General Code of Ethics
People have long sought to enrich their lives and to awaken to their full natures through spiritual practices including prayer, meditation, mind-body disciplines, service, ritual, community liturgy, holy-day and seasonal observances, and rites of passage. These practices are as varied as the human race itself, and as such each individual practice should, in their own right, be tolerated, if not celebrated, for the intrinsic beauty that they carry in design and ability to nurture and educate a community.
In any community, there will be people that are set against anything that clashes with their idea of moral ethics and their way of living. These are the people that we seek to provide healthy, and helpful information to concerning the earth-based religions that are all part of the umbrella titled “Paganism”. With this knowledge and information that is true and healthy, we can, as a society, bridge the gap between moral standards and how we are truly living life.
We operate under a code of ethics that reflects this desire to promote tolerance through education.
[Intention]
We practice and serve our communities in ways that cultivate awareness, empathy, tolerance, and wisdom.
[Serving Society]
We provide educational information and services to the community that are designed and conducted in ways that respect the common good, with due regard for public safety, health, and order. Because of the increased awareness gained from this education within the community, we can catalyze a desire for personal and social change, and shall use special care to help direct the energies of those that we serve, as well as our own, in responsible ways that reflect a loving regard for all life.
[Serving Individuals]
We respect and seek to preserve the autonomy and dignity of each person. Participation in any religious practice must be voluntary and based on good information and free of intolerant attitudes, abuses, and practices which may do more damage than good in the community at large.
[Competence]
We shall provide the community at large with only the information and knowledge that we have found to be truthful, and based in tolerance towards others. To do anything less would be a dishonor to the community as an entity of life.
[Integrity]
Members shall strive to be aware of how their own belief systems, values, needs, and limitations affect their thought processes and whether or not these processes are creating a morally acceptable tolerant attitude towards others.
[Quiet Presence]
We shall not advertise as a commercial entity, for we believe that we are better allowed to grow through attraction, as well we shall not provide for commercial advertisement for commercial entities either.
[Not for Profit]
We shall conduct our educational endeavors in the spirit of service. We shall strive to accommodate all individuals, communities, organizations, or other participants without regard to their ability to pay or make donations.
[Tolerance]
We require and practice openness and respect towards people whose beliefs are in apparent contradiction to our own.
[Peer Review]
We shall seek the counsel of other communities and elders within the pagan umbrella to help ensure the wholesomeness of our information and educational practices and shall offer counsel when there is need.
Clergy Ethics:
A TREATISE FOR PAGAN
CLERGY
PART I
With the founding of group initially as a coven and then growing into a
fully fledged group in it’s own right namely „Order of the Circle of Stones“, the
need was realized to create a document that will serve as a guide for those
individuals entering into the role of clergy. (For ease of reading Order of the
Circle of Stones will be referred to as COS within this document)
This document forming part of a larger manual relating to the traditions and method of operation of the group stands as an individual document and is not dependant on the rest of the larger document in context.
The content is intended as a guide to clergy of COS and is not to be seen as a instructive manual for any other group or coven outside of the COS group.
For the succesfull operations of the group and expected services to be rendered to the communty by the group and the Clergy members of the group there is a need for a document such as this in order to gain a guideline that should be adhered to in order to sustain COS as an organization of integrity and commitment to the chosen path.
Paganism is far from being an organized religion and most of us want it to remain exactly that way. Paganism is more a spiritual movement, formed of autonomous individuals, small and large groups who interact and commune within what is regarded sacred. COS is simply adopting this document in respect to the clergy members, office bearers and affiliated covens to the groups tructure.
Who can be regarded as COS clergy?
If
you are a High Priestess or High Priest, an Elder or a Teacher within your
autonomous COS community or afiliated community you may regard yourself as part
of the COS Pagan Clergy. This manual is being written for your use.
This handbook is also intended for those who wish to become clergy members of
the group. It is not an attempt to remove individuality in group or personal
autonomy, but is merely the bouquet of standards and guidelines of COS
expectaions as well as knowing how to cope with the various situations,
personalities and situations which are bound to arise.
