As members of the Chaplaincy School we are committed to the Christian ethics of cooperation, the growth of the pastoral and professional community, equality, diversity, human justice and grace. We affirm and promote the value, dignity and value of each person we meet in our ministry. By wanting to imitate the method of caring for Jesus Christ for the people, we agree to:

Meet the people where they are supporting in their own days of faith instead of imposing specific religious traditions.

Be compassionate and graceful to all who seek pastoral care.

Take a prophetic mission in the ministry, but never condemn people.

Speak with authority, but always in love.

Affirm faith responses and provide spiritual support in proportion to people’s receptivity and spiritual hunger.

Relate to people in a way that affirms their value.

Provide pastoral care considering the uniqueness and individuality of each person, along with the role they can play in a system of relationships.

Promote dialogue and not the monologue, the understanding that pastoral care is done with people and not people.

Invite participation instead of passive receptivity

Demonstrate an integral respect for people and their cultural backgrounds.

Be persuasive but not coercive or manipulative, accepting and respecting people’s trust.

Do not exploit pastoral relationships to meet their own needs at the expense of others.

Give people the freedom to ignore or reject the help offered by them

We are a school of Christian chaplains dedicated to:

Tenet I. Human Dignity and Pastoral Relationship

1.1 Christian chaplains are ministers called to serve the people of God as charged with the sacred Word of God. In grace and Christian duty, they respond with love and compassion to the needs of people in their holistic existence. Christian chaplains embrace the understanding that human beings are created in the image of God with the uniqueness and freedom to think, behave, get excited, feel, imagine, and relate.

1.2 Christian chaplains are aware of their own belief system, of fundamental values, cultural backgrounds, attitudes and behaviors, and how they apply in a diverse society and with God’s help not to impose their own on those who come for pastoral care.

1.3 Christian chaplains, understanding the great value and dignity of the human being, will actively try to avoid granting their personal needs, in the way of satisfying the needs of others. They are aware of the power invested in them by their function and by people who seek help to avoid the exploitation of people, and the trust placed in them.

1.4 Christian chaplains who recognize the sacred character of human relationships and the personality of people do not engage in sexual intimacy with those who come to them for spiritual support, present or past. Christian chaplains do not engage in sexual harassment.

1.5 Christian chaplains recognize that all forms of sexual behavior or harassment with those we serve are unethical, even when a client invites or consents to such conduct or participation. Sexual behavior is defined as, but not limited to, all forms of seductive open and covert expression, gestures or behavior.

1.6 Christian chaplains will actively try to understand and recognize the diverse cultural origins of people who request or receive pastoral care to better serve them. Christian chaplains will not tolerate or participate in discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and marital or sociological status or for any other reason.

1.7 Christian chaplains will provide pastoral care considering people, and their own spiritual resources to meet physical, mental, social and spiritual challenges.

Tenet II. Confidentiality and Pastoral Relationship

2.1 Christian chaplains will respect the right that pastoral applicants have to control the amount of personal information they want to make known. They will respect people’s right to privacy and avoid illegal and unjustified disclosures of confidential information. In general, Christian chaplains as a minister of the Gospel cannot be forced to reveal confidential information. However, the person seeking spiritual help can give up the right to privacy. Christian chaplains may disclose confidential information to avoid clear and imminent danger to the person or others. The Christian Chaplain takes the initiative to clarify his or her limits regarding privileged information.

2.2. Christian chaplains who provide pastoral care to minors or people who cannot decide for themselves, will consult and request the consent of parents or guardians.

2.3 Except in those cases where it is necessary for the understanding of the case, the identity of the client will be protected using only the first names of our clients. It is our responsibility to convey the importance of confidentiality, this is particularly important when supervision is shared by other professionals, such as in a control or supervision group.

2.4 Christian chaplains will obtain permission from people who will provide pastoral care to take notes or electronically record their pastoral meetings. Christian chaplains have a responsibility to ensure the security and confidentiality of records of pastoral meetings that produce, maintain, transfer or destroy. Whether the records are written, recorded, computerized, or stored in any other medium.

2.5 We do not use these confidentiality rules to avoid legal intervention when necessary, for example, when there is evidence of abuse of minors, the elderly, the disabled and the physically or mentally incompetent, homicides, death or suicide threats, etc. . .

Tenet III. The competence of the Chaplain and the Pastoral Relationship.

3.1 Christian chaplains embrace the need to maintain high standards of pastoral and professional conduct and competence in the ministry. Christian chaplains actively strive to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.

3.2 Christian chaplains use our knowledge and professional relationships for the benefit of the people we serve and not to ensure unfair personal advantage.

3.3 Christian chaplains clearly represent our level of skill and training, and we limit our pastoral counseling to that level.

3.3 Christian chaplains have a responsibility to read, understand and follow the Rules and Code of Ethics of the CCUCI.

3.3 Christian chaplains commit to continue their pastoral and personal formation, to be better equipped to serve the people of God.

3.4 Christian chaplains recognize their limits of competence, and refer to other professionals as they see fit.

3.5 Christian chaplains in teaching positions will use their pastoral skills and human conscience to elevate the people under their educational attention to avoid emotional, physical, social and spiritual harm at all costs.

Tenet IV. Procedures for treatment Ethical violations.

Christian chaplains embrace the principle that a community does not unite, to destroy its members, but to build and restore each other. Therefore, the Chaplaincy School will not participate in activities aimed at harming pastoral care providers. Following biblical advice, The Chaplaincy Commission “does not entertain an accusation or complaint against an elder (Chaplain) unless at least two or three reliable witnesses meet.” In the case of an ethic violation, the CCUCI will follow the biblical principle of restoration recorded in the Gospel (Matthew 18).

“Be an example to believers in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith and purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).