Ethical success or failure can make or break a pastor’s ministry. With a desire for pastors to make sound ethical decisions and to flourish, here is a Code of Ethics for Pastors to provide a consistent code of ethics that is applicable within all denominational boundaries. All who are called by God to the ministry of the gospel must solemnly commit to a life of joyful obedience and selfless service in order to glorify God and enrich his people.
Apostle Paul admonished the ministry in Philippians 1:27~“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Also in 2 Corinthians 6:3-7~”Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.”
Quote: “God has never placed His church in the hands of an elected leadership which moves with political mindedness. He has placed His church in the care of Godordained, Spirit-filled, Word-living men who lead the people through feeding them the Word. He has not separated the people into classes so that the masses are led by a holy priesthood. It is true that the leadership must be holy, but then so must be the whole congregation. Further, there is no place in the Word where priests or ministers or such mediate between God and the people, nor is there a place where they are separated in their worship of the Lord. God wants all to love and serve Him together. Nicolaitanism destroys those precepts and instead separates the ministers from the people and makes the leaders overlords instead of servants.”
( ~William Branham, An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages - 5 - The Pergamean Church Age)
Therefore, a minister of Christ must do the following:
A. Pursue Integrity
B. Be Trustworthy
C. Seek Purity
D. Embrace Accountability
E. Facilitate Fairness
A. PURSUE INTEGRITY
1 Chronicles 29:17- " I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee."
a. INTEGRITY in personal character~ A minister must exalt Christ, not self. Be honest, peace-loving, not contentious; patient, not volatile; diligent, not slothful.
Quote: "Not for one moment do I bring a Message to the people that they may follow me, or join my church, or start some fellowship and organization. I have never done that and will not do that now. I have no interest in those things, but I do have an interest in the things of God and people, and if I can accomplish just one thing I will be satisfied. That one thing is to see established a true spiritual relationship between God and men, wherein men become new creations in Christ, filled with His Spirit and live according to His Word. I would invite, plead and warn all to hear His voice at this time, and yield your lives completely to Him, even as I trust in my heart that I have given my all to Him. God bless you, and may His coming rejoice your heart." ~ (An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages - 10 - A Resume Of The Ages by Rev. William Marrion Branham)
b. INTEGRITY in personal care~ Care for the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical dimensions of your person, for “your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Avoid the works of the flesh and mortify the deeds of the body.
Galatians 5:19-21~ “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
c. INTEGRITY in preaching and teaching~ Speak the truth in love. Give due credit when using the words or ideas of others. Interpret the Bible accurately and apply it discerningly.
Titus 2:7–8 ~“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”
Brother Branham said: “Paul told Timothy, “Study It, rightly dividing the Word of God, which is Truth.” Them is three musts in the Scripture. In using God’s Word, there is three things that you must not do… Now, you must not misinterpret the Word. You say, “Well, I believe It means this.” It means just what It says. It needs no interpreter. And you must not misplace the Word. And you must not dislocate the Word. And if we would do either of these, it throws the whole Bible in a confusion and in a chaos.” (WMB, 65-0822M - Christ Is Revealed In His Own Word)
Brother Branham said to discern the gifts in the man and don't judge him by what denomination he comes from.
