Ethical relations in youth ministry
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Implications of youth ministry and ethical standards. Boundaries protect against violation of ethical standards
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Ethical relations in youth ministry
- 1. Ethical Relations in Youth Ministry Travis Tenor Grand Canyon University MIN-530 January 8, 2014
- 2. Introduction ● Ethical Relations in Youth Ministry • What it should be • What it should not be • Protect what it should be • Prevent what it should not be
- 3. Overview • Ethical Implications • Boundaries • Methods and Strategies • Avoid pitfalls
- 4. Ethical Implications ● Youth and Ministers • Vulnerabilities • Volatile • Violation
- 5. Safeguards ● Protections ● ● ● ● Youth Culture Ministry Integrity Professional Relationships Preventions ● ● ● Laws and Practices Strategy and Methods Biblical Standards
- 6. Strategy ● Boundaries ● Transparency ● Accountability ● Identify potential issues ● Recourse action to address
- 7. Boundaries • Laws and Practices • Accord with norms • Not clear • Off limits
- 8. Transparency • Environment and Encounters • Openness • On the record • Accountability to others
- 9. Identify • Evil desires • Toxic thoughts • Warning signs • Ethical solution • healthy alternatives
- 10. Recourse • Confront • Redirect • Monitor
- 11. Practical Solutions Applied through Spirit • Biblical standards • Do not shy from topic • Lead by Spirit • Decisions • Discernment
- 12. Summary • Ethical Implication of Youth Ministry • Vulnerable and Volatile • Offer Protection • Prevent violation of Boundaries • Policy, Program, and Practice
- 13. Conclusion • Community governed by Holy Spirit • Friendships that Glorify Christ
- 14. Reference Jung, P. B. (1995). Youth ministry and sexual boundaries. Currents in Theology and Mission, 22(4), 264-267. Retrieved January 3, 2014, from http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d b=rfh&AN=ATLA0000899029&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site Wood, D. J. (2007). The recovery and the promise of friendship. ThePrinceton Seminary Bulletin, 28(2), 165-180. Retrieved January 3, 2014, from http://digital.library.ptsem.edu/default.xqy?id=dmd009&action=viewsrc&uri=/METS/PSB2007282.xml&page=10&count_results=false&div=8&htm=no&index= no&illustration=yes&firstfile=1
- 15. Thank You Questions, Comments, or Concerns?
Editor's Notes
- Ideally, as God has designed, ministers and youth must be safe to have relationships free from misconduct.Misconduct is when inappropriate relationships violate the purpose of the ministry.Proactively and re-actively, the ministry should prepare for the situations that can compromise both the ministry and the well being of both the minister and the youth.Youth ministry should be conducted in a manner to protect the youth from violation. Preventative measures can taken, in attempt to stop any misconduct from happening. Since youth are susceptible to violation, and unsure of what boundaries should be in place, a clear understanding of proper relationships should be established with policy to enforce through the program. The flesh is corruptible, therefore a solid strategy and method to keep the minister accountable will avert the temptations and mitigate any compromising situations through appropriate avenues. Incorporating the ethical practices in ministry with clarity and commitment is key to avoiding pitfalls.
- It is important and necessary to cover the ethical implications in youth ministry.In identifying the implications, boundaries can be formed and enforced to keep youth and ministry relations conducting properly.Proper conduct can be part of policy and program in methods and strategies, which can avoid the pitfalls, and ensure successful ministry according to biblical standards relative to modern youth culture. In doing so, a safe atmosphere for ministry advancement and developmental growth in the Lord with healthy relationships.
- Much of a minister’s work and time in youth ministry is spent building up and centering around a friendship. A friendship that expresses the Love of Christ, just as He showed and instructed in the Gospel. Though a predominant theme in the gospel, friendship is not always preached and conveyed as intended. Furthermore, in today’s society, being polite and intimate can be taken as flirtatious and sexual in nature. As Woods said, “friendship has not flourished as a theme in the history of Christian thought and certainly not in the contemporary situation. …The so-called hierarchy of love has been stitched into the Christian imagination” (Woods, 2007). Youth may typically perceive a friend is mainly for leisure and recreation, rather than for ethical and moral discernment. Therefore, a professional and intimate bond needs to be established that upholds biblical standards of morality and ethics. Youth look up to ministers as role models, and may be unsure of what is acceptable behavior in the context of ministry. Youth are vulnerable to a violation, and the stakes are high, which can be significantly impactful to the youth, the ministry, and subsequent relationships.A relationship between the minister and someone he/her has counseled creates an imbalance in the construct. More personal information is shared by the youth being counseled when compared to what the minister is divulging in ministry setting. The minister cannot act in the same care when they have shown weaknesses in their personal life, which is a dimension outside of ministry confines. Boundaries must not be violated, therefore safeguards will protect ministry and seek to prevent the occurrence of violations.
- Safeguard for youth ministry-protecting the youth culture and ministry integrity by keeping professional relationships that prevent the violations.Preventions are laws and practices of current government, organizations, and cultural norms. Laws and practices, strategy and methods adhere to Scripture to base ethical standards.
- Here are the highlights of the strategy, which set boundaries, creates transparency, holds accountability., to safeguard youth ministry. In prevention and protections for policy and program, and to identify issues that need to be addressed necessary to keep standards.
