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Disciplinary
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Definitions
and Guidelines for Discipline of Ordained Ministers1
As an expression of its life in the
gospel of Jesus Christ, this church embraces disciplinary processes
of counseling, admonition, and correction, with the objective of
forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing.
Simultaneously, out of
deep concern for effective extension of the gospel, this church
remains alert to the high calling of discipleship in Jesus Christ.
The ordained ministers of this church, as persons charged with
special responsibility for the proclamation of the gospel, are to
seek to reflect the new life in Christ, avoiding that which would
make them stumbling blocks to others. To that end, this church
recognizes that there is behavior that is deemed to be incompatible
with ordained ministry, and that calls for disciplinary action.
The
following definitions and guidelines do not set forth the high
expectations this church has of its ordained ministers. (A document
of such expectations has been developed by the Division for Ministry
for this church.) The normative expectations of this church for its
ordained ministers focus upon faithful and effective exercise of
ministerial leadership. In all matters of morality and personal
ethics, this church expects its ordained ministers to be exemplary
in conduct.
These definitions and guidelines describe the grounds
for which ordained ministers may be subject to discipline according
to the practice of this church. Their purpose is juridical: to
assist in the processes of consultation, discipline, and appeals.
Grounds for discipline of ordained
ministers are as follows:
-
Preaching or teaching in conflict with the faith confessed by this
church is grounds for discipline of ordained ministers. A summary of
the faith confessed by this church is found in Chapters 2 and 3 of
this church's constitution. -
Conduct incompatible with the
character of the ministerial office is grounds for discipline of
ordained ministers. These guidelines define and describe kinds of
behavior which are incompatible with the character of the
ministerial office.
-
Confidential Communications
-
Ordained
ministers must respect privileged and confidential communication and
may not disclose such communication, except with the express
permission of the person who has confided it or if the person is
perceived to intend great harm to self or others. -
Professional
Attention to Duties - An ordained minister of this church has
made commitments through ordination and through acceptance
of a letter of call. Continued neglect of or indifference
toward such duties constitutes conduct incompatible with
the character of the ministerial office. -
Relationship to Family -
This church is
committed to the sanctity of marriage and the enhancement of family
life. Ordained ministers of this church, whether married or single,
are expected to uphold Christian ideals of marriage in their public
ministry as well as in private life. Spouse and children, if any,
are to be regarded with love, respect and commitment. Any departure
from this normative behavior may be considered conduct incompatible
with the character of the ministerial office. Such departure might
include any of the following:
- Separation or divorce that occurs
without consultation with the synodical bishop's office and
appropriate implementation of such consultation. Each such
relationship must be considered pastorally.
- Desertion or
abandonment of spouse or children.
- Abuse of spouse or children.
- Repeated failure to meet legally determined family support
obligations.
-
Sexual Matters - The biblical understanding which this
church affirms is that the normative setting for sexual intercourse
is marriage. In keeping with this understanding, chastity before
marriage and fidelity within marriage are the norm. Adultery,
promiscuity, the sexual abuse of another, or the misuse of
counseling relationships for sexual favors constitute conduct that
is incompatible with the character of the ministerial office.
Practicing homosexual persons are precluded from the ordained
ministry of this church. -
Substance Abuse - Misuse of alcohol or mind-altering substances impairs the ability of an ordained minister
to perform the duties of the office with full effectiveness. The
approach of this church in dealing with such a problem is to
recommend and enable effective treatment. However, failure to accept
treatment or to follow through on treatment and abide by the terms
of such treatment and the consequent impairment of performance is
conduct incompatible with the character of the ministerial office.
-
Fiscal Responsibilities - Ordained ministers of this church are
expected to conduct their fiscal affairs in accordance with ethical
and legal requirements. Among those fiscal activities which may be
considered conduct incompatible with the character of the
ministerial office are:
-
Indifference to or avoidance of
legitimate and neglected personal debts.
-
Embezzlement of money or
improper appropriation of the property of others.
-
Using the
ministerial office improperly for personal financial advantage.
-
Membership in Certain Organizations
- This church has specifically
declared in 7.47.01. that discipline may be administered to any of
its ordained ministers who belongs to any organization other than
the church which claims to possess in its teaching and ceremonies
that which the Lord has given solely to the Church. -
Conviction of
a Felony - The society in which this church ministers has placed a
high premium upon the role of law in regulating the rights and
duties of individuals to promote the common good. This includes laws
which define certain conduct as felonies. Pleading guilty to, or
being convicted of, a felony is grounds for discipline as conduct
incompatible with the character of the ministerial office, but may
not be grounds for discipline in those instances where the violation
of law was to protest or to test a perceived unjust law or as an
expression of civil disobedience.
- Willfully disregarding or violating the functions and standards established by this church for
the office of Word and sacrament is grounds for discipline of
ordained ministers. Such functions and standards established by this
church are found in Section 7.20. through 7.47.01. of this church's
constitution, bylaws and continuing resolutions.
- Willful disregard of the constitution or bylaws of this church
is grounds for discipline of ordained ministers.
1Originally approved on
November 19, 1989, and subsequently approved in this revised version
on December 5, 1993, by the Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, pursuant to ELCA bylaw 20.71.11.
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Definitions and
Guidelines for Discipline of Associates in Ministry, Members of the
Deaconess Community, and Diaconal Ministers2
As an expression of its life in the gospel
of Jesus Christ, this church embraces disciplinary processes of
counseling, admonition, and correction, with the objective of
forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing.
