Emergency Services Chaplaincy of SA

 CODE OF CONDUCT  

Because the chaplaincy ministry is such a high and holy calling, and because the morality of those called to be chaplains is so crucial to the good name of the Christian ministry, it has been thought necessary to provide a guideline as to what constitutes appropriate, God-honoring behavior in the chaplaincy. In a climate where there is increasing confusion about ethical standards and a higher incidence of moral disqualification from full-time Christian workers, the following Code of Conduct is submitted for endorsement by all those whose names appear on the Membership List of the Emergency Services Chaplaincy of Southern Africa.

Preamble 

As a chaplain of the Lord Jesus Christ, called by God to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed to both emergency services personnel and trauma victims, I dedicate myself to conduct my ministry according to ethical guidelines and principles set forth in this Code of Conduct, in order that my ministry be glorifying to God, my service be beneficial to the Emergency Services Chaplaincy of Southern Africa and the wider Christian community, and my life be a witness to the world.

 Responsibilities to Self 

1.       Recognizing that the cultivation of my personal relationship with the Lord is my most basic and crucial obligation as a chaplain, I will nurture my devotional life through regular times of prayer, reading of Scriptures, and meditation on them.

2.       I will continue to grow intellectually through personal study, and attending appropriate conferences, workshops and seminars where possible.

3.       I will manage my time well by properly balancing personal obligations, church duties, chaplaincy work and family responsibilities, recognizing the need for recreation but never shirking my chaplaincy responsibilities.

4.       I will be honest and responsible in my finances by living within my income, paying all debts on time, not getting  involved in excessive debt, never seeking special gratuities or privileges on grounds of my chaplaincy work, being a faithful steward of my resources, and living a Christian lifestyle.

5.       I will be truthful in my speech, never exaggerating the facts, misusing personal experiences, or communicating gossip.

6.       I will endeavor to maintain my physical and emotional health through regular exercise, good eating habits, and the proper care of my body.

7.       I will seek to be Christlike in attitude and action towards all persons, regardless of race, social class, religious beliefs, or position of influence.

8.       I will be faithful in my church attendance and will make use of every opportunity for worship, fellowship and church involvement.

Responsibilities to Family 

1.       I will be fair to every member of my family, giving them the time, love and consideration they need.

2.       I will endeavor not to burden my family with the trauma I may witness or experience and will therefore seek someone outside my own immediate family to whom I can unburden.

Responsibilities to the Personnel 

1.       I will seek to be a servant-leader by following the example of Christ in faith, love, wisdom, courage, and integrity.

2.       I will faithfully discharge my duties as chaplain through the proper setting of  priorities, planning, work habits and reasonable schedules.

3.       In my duties, I will be impartial and fair to all personnel, never treating any individual or group with undue favoritism, and never seeking to curry special favour with those who may be able to benefit me personally.

4.       In my teaching and counseling opportunities, I will give adequate time to prayer  and preparation, so that my teaching and advice will be biblically based, theologically sound, and clearly communicated.

5.       In any evangelistic opportunities, I will seek to lead persons to salvation without manipulating converts,  proselytizing members of other churches, or demeaning other religious faiths.

6.       In my visitation and counseling practices, I will seek, as far as possible, never to be alone with a person of the opposite sex unless another colleague or emergency personnel member is present nearby; in all my dealings, I will observe the most scrupulous sexual purity, and I will refuse to take advantage of the vulnerability of any counselee through exploitation or manipulation.

7.       I will maintain strict confidentiality at all times, except where disclosure is necessary to prevent harm to persons and/or is required by law.

8.       I will commit myself to maintaining the highest level of integrity, transparency and accountability in relation to funds; I will refuse to be the sole signatory on chaplaincy accounts or to handle such funds alone.

9.       I will not attempt to misuse the rank of assistant- or full chaplain. I will regard it as a privilege to carry any rank and use it only as an opportunity for service and not as a means of authority.

10.   I will respect all ranks of all departments, even those deemed to be subservient to mine.

Responsibilities to Colleagues 

1.       I will endeavor to relate to all chaplains as partners in the work of God, respecting their ministry and co-operating with  them.

2.       I will seek to serve my colleagues and their families with counsel, support and personal assistance.

3.       I will refuse to work in an area where the senior chaplain has not granted me permission.

4.       I will refrain from gossiping or speaking disparagingly about the person or work of any other chaplain.

5.       If aware of serious misconduct by a chaplain, I will contact the chief-chaplain of that chaplain’s area directly and inform him of the incident.

Responsibilities to Community 

1.       I will obey  the laws of the government unless they require my disobedience to the law of God.

2.       I will never attempt to use any piece of uniform or emergency signals like a red light for any other purpose than authorized  official use.

3.       By being a chaplain I accept that I am a servant of the community and will never approach any member of the public or community for any type of remuneration or reward.

4.       Any  fund-raising done by myself shall fall within the Constitution, Code of Conduct and by-laws of the ESC(SA), having been previously authorized by my Regional Chief Chaplain after the necessary written request has been submitted, and written approval was issued by the Executive Committee of the ESC(SA).

Responsibilities to the Emergency Services Chaplaincy of Southern Africa (ESCSA) 

1.       I commit myself to adhere to the statement of faith as reflected in the current constitution.

2.       I will loyally support and co-operate with the ESCSA, its office-bearers and regional officers.

3.       I will faithfully pay my annual membership fee to the ESCSA.

4.       I will make every attempt to attend any regional or national meetings, especially Annual General Meetings.

5.       I will work to promote and improve the ESCSA in its efforts to expand and extend the Kingdom of God.

6.       I will not compromise the witness of the chaplaincy through actions such as the consumption of alcohol, the use of tobacco or the abuse of any substance, whilst in uniform and/or performing my duties as chaplain.

Concluding General Rule 

Recognizing that no code of conduct can cover every eventuality, I pledge, by the grace of God, to conduct my ministry and my life in accordance with the spirit of Paul’s injunction,  “Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col.3:17), that the Lord’s name and the reputation of the chaplaincy may be enhanced through my life.