14 “Now, if a man comes and he has a great gift, no matter if he belongs to our denomination or another denomination, don’t judge him by what denomination he come from, how he dresses, but what you want to see is what he’s trying to do with that gift. What purpose he has. If he’s trying to take his influence and build himself a great name out of it, I’d have discernment of spirit enough to know that’s wrong. No matter how great a teacher he is, how powerful he is, how intellectual he is, or how his gift operates, if he isn’t trying to achieve something for the benefit of the Body of Christ, your own spiritual discernment would tell you that that’s wrong. No matter how accurate, how perfect, how it is, it’s wrong if it isn’t used for the Body of Jesus Christ. 15 To achieve something, maybe he’s got a great gift that he could draw people together with a great intellectual or a spiritual power, that he could draw people together, and maybe he’s trying to take that gift and make hisself famous so that he’ll have a big name, so that other brethren will look up to him as some big person. Then that’s wrong. Maybe he’s trying to—to edify a certain thing here that he wants everybody else to get out of the picture and let him and his group be the picture. That’s still wrong, see. 16 But if he has a gift of God and he’s trying to edify the Body of Christ, then I don’t care what he belongs to. You’re not discerning the man, you’re discerning the spirit, the life that’s in the man. And that’s what God told us to do. Not one time was we ever commissioned to discern the—the man’s group. But we was constrained and commanded by God to discern the spirit in the man, what he’s trying to do, what the spirit in his life is trying to lead him to. And then if we can find out that he’s trying to lead the people (not to break them up, but to bring them together) and to bring the Church of the living God, not all to one denomination, but to an understanding, a fellowship, a unity of spirit. Then if he is former rain or latter rain, or whatever it is, his spirit and his purpose is right. And the spirit that’s in him, no matter what move he belongs to, the Spirit that’s in him is trying to point the people to Calvary, away from himself or away from anything else, but his only achievement he has is to point them to Calvary. He doesn’t care whether he’s even knowed or not. He doesn’t care whether even his own movement…which is fine, see, it’s good, if he is a Methodist, or a Presbyterian, or a Roman Catholic, or whatever he wants to be by denomination. 17 But what is he trying to do, the purpose of his heart that he’s trying to get? Then you can see what’s in the man’s life, whether his motives is for his—his denomination, whether it’s for hisself, whether it’s for worldly fame, whether it’s for big names.” [60-0308 - WMB, Discernment Of Spirit]
B. BE TRUSTWORTHY
It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2~ “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
a. TRUSTWORTHY in leadership~ Use power and influence prudently and humbly. Foster loyalty. Demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of the entire congregation. Keep promises. Respond sensitively and appropriately to ministry requests and needs: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10). b.
b. TRUSTWORTHY with information~ Guard confidences carefully. Inform a person in advance, if possible, when an admission is about to be made that might legally require the disclosure of that information. Communicate truthfully and discreetly when asked about individuals with destructive or sinful behavior patterns. Tell the truth, or remain discreetly silent: “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:13).
c. TRUSTWORTHY with resources~ Be honest and prudent in regard to personal and ministry resources. Refuse gifts that could compromise ministry. Ensure that all designated gifts are used for their intended purpose: “If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11).
c. SEEK PURITY “ Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12).
a. Maintain sexual purity~ Avoid sinful sexual behavior such as immorality, adultery or fornication and inappropriate involvement such as sodomy, incest or bestiality. Resist temptation. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:3a).
1 Timothy 3:2-7~ “ A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
b. Purity in spiritual formation~ Earnestly seek the help of the Holy Spirit for guidance and spiritual growth. Be faithful to maintain a heart of devotion to the Lord. Be consistent and intentional in prayer and scriptural study: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Quote: “There is no price tag on the Holy Spirit. “Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” Galatians 3:2. Without the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, you can never have your eyes opened to a true Spiritual revelation of the Word. A man without the Spirit is blind to God and His truth.” ( An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages - 9 - The Laodicean Church Age)
c. Purity in Theology/Teaching~ Study the Bible regularly and carefully to understand its message, and embrace biblical doctrine. In forming theology, consider biblical teaching authoritative over all other sources.
Quote: “The Bible is the complete revelation of Jesus Christ. And It was wrote by prophets. Hebrews 1:1, in…“God, Who in sundry times spake to the fathers by the prophets, in this last day speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ,” which was the prophets, all of them, put together. Jesus was Malachi; Jesus was Jeremiah, Isaiah, Elijah. All that they were, were in Him. And all that you are, and all I am, is in Him; Words, witnesses of the Word. So It is not a book of systems, a code of moral ethics, neither is It a history book, or a book of theology. It is not. But It’s a revelation of Jesus Christ, God Himself revealed, from Word to flesh. That’s what It is. The Bible is the Word, and God is the flesh, God in…God is the Word, rather, and Jesus being the flesh. It’s the revelation, how God (the Word) was manifested in human flesh, and revealed to us.” ~ (65-0822M - Christ Is Revealed In His Own Word)
Quote: “Now, preaching usually catches the sinner, brings him under condemnation by the Word. But teaching places the man positionally what he is. And we can never rightly be able to have faith until positionally we know what we are.” ( 60-0515E - Adoption #1)
d. Purity in professional practice~ Be a minister/counselor who can provide personal counseling and advice when needed. Develop an awareness of personal needs and vulnerabilities. Avoid taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of others through exploitation or manipulation. Address the misconduct of another clergy member directly or, if necessary, through appropriate persons to whom that member of the clergy may be accountable. Resolve grievance issues the Bible Way: Matthew 18:15-18~ 15 ¶ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
D. EMBRACE ACCOUNTABILITY
1 Peter 5:2–3~ “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
Acts 20:28 ~ “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
a. Be accountable in finances~ Promote accepted accounting practices and regular audits. Ensure that church funds are used for their intended ministry purposes.
