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The Code of Ethics of the Association of Interfaith Ministers and Spiritual
Counsellors (AIMS) The following code of ethics was endorsed by the, sadly now defunct, Association of Inter-Faith Ministers and Spiritual Counsellors (AIMS). I remain committed to this code and to that of my other professional bodies.
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In order to promote integrity in the training and practice of interfaith ministers and spiritual counsellors, this code of ethics has been established for all involved with the New Seminary UK. Together we dedicate ourselves to excellence in the preparation and performance of our service, and joyfully commit ourselves to the following precepts:
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Honouring our
universality; respecting our uniqueness
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As we embraced the truth in
authentic religions and spiritual paths, we agreed to live by our vision of
inclusiveness. We aim to keep our hearts and minds open to everyone,
celebrating difference but not separation, and refused to marginalised
people on the basis of of age, state of health, disability, race, gender,
nationality, religion, sexual orientation, economic status or any other
irrelevant distinction.
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Walking our talk
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As people engaging in service, we
understand the importance of living our word, keeping our personal alignment
and practising what we preach, and agreed to uphold the ethical and
practical principles of the spiritual behalf we follow. While our various
paths may seem very different, even contradictory, we recognize that the
underlying principles and goals are essentially similar. Whatever our
background or beliefs, we will encourage this common spirit we share to
permeates all activity.
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Celebrating honesty
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Knowing that truthfulness brings
freedom, we aim to cultivate conscious and clean communication as the basis
for our speech. We accept the responsibility to speak and listen as truly as
we can, being mindful that our words are kindly and useful. We commit
ourselves to refrain from gossip, which diminishes everyone associated with
it and is not compatible with our intent to love.
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Protecting clarity
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Since we value purity of
awareness, in ourselves and of others, we will support each other in
exercising maturity over the ingestion of intoxicant or mind altering
substances. Before or during seminary classes, retreats and formal
functions, we will avoid using such substances which would interfere with
our purpose and intention.
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Honouring physical
boundaries
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In alignment with our commitment
to clarity and love, we aim to be sensitive and respectful in expressing
physical affection. Mindful of the power our role as teacher, counsellor or
minister may bring, and that a sexual relationship between a teacher and a
student, a spiritual counsellor and a client is confusing and inappropriate,
we undertake to refuse absolutely sexual relationships with students or
clients. Where this show signs of developing, we will not pursue it until a
suitable period has elapsed from the end of the professional relationship
(to be determined through consideration of the feelings of all concerned, in
tandem with an experienced supervisor).
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Representing ourselves
accurately
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Since we strive for integrity in
all of our relationships, we acknowledge the importance of not misleading
others about our responses or services we can offer, not exaggerating in any
way our professional achievements. We will respect contributions from
elsewhere by mentioning the source of our materials and observing the rights
of authors. Further, we commit ourselves to open and just dealings in all
financial transactions with which we are involved.
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Maintaining
confidentiality
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Since we honour the sacred trust
between a spiritual counsellor and a client, between a minister and the
community served, we promised to hold any personal information in the
strictest confidence. The same applies to all our study settings, so that a
safe space is created for heartfelt sharing. We will only discuss such
privileged conversations within our legitimate forums of support, and then
only identifying the issues, not the individuals concerned. (However, the
individuals themselves may be encouraged to share information/disclose where
this could be in their interest.)
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Valuing support and
supervision in community
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Since we recognize the strength in
our togetherness, we agreed to draw fully on the resources of our community
for support and guidance. We acknowledge the need for supervision and
guidance beyond our years of study at the New Seminary, and where situations
arise in our own ministries, classrooms and counselling practices that
challenge our personal judgement and go beyond our professional skills, we
will seek both peer support and appropriate specialist supervision. We
commit to regular supervision of our spiritual counselling work.
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Promoting continued
awakening
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Since we understand that our
spiritual unfolding is a process with no discernible beginning or end, we
dedicate ourselves to continually deepening our personal spiritual practice,
and opening more profoundly to the mystery of our connections with the
divine source and with each other. Our emphasis on service, in particular,
demands that we remain open continually to new information, new encounters,
new ways of looking at ourselves, and that we are willing to move with our
discoveries.
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Safeguarding the whole
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As graduates, faculty and students of The New Seminary UK, we agreed to do all that we can to live and work by these precepts. We recognize that, in our humanness, there will be times when through our own blind spots, we will miss the mark. We take responsibility not only for ourselves but for one another, by lovingly calling to attention either one-to-one or through the peer group, any issue that may place another in danger or may compromise the good reputation of Interfaith Ministers and Spiritual Counsellors -- however difficult this might be. We commit to addressing concerns without fear in the atmosphere of compassion and fairness to all that the New Seminary embodies. |