The Ministers program represent the Church to the wider community. They are expected to serve in a manner that celebrates and dignifies the special occasions they commemorate, adding spiritual depth to the lives of individuals and communities. They should always interact with the wider community in a professional manner and be able to articulate and model our Church rites, usages, principles and our practices.

Both orders of ministry are expected to give their full assent to this code of practice.

Self

• I commit myself, before all else, to an honest and responsible performance of my duties and my role.
• I take responsibility for my spiritual development and growth.
• I will identify areas of weakness and improve them with training, mentoring, etc.
• Knowing my limitations, I will seek help when in difficulty.
• I will sustain in my own mind respect for the program.
• I will refrain from words and actions (or simply behaviour and attitudes) that degrade the program or are destructive to Church life.

Colleagues

• I will do my best to support my colleagues and to keep, for them, an open mind and heart.
• I will respect confidentiality between colleagues.
• I will not speak disrespectfully or in derogation of any colleague.
• When critical of a colleague, I will speak responsibly, temperately, and constructively.
• I support fair and equitable sharing of ceremonial requests.
• When co-officiating, I will work in cooperation and in accordance to clearly defined responsibilities.

Community

• I will hold to a single standard of respect and help for all members of the church and larger community.
• I will respect the confidentiality of private communications.
• I will respect the private and intimate boundaries of others’ lives, and I will not trespass on those boundaries for my own advantage. My relationship with families requesting special services remains professional.
• I will avoid exploiting the needs of another person for my own purposes, e.g., continue a dependent relationship beyond a service.
• I will treat with respect and sensitivity the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of others.
• I will strive to live and to speak in a way that exemplifies the best of Christian values and traditions.

Our Mission

We come together to celebrate and learn from our diversity of belief.

• We believe in unity without uniformity.
• We draw from many sources and we resonate to the insights of poets, mystics and thoughtful human beings across the ages.
• We grew up in a variety of religious traditions.
• We believe that everyone has a right to pursue his/our/ her/their own spiritual journey.
• We are LGBTQ+ affirming.
• We gather as a community to inspire and challenge each other to live principled lives.
• Together, we strive to make a difference in this lifetime, through our caring for this earth and its people.

Our Principles

There are seven general principles which our Church affirms and promotes:

• The inherent worth and dignity of everyone;
• Justice, equity and compassion in all human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth
  in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
  within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence
  of which we are a part.

These ideas come from many sources:

• That sense of wonder we all share;
• Women and men long ago and today;
• Those who through their lives have inspired us to be fair and understanding;
• Christian, Jewish and other religions of the world;
• Common sense;
• The discoveries of science;
• Ancient traditions and rituals.

Revised March 15th, 2014