• The Office Of the Treasurer~ “The responsibility of the treasurer is to provide an exact account of the financial status of the present funds in the treasury. This report is to be made available to the pastor or the board of trustees, upon their request of such a report. No other office in the church may have access to this information. He may obtain such information from the trustees report given to him by the treasurer. The treasurer shall sit in on every trustee meeting to take notes and minutes of actions taken by the board of trustees. He has not the authority to convey or acknowledge the financial status information to any acting office in the church but the pastor or board of trustees. He shall not be a consultant in spiritual matters, nor is it of need that he should attend meetings of the deacons, unless asked to by the pastor.
b. Be accountable in ministry responsibilities~ Ensure clarity in authority structures, decision-making procedures, position descriptions, and grievance policies. Model accountability at the highest levels.
Quote: “Get training in your own groups, other ministers, men that you see that has a calling in their life, for the ministry. Train them young men. Bring them in here to the elder. All of you set together in a ministerial meeting, and there teach the deeper things of God. Don’t go on the bad end. Keep someone who can have confidence in, to be kind of like a—a leader for you. And then, sometimes, if you don’t see it just exactly the way he does, goes, that’s all right. You’re in the Faith, anyhow. Just move along. Maybe when we come together, then, all of us together, we’ll pray; the discernment of God come down, and He will give it just exactly what it is, you see, and let us know just how to do it. And in there, churches can go hear, and training up a group of men. And if I’m in evangelistic work somewhere, there is places I can place them, worldwide.” (~ 62-0601 - Taking Sides With Jesus)
c. Be accountable in the ministry ~ Ensure compliance with church standards and expectations, including regular reports.
E. FACILITATE FAIRNESS a. Respect the local sovereignty of the local assembly.
Quote: "But I believe in the supreme authority of the local assembly. Yes. Let each church be its own, choose its pastors, its deacons, its, whatever it is. And then, that way, the man in there has no bishop over him. The Holy Spirit wants to speak something to that church, they don’t have to ask anybody about whether they could do this or do that. It’s the individual in contact with the Holy Spirit. Show me by the Bible what’s greater, in the Bible, than a local elder to a local church? That’s right, yes, sir, the sovereignty of the local church, each church in itself." (~WMB, 57-0908M - Hebrews, Chapter Five And Six #1)
“Every man ought to have a church home. You ought to have a place, not just to float about from pillar to post, but have somewhere that you go to church and you call it your church, somewhere you pay your tithes, and somewhere that you help support the Cause. Take your choice, but then don’t never disfellowship the other man because he don’t belong with your group. See? Discern his spirit and see if he’s got the same purpose in heart, then you got fellowship one with another. You’re working for one great Cause. That’s the cause of Christ.” ~ (60-0308 - Discernment Of Spirit by Rev. William Marrion Branham)
"But the full and complete authority of the church is the pastor. Read that in the Bible, see if that’s not Bible order. That’s exactly right. There is no one above the elder." (~WMB, 57-0922E - Hebrews, Chapter Seven #2) "We have no bishops. We have no general overseers. We have Jesus. Amen! He’s the Bishop. He’s the General Overseer. He’s the Head Pastor. He’s the King. He’s the Lord. He’s the Healer. He’s All-and-All." ( ~WMB, 58-0928M - The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit)
"We have no bishops or hierarchies or overseers or so forth to tell us this, that, or the other. It’s the Holy Spirit in the church, does the speaking. I like that rule, and it’s very fine." (~WMB, 62-1007 - The Key To The Door)
A minister must not show favoritism… James 2:1-4~” For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”
Quote: “When did the prestige of money, social leadership, business ability, or sheer mental prowess ever qualify a man for spiritual leadership, or give any weight to the Word of God? And when in any way materiality or human values begin to show as the media by which God works instead of the Holy Spirit ALONE, then we are fighting against God, not for Him. Now I want this on record right here. I am not speaking against elders in the church. No sir. And that elder can be as poor as any man was ever poor, or be the richest man in the world as long as he is an elder in heart and deed. I would not hesitate to ordain any man that has the real Spiritual qualifications as an elder or deacon regardless of his finances or social position. But when you see a social or financial structure come into the church that divides the folks in any way — that is not of God. It is another sign of the time in this physically rich, but Spiritually impoverished Laodicean Age in which we are now living.” ~An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages - 4 - The Smyrnaean Church Age
b. Be fair with treating staff ~ Follow approved church practices in staff selection processes such as deacons, trustees, treasurer, musicians, etc. Provide regular staff team building, affirmation, training, evaluation, and feedback. Be honest with staff regarding areas to celebrate as well as those needing improvement.