- Sexual boundaries are within the ethical practices and law, as well as the accepted norm of culture. Youth are unsure or unclear of some boundaries they may have not explored or had set, they are in the process of learning boundaries and how boundaries are respected (Jung, 1995). Ministers are responsible for forming a bond within boundaries – “called to responsible sexual behavior governed by the norms of gratitude, justice, love, fidelity, authenticity, etc. We are required to establish sexual boundaries in accord with those norms” (p 264).Limits can be set, and as Jung (1995) “All parishioners regardless of their age or marital status, including the youth of a congregation, their parents, and members of the congregation volunteering with the youth program should be sexually "off limits" to all church workers” (p 265). To keep the boundaries set for ministers to lead and parishioners to be cared for. Examples: Choosing not to discuss issues of sexual nature, which can be stimulating and arousing. Setting boundaries as a ministerial caregiver to please Christ first, and not someone as intimate friend. Individuals may be lonely and longing for someone, therefor more susceptible to sexual interests with each other. Therefor do not engage in entertaining or fulfilling these desires as a minister. Ministers are not try to appeal to needs the parishioner has for and in friendships.So the boundaries can be clear cut and notably abided by, transparency can provide an openness that leaves less speculation, which alleviates concern and chance of misconduct.
- The meetings and relationships among youth and ministers should be evident to all involved. Any meetings should be in environment which does not seclude the meeting from presence or awareness of others. Meeting in a public place, with another person in the room or vicinity, will make the relationship accessible to others. With a open door of a room while meeting, the minister can set a proper atmosphere that gives less room for evil to enter the confines of the relationship.Just as all meetings and encounters are treated formally, all talks should be handled in the context of the ministry and professionalism applies to online correspondences.As Jung notes, some may argue that not discussing a sexual attraction for another parishioner is best, however some disagree and propose confessing as treating the desire appropriately. In the case of youth, which may not have sexual boundaries; a physical attraction should not be disclosed to the youth. However an adult attracted sexually to a youth must tell another person, such as an accountability partner (p 267). With a dynamic range of circumstances, clarity is valuable to knowing the acceptable practices and honoring the boundaries in place. In addition, a issue can be evaluated with better discernment when expectations are clear. Being open and honest among the community is essential for identifying any pitfalls.
- Identifying an ethical issue in a ministry before any damaging effect can occur on the relationship. On an inward level, one can experience the sinful nature’s temptation to give into sensual desires. The fleshly desires may be propagated and intensified by toxic thoughts. These sinful temptations that appeal to sexual nature must be identified as being unethical. With the implications considered, boundaries established, and policy and program in effect; the ministry can better identify issues and warning signs that lead to violations.Identifying a inner needs of ministers and the youth such as the longing that exists for the spiritual and sexual desires should be addressed in relationships outside of the ministry. Warning signs can lead to unethical decisions making. Burnout, overworking self, not enough time with God and lacking another intimately can possibly impact decision making. If someone has been known to not be forthcoming in similar situations, an early symptom may be discernable of they are seemingly secretive or avoiding transparency about a ministerial relationship.As the warning signs are identifiable, they can be referred to the identifiable corrective action as policy provides.
- As with preventative measures to keep course and protect against straying, sometimes recourse action must be taken to align the biblical standards in place with the ministry and those involved. Someone may need to be confronted if they are not in accordance with ethical practice as described by the biblical standards that the church has in its ministry. Inner issues may need confrontation and be brought to others attention. The efforts should be appropriately redirected. Instilling truths about what we are for God’s service. Minsters positions and respective roles and responsibilities – versus – a friendship and intimate partner. Monitor the affirmative action for ethical implications. Seeing that the youths needs are met from a ministry standpoint. And being sure our needs for intimacy and our sexual desires are handled ethically. Affirming our weaknesses to be strong in Him. In transparency and accountability.
- Ground rules firmly based in biblical standard of living will lay the proper foundation for which program and policy can function and operate. Because the issues have such implications: The subject should not be avoided. The issues must be met with prayer, counsel, and the Spirit’s leading.We are not a body with a soul; we are a soul with a body. Toxic thoughts can have impact on what we become if captivated by them, and not replaced with God’s truth in a way to have an effect. The result can be spiritually damaging to self and our relationships. As the topic is hot and controversial, the ethical relationships need to be addressed and the Community of believers should be celebrated in honoring Christ. By power of the Holy Spirit for best decision and discernment, our actions can attract others to Christ and in formidable bonds that are healthy and positive for development.
- The parishioner and youth should know the rules of the ministry program. Rules should be clear that explains the purpose of the ministry and how relationship between the minister and church body must be kept. With boundaries, transparency, and accountability as main facets for ethical youth ministry, all involved will be safeguarded against violation.With guidelines in place, a minister can follow policy and know that all others involved are aware of the practices. Then, it is easier for all involved to implement. The responsibility is still with the minister as youth can be vulnerable to sexual tendencies, unclear of boundaries, and unaware of the harm that can be created. We must be good stewards of God’s time with His people. More than just pragmatically, the ethical choices should be imposed by the Holy Spirit.
- Final thoughts to consider along with the summary of youth ministry, the ethical implications, strategy and methods.“the kind of friendship that is to characterize the community that is governed by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Wood, 2007). “Compare the amount of time spent schooling pastors on the hazards of intimacy to the amount of time spent on exhorting them to the practice of friendship. The importance of bonding has been displaced by the necessity of boundaries. We have developed a thoroughgoing hermeneutic of suspicion when it comes to intimacy. This is not an argument against a healthy understanding of the importance of boundaries in the negotiation of the complex relational landscape of ministry” (Wood, 2007). A thrill and exhilaration can be present when engaging in God’s truths; yet this arousal should not be toward anything or anyone except Christ. Sometimes the excitement can be misconstrued as sexual attraction. The errant perception of may be to blame for the unethical desires of intimacy. The genuine care and fondness of each other can be taken out of context. A youth may wrongfully have desires, or a forwardness may seem to express the desires. In any event, the minister must not flatter themselves, and instead must give glory to Christ and heed his direction given in the Word, prayer, and the Holy Spirit at work in them. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think on these things."Phil 4:8