Information disclosed to a minister during the course of counseling, advising, or spiritual direction shall be held in the strictest confidence possible, and shall not be disclosed without the informed consent of the person, except as required by law.
Whenever possible and as soon as possible, the minister should disclose those circumstances under which confidentiality may be breached:
- When there is the clear and present threat of harm to self or others.
- When there is the suspicion of abuse or neglect perpetrated on a minor, disabled person, elderly person, or other vulnerable person as defined by local law. It is not the responsibility of the reporter to ascertain the veracity of the report or to investigate the context of the report, but only to report suspicion to the appropriate authorities. A minor is defined as any human being under the age of 18, unless the age of majority is attained later under a state’s or country’s own domestic legislation.
- In legal cases when under court order to provide evidence. Ministers should keep secure minimal records of the content of sessions, including a record of the disclosures given and the informed consent received.
Knowledge that arises from professional contact may be used in teaching, writing, homilies, or other public presentations only when measures are taken to absolutely safeguard both the individual’s identity and the confidentiality of the disclosures.
While counseling a minor, if a minister discovers there is a serious threat to the welfare of the minor and that communication of confidential information to a parent or legal guardian is essential to the minor’s health and well-being, the minister should disclose information necessary to protect the health and well-being of the minor.
All elders and deacons are expected to be involved in 20 hours of lifelong learning per year, to be administered by the District Ministerial Studies Board. (529.6)
A minister may solemnize marriage only for those who have been qualified by careful counseling, and who have a biblical basis for marriage.
Biblical marriage only exists in a relationship involving one man and one woman. (31, 515.9)
Each district is to have and annually review a written, comprehensive plan to guide its efforts in providing a timely, compassionate, and informed response to members of the clergy involved in conduct unbecoming a minister, to their families and to any congregation involved. The district plan shall be in harmony with Manual directives and shall include a provision for establishing and maintaining a record of the facts and circumstances of the change in status of any minister who ceases to be entitled to exercise the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy. This record shall include all correspondence and official actions related to the status of the member of the clergy in question and the names and date of appointment of those persons selected to the recovery team as may be provided in accordance with paragraph 540.1. (225.5)
The general secretary is authorized to receive and hold for safekeeping the credentials of a member of the clergy in good standing who, because of inactivity in the ministry for a period of time, wishes to file them. At the time of filing the credential, the District Advisory Board of the minister’s assembly district shall certify to the general secretary that the credential is not being filed for the purpose of avoiding discipline. The filing of the credential shall not prevent a member of the clergy from being subject to discipline as a member of the clergy. Members of the clergy who file their credentials with the general secretary may have them reinstated. (539.10)
A member of the clergy in good standing who has not been granted retirement status and who has remained unassigned for four or more consecutive years is considered to be no longer participating as a member of the clergy and is required to file his or her credential. The District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry shall report to the district assembly “the credential of (the elder or deacon in question) has been filed by the District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry.” This action should be considered nonprejudicial to character. The individual who files may have his or her credential reinstated. (539.10)
When an ordained minister in good standing ceases from an assigned ministry to pursue a calling or vocation other than being a member of the clergy in the Church of the Nazarene, he or she may resign the rights, privileges and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy. The district assembly, in which he or she holds standing, shall receive the credential and place it in the care of the general secretary. The record in the district minutes will show that he or she was “removed from the Roster of Ministers, having resigned his or her order.” A member of the clergy who thus resigns may have his or her credential returned. (539.11)
When an unretired ordained minister ceases from active service as a member of the clergy and takes full-time secular employment, after a period of two years he or she may be required by the District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry to resign from being a member of the clergy or file his or her credential with the general secretary. This two-year period shall begin at the district assembly immediately following the cessation of activity as a member of the clergy. The District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry shall report its action to the district assembly. This action should be considered nonprejudicial to character.
The rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a member of the clergy may be suspended and his or her name removed from the Roster of Ministers if he or she changes his or her residence from the address of record without providing a new address of record to the District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry within one year, or if he or she fails to submit an annual report as required in paragraphs 532.8 and 538.9. Such action to suspend shall be the responsibility of the District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry.
A member of the clergy who receives a Certificate of Commendation from his or her local church and has not joined another Church of the Nazarene by the time of the next district assembly, or who declares in writing that he or she has withdrawn from the Church of the Nazarene, or who joins another denomination either as a member or a minister, and who has not resigned his or her ministerial credential, may be expelled from the ministry of the Church of the Nazarene by order of the district assembly upon the recommendation of the District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry and his or her name be removed from the Roster of Ministers and the membership roll of the local church. (111.1, 815)