Quote: “And this church is sovereign. There ain’t no board of trustees or deacons going to tell you what to do. This church, in a whole vote, tells you what to do. That’s exactly right, if there’s a decision. If you don’t like your pastor, and there’s two or three people gets something against the pastor, they can’t raise up with their deacons, trustees, they just on what officer they are here. They just got one vote. That’s all. If he is assistant pastor, he’s just got one vote. He’s just like the lay member that sets back there. The whole vote of the church settles the matter. And that’s right. That’s—that’s right. No deacon board put a pastor out, or no pastor put a deacon board out. The church does that, in a general vote of the whole thing.” ~ (58-0928M - The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit)
c. Be fair with believers ~ Ensure appropriate access to staff by the believers. Preach and teach to meet the needs of the entire congregation. Assume responsibility for congregational health. When asked for help beyond personal competence, refer others to those with requisite expertise in the five-fold ministry.
Quote: “Now we realize that the church is responsible for its own, for our members here of the church, we are totally responsible as far as we have needs to supply them with. We are responsible for our own, that’s, steady, constant members of the tabernacle that come here and worship with us. We are duty bound to them, as our brothers and sisters who have proven to be our members of this gathering. Now, we realize that there is millions tonight without food, without clothing, and we would love to be able to help the whole group of them, to do everything we could; but financially we cannot do that, we can’t support all the world. But we are duty bound to our own. And I think, in that, and then if we have anything left over that you would want to contribute to people who are not members here of this church, something that you’d want to give to them, it should be met between the board of the deacons.” (~ 63-1226 - Church Order)
d. Be fair with the community~ Build God’s kingdom in cooperation, not competition, with other local ministries. Provide Christian ministries to the public as possible. Encourage good citizenship, and not rebellion.
Quote: “And we didn’t come here to be competitors to these other brethren. We don’t believe in being competitors to the religion of Jesus Christ. We are brethren, together, working together for all that we can, for the good of the Kingdom of God, and every church, every one. We might different a little bit on ideas, the ministers, but not to the peoples. We still believe the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We become sons and daughters of God by confessing our sins and accepting this Blood, no matter what church you belong to. And we believe that with all of our heart. My services is always inter-evangelical, or interdenominational.”
~( 54- 0404E - God Has A Provided Way)
Quote: “That’s what’s the matter today, it’s membership. Yes. [Blank spot on tape— Ed.]…members, big membership, big Sunday school classes, pay prizes for somebody that can proselyte and bring somebody else from some other church over, who’s got the most. You know, that’s Phariseeism! And then make a big brag about it, “We beat them last Sunday.” If you’ve got to a place where you have to make the church of God a rat race, then it’s time to close the doors and go home.” ~ ( 63-0116 - The Evening Messenger)
e. Do not recruit or proselyte believers from a previous church without permission from the pastor. Avoid interfering in the ministry of a previous congregation. Quote: “And I have never, at one time, in my life ever knowingly to be guilty of proselyting of telling a person what church they’re supposed to belong to. I believe that a man’s got a liberty to make up his mind on what church that he desires to go to. And I pray that God will bless you.” ~ (54-0724 - A Personal Experience With God)
======================================================= Special Thanks to the National Association of Evangelicals for providing the main outline of the Code of Ethics for Pastors (www.nae.org) and to Voice of God Recordings (www.branham.org) for the quotes from Rev. William Marrion Branham.