The Dignity and Duties of the Priest by St. Alphonsus Liguori (excerpt)
"In his epistle to the Christians of Smyrna, St. Ignatius, Martyr, says that the priesthood is the most sublime of all created dignities: 'The apex of dignities is the priesthood...' A priest is a minister destined by God to be a public ambassador of the whole Church, to honour Him, and to obtain His graces for all the faithful."
The ECC+C has made it policy to issue a Code of Priestly Conduct. This policy addresses how clergy must represent God, the Church, their colleagues and themselves - at all times. We know that for some, these policies may seem tough, but some of the non-mainstream (or independent) church communities lack basic codes of conduct and promote a free-for-all policy which has crashed the smaller churches into disrepute. We want no part of this within the ECC+C.
Via the media - internet, TV, Radio, public chat rooms, discussion sites or networking sites:
We are an all-embracing and Christ-driven church. We do not turn away anyone wanting to seek the support, comfort and encouragement of a faith home our community strives to afford. We request that clergy do not 'prove' how inclusive they are in an undignified manner. We are aware that some members of world-wide clergy, both mainstream, non-maintream (as ECC+C) and Independent, proclaim their personal lives via the web in a wholly inappopriate way. We deem this to be unacceptable and not in line with sacerdotal dignity. We do not forbid membership or use of Social Network sites (such as Facebook, Myspace,YouTube) and can see they have benefits in our modern world. Bishops Nicola, Michael and Glenn choose not to use any of them - that is a personal and conscious choice and not enforced upon any other church member. All that is requested is that public and private behaviours are always dignified and with Christian conscience. Public Priesthood must promote mission, evangelism and advocacy where necessary - it must promote the Good News from Christ and not the priest.
Independent and or commercial websites use some of our contact details without current consent. We must politely request that our details are removed with immediate effect. We have made it policy not to advertise the 'services' of our priesthood with any third party or commercial website; so if any of us are seen on a third party website please know it is without permission.
The ECC+C requests there is no conscious action for publicity, advertising or self-promotion in any form. If such methods for social communication are used it should be to widen ministry and outreach or for contact with far flung friends and family in a dignified and respectable manner. Any clergy member seeking incardination into the ECC+C will be given clear guidelines prior to church membership. There is little we can do other than remove anything that contravenes this rule regarding web presence before. It is what we do from the first day of membership we are concerned with in terms of clear standards.
Via Personal Websites and Blogs:
Websites are in the public domain and therefore must be used as a tool for ministry. This includes the use of Twitter and Blogs. We consider any reference to personal relationships made in order to make a life style, orientation or self-serving political point, wholly unacceptable and irrelevant to public ministry. If any statement is to promote the cleric's life or personal socio-political cause rather than a statement highlighting injustice for others - then it is deemed wholly inappoproiate. To address injustices or equalities against the Children of God is a completely different matter. We also insist that there is never any overt and uncomfortable 'hawking' of an aspect sacramental priesthood of any kind. It is unacceptable to encourage couples not to use a Parish Church for their wedding and 'book' clergy for a blessing at an hotel instead. If a couple have requested a wedding or blessing outside the Church because they have been rejected for whatever reason then this is a different matter altogether - but fees must be in line with the mainstream Churches, to incude reasonable expenses for travel and accommodation if required and donations to the ECC+C if offered. It is policy not to mail the consecrated host or wine for a fee or otherwise. Earning a living from priesthood is acceptable and necessary. Making a sizeable profit is not.
Via emails:
We are more than fortunate with our day to day contact as we all share a love and respect for one another. However, we are growing more quickly than we could have ever predicted. Some clergy coming to us have been let down by previous jurisdictions and many have fallen foul of divisive emails. This has never happened to us to date - but we are preempting any such issue in the future by the following newly installed policy!
Emails from both clergy and laity are sometimes the most efficient way to communicate for those who live a distance from one another. This form of communicating must be for the purpose of sharing information, making requests, seeking advice and checking on one another's welfare. Emails must be written at all times with care and without any potential for misunderstanding or ambiguity; meant or otherwise. It is a directive from Bishop Nicola and beyond negotiation that emails are never sent at a time of anger or frustration to either the source or a third party. We must be consciously aware of our different characters, personalities and sensitivities at all times and accept that not everyone needs to be involved, so to draw a third party in, is unacceptable. If any member of the ECC+C receives such an email then it is policy to address this at source with love, care and compassion. A response email and/or the 'Reply All' button being used in such a situation is unacceptable. A face to face conversation or the use of the telephone/Skype between those concerned is policy. Involvement of bishops will only occur in cases of an individual requesting their council or if Mediation or Conflict Resolution is deemed necessary or requested.
Copying emails to a third party within the ECC+C in a covert manner using the 'bcc' or hidden copy resource is also deemed unacceptable, without exception. This applies to forwarding messages, also. This is an important policy and will not be considered in any way other than a desire to be divisive if it is not respected. It is preferrable but not policy that, in replying to emails, a new email is opened rather than the existing email being attached to the reply.
Censorship is not the ECC+C aim but respect and openess is.
Via Face to Face contact and general behaviour in public:
Clergy must always remember who they represent when they are with the public. Behaviours such as the consumption of alcohol within Public Houses, Clubs, Bars and Hotels is not considered appropriate if the cleric is in vestments. Smoking in vestments is unacceptable although it is understood that specific 'street' ministries would be knocking down barriers if clergy (who are smokers) accepted one offered to them in friendship when wearing a clerical collar - but never vestments. There is no policy to say clergy cannot choose to smoke or drink. We are not asking clergy to be anything other than appropriately dignified within their office and situation. The ECC+C does not consider being a chaplain of any Pub, Bar or Club as appropriate or dignified. Alternative provision in terms of venue must be sought if the people who access such establishments seek a Christian life and Sacramental Worship. If such venues cater for a minority sector of society known to be persecuted then an alternative but appropriate meeting place for their spiritual support and advocacy is an important part of any cleric's ministry.
It is unfortunate we must take this stance but certain behaviours we have witnessed within other jurisdictions have forced this need for asserting high standards. To promise you we live by the rule of equality in the eyes of God, means just that. We do not censor our clergy - we encourage the freedom of speech and the right to live an honest life at every turn - what we seek is a dignity in what we say within a framework of the right to say it but always in a Godly manner befitting a person in Holy Orders.
There is no ruling from the ECC+C to wear a clerical collar at all times - this is entirely the choice of the individual. Some pastors and clergy strongly believe that clerical wear is not necessary at all and we fully respect this as a personal choice. However it is policy that all clergy have a ministry of some kind either full or part time. Secular incomes may well be necessary as we all need income but some form of ministry outside any secular career is essential. The ECC+C is wary of any cleric in secular employment who only dresses in clerical wear solely for concelebration with other clergy. We deem this as taking part in fancy dress and not ministry and only serves to bring non-mainstream and Independent Churches into disrepute.
In Private:
The very nature of having been called to ministry requires every priest to behave with conscience, respect and dignity at all times and this includes behaviours towards friends and family. There is no desire to alter personality, character and humour - we all have these in abundance! We all know that some behaviours of clergy both currently and historically (as often highlighted in the International Press) can be less than Christian and not at all dignified. Any behaviour unseen by the public is always seen by God so a responsibility of your conscience is all we request. This is not a desire to control. This is necessary as a statement of how we strive to be different and fully responsible for the dignity of Christ's Holy Name. This should be enough said here.
"... because every tree is known by its own fruit. People don't gather figs from thorny plants or pick grapes from a thorn bush." Luke 6:44