider Archibald Hart, of Fuller Seminary, who "views morality as the edge of the precipice." He says, "it's only one step from safety to falling off the cliff. A code of ethics is like a fence erected well back from the precipice edge. It warns all those who come close that this is dangerous territory: CAUTION! PASS HERE AT YOUR OWN RISK." (pg. 197)

[Christina Gunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information

Good resource for minister's. Goes into depth. Just a tad bit boring but it does gives great insight on ethics.