Simultaneously, out of deep concern for effective extension of the
gospel, this church remains alert to the high calling of
discipleship in Jesus Christ. The individuals on the official roster
of laypersons of this church, as persons charged with special
responsibility for the gospel in the ministries to which they are
called, are to seek to reflect the new life in Christ, avoiding that
which would make them stumbling blocks to others. To that end, this
church recognizes that there is behavior that is deemed to be
incompatible with the standards for the rostered ministries of this
church, and that calls for disciplinary action.
The following
definitions and guidelines do not set forth the high expectations
this church has of individuals on the official roster of laypersons
of this church. (A document of such expectations has been developed
by the Division for Ministry for this church.) The normative
expectations of this church for individuals on the official roster
of laypersons of this church focus upon faithful and effective
exercise of their leadership. In all matters of morality and
personal ethics, this church expects individuals on the official
roster of laypersons of this church to be exemplary in conduct.
These definitions and guidelines describe the grounds for which
individuals on the official roster of laypersons of this church may
be subject to discipline according to the practice of this church.
Their purpose is juridical: to assist in the processes of
consultation, discipline, and appeals.
Grounds for discipline of
individuals on the official roster of laypersons of this church are
as follows:
-
Confessing or teaching in conflict with the faith
confessed by this church is grounds for discipline of individuals on
the official roster of laypersons of this church. A summary of the
faith confessed by this church is found in Chapters 2 and 3 of this
church's constitution. Conduct incompatible with the the
standards for the rostered ministries of this church is grounds for
discipline of individuals on the official roster of laypersons of
this church. These guidelines define and describe kinds of behavior
which are incompatible with the standards for these rostered
ministries.
-
Professional Attention to Duties -
An individual on the
official roster of laypersons of this church has made commitments
through the appropriate liturgical rite and through acceptance of a
letter of call. Continued neglect of or indifference toward such
duties constitutes conduct incompatible with the standards for the
rostered ministries of this church. -
Relationship to Family -
This church is
committed to the sanctity of marriage and the enhancement of family
life. Ordained ministers of this church, whether married or single,
are expected to uphold Christian ideals of marriage in their public
ministry as well as in private life. Spouse and children, if any,
are to be regarded with love, respect and commitment. Any departure
from this normative behavior may be considered conduct incompatible
with the character of the ministerial office. Such departure might
include any of the following:
- Separation or divorce that occurs
without consultation with the synodical bishop's office and
appropriate implementation of such consultation. Each such
relationship must be considered pastorally.
- Desertion or
abandonment of spouse or children.
- Abuse of spouse or children.
- Repeated failure to meet legally determined family support
obligations.
-
Sexual Matters - The biblical understanding
which this church affirms is that the normative setting for sexual
intercourse is marriage. In keeping with this understanding,
chastity before marriage and fidelity within marriage are the norm.
Adultery, promiscuity, the sexual abuse of another, or the misuse of
counseling relationships for sexual favors constitute conduct that
is incompatible with the standards for the rostered ministries of
this church. Practicing homosexual persons are precluded from the
rostered ministries of this church.
-
Substance Abuse - Misuse of
alcohol or mind-altering substances impairs the ability of an
individual on the official roster of laypersons of this church to
perform the duties of the office with full effectiveness. The
approach of this church in dealing with such a problem is to
recommend and enable effective treatment. However, failure to accept
treatment or to follow through on treatment and abide by the terms
of such treatment and the consequent impairment of performance is
conduct incompatible with the standards for the rostered ministries
of this church. -
Fiscal Responsibilities -
Ordained ministers of this church are
expected to conduct their fiscal affairs in accordance with ethical
and legal requirements. Among those fiscal activities which may be
considered conduct incompatible with the character of the
ministerial office are:
-
Indifference to or avoidance of
legitimate and neglected personal debts.
-
Embezzlement of money or
improper appropriation of the property of others.
-
Using the
ministerial office improperly for personal financial advantage.
-
Conviction of a
Felony - The society in which this church ministers has placed a high
premium upon the role of law in regulating the rights and duties of
individuals to promote the common good. This includes laws which
define certain conduct as felonies. Pleading guilty to, or being
convicted of, a felony is grounds for discipline as conduct
incompatible with the standards for the rostered ministries, but may
not be grounds for discipline in those instances where the violation
of law was to protest or to test a perceived unjust law or as an
expression of civil disobedience.
- Willfully disregarding or
violating the functions and standards established by this church for
the rostered ministries of this church is grounds for discipline of
individuals on the official roster of laypersons of this church.
Such functions and standards established by this church are found in
Section 7.52. through 7.53. of this church's constitution, bylaws
and continuing resolutions.
-
Willful disregard of the constitution
or bylaws of this church is grounds for discipline of individuals on
the official roster of laypersons of this church.
2Approved on December 5,
1993, by the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, pursuant to ELCA bylaw 20.71.11.
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^
Definitions
and Guidelines for Discipline of Congregations3
-
Departing from the
faith confessed by this church is grounds for discipline of a
congregation of this church. A summary of the faith confessed by
this church is found in Chapters 2 and 3 of this church's
constitution.
-
Willfully disregarding or violating any of the
criteria for recognition as congregations of this church is grounds
for discipline of a congregation of this church. These criteria are
set forth in 9.21. and 9.22. of this church's constitution.
-
Willfully disregarding or violating the provisions of the
constitution or bylaws of this church is grounds for discipline of a
congregation of this church.
3Originally approved on
November 19, 1989, and subsequently approved in this revised version
on December 5, 1993, by the Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, pursuant to ELCA bylaw 20.71.11.
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