Fundamental Church Administrative & Ministerial Ethics

CHURCH ADMINISTRATIVE ETHICSFrom about 70 Administrative and Ministerial Ethics listed in the timely book, I share just two here because if any church must be balanced and structured all-round administratively, certain principles and ideas as ethics must be inculcated in order to have formidable operations and output that would stand a test of time. Below are basic administrative ethics we will consider:1. ETHICS OF CONFIDENTIALITY A person with 'leaking mouth' (a talkative) should not be allowed to handle sensitive sections in church administration such as finance, audit, business arm of the church, committees, counseling and office administration jobs vis-à-vis promotion, query, transfer, minutes of Board Meeting etc. Even in the secular world where there are serious business competitions; rules of privacy are maintained among the staff. When plans are still being formulated, though yet to be finalized or approved and the leaders or administrators divulge them, then there is no administration in such a place. Confidentiality of managerial decisions strengthens organization progress. There are pastors members cannot talk to again on personal issues because such discussions will surface in the pastors' next sermon. In some churches, it's pastors' wives problem of divulging confidential information of members of the congregation. A pastor in ministry or an administrator who wants to excel should know how to control his/her mouth at all times.2. ETHICS OF TRANSPARENCY Openness or transparency in administration is a virtue that is missing in many churches today because of the shady deals of many church leaders. Imagine the situation where a church leader is all-in-all, he is the pastor, the treasurer, the cashier etc. Its either he/she is a thief or a novice. Ethics refers to well-based standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of duties, principles, specific virtues, or benefits to society. In other words, ethics implies a broader range of expected behaviors and reflection about what should be done. This definition identifies four dimensions or sources of ethics, one is based on the nature of public service while the other three are based on the philosophical perspectives to ethics:1. *Duties*: The behaviors expected of persons who occupy certain roles; That is, the obligations taken on when assuming a role or profession2. *Virtues*: Qualities that define what a good person is; that is moral excellence.3. *Principles*: Fundamental truths that form the basis for behavior; "kinds of action that are right or obligatory"4. *Benefits* to society: Actions that produce the greatest good for the greatest living. The ethics in this book are set out very clearly in order to enhance our administrative and ministerial productivity. For persons who work in church as nonprofit organizations, duty has a special importance. They must serve the public, fulfill the expectations of public office, and be trustees of public resources. These are the actions required by their occupation or role independent of-but reinforced by-other ethical considerations. When violation of moral standard of life is exhibited in any society, all we see is moral atrocity among the children, teenagers and adults. For example, moral misconducts cause series of hindrances to full life attainments such as; 1. Loss of value, 2. Loss of reputation, 3. Loss of focus, 4. Loss of direction 5. Abuse of nature6. Loss of original identity and 7. Ultimately moral crashing. There is a very high level of moral decadence in our society including the church offices and pulpits; the church is experiencing an ethical free fall because of the behavior of her leaders. This has become an embarrassment to all Christians. Administrative and Ministerial Ethics addresses this issue and offers clear, candid, and comprehensive helps to both Pastors and church members.