I would like you to embrace this treatise in the very same manner that it was
written. In a spirit of autonomy and with the ideal of freedom at heart.
Let the God/Goddess within You guide you to EXCELLENCE!
PART II
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CLERGY?
A
Pagan Priestess / Priestess is more than just a person who presides over religious
rites, more than one who is a charismatic leader; they are the Spiritual Mother
and Father of many. A person of strength and morals, who leads by example and
who is in control and capable of comforting, advising and blessing, capable of
compassion, of acting out in truth and righteousness. There is no moral
depravity in a Priestess / Priest of the Goddess for through their lives they
honour the Lord and Lady, as well as every sentient being on Earth, the
Seasons, the Cosmos and the Tradition.
Their roles is one of support, guidance, teaching, of healing and of building
up character. Responsible adults who
leads by example and who enhances the inner strengths of their spiritual family
and each and every individual therein.
A true dedicated servant of the Goddess, a representative of the Gods and our
Pagan Path to the public at large. Their lives is public but shrouded in
mystery. They know well every heart, the past, the present and future all
rolled into one and sees it all as one inseparable manifestation of life,
embracing it without prejudice or judgement.
In the roles of spiritual authority vested in them by the group they
lead/teach, clergy are called upon to counsel group members in times of crisis,
to preside over significant rites of passage, to bless and consecrate people,
things and places, to settle disputes, help folk with addictions, contribute
towards resolving situations, assist people dealing with trouble and pain, even
to intervene in group politics and take the Pagan voice to the public at large.
It is imperative that clergy serving our very diverse Pagan community know how
to conduct rites and rituals in a manner that portrays the level of wisdom and
knowledge expected and that is conducive to tof passage in an
interdenominational manner and we would very muce upliftment of the community.
Part 3 of the Treatise for Pagan Clergy
SUGGESTED CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PAGAN
CLERGY
I) Preamble
Pagan Clergy
should ideally uphold Pagan values and principles. COS’s Code of Conduct is a
set of standards for conduct for Clergy which should be applied in certain
determined situations in order to protect group members as well as clergy
members themselves.
This Code of Conduct is not prescriptive or restrictive. It applies to all
clergy and laity that serve their autonomous communities and who desire to use
it as a guideline and as a set of acceptable norms and standards of conduct
within the Pagan Community as well as the community at large.
II) Responsibility
The public
and private conduct of Pagan Clergy can inspire and motivate people, but
conversely it could also undermine their trust and faith in the Organization,
Clans, Trads or Covens. Pagan Clergy have the sacrosanct duty to respect their
noble calling and to be aware of their words and actions and how these can and
will affect other Pagans who look up to them for advice, guidance and for an
example to follow.
Pagan Clergy, who are members of COS, should responsibly adhere to a set of
personal principles which are not in contradiction with the COS’s code of
Principles, which respect its aims and its vision and which comply with the Law
of our Country.
III) Confidentiality
Under NO
circumstances should there be any disclosure of information (direct or
indirect) divulged in confidence to a member of the COS Clergy by another
member of the Council, their own Clans or Traditions as well as the public at
large. We uphold the value of Honour.
IV) Clerical Standards
This is the
Code of Conduct for COS Clergy when acting as Counselors and Spiritual Mentors:
1 In acting as Counselors and Spiritual Advisors Clergy must not display
prejudice or bias, respecting the rights of community members whilst being
focused on advancing the welfare of every person involved in the matter at
hand.
1.1 COS Clergy should not venture beyond their personal competence in
counseling but should rather refer the troubled individual to a competent professional.
1.2 Clergy should ideally not enter a counseling relationship with a member of
the community with whom they have had a pre-existing relationship (lover,
estranged friend, ex-wife, etc.)
1.3 Clergy should not record (audiotape or videotape) the counseling sessions.
This is not deemed to be an ethical practice.
1.4 Clergy should never become sexually intimate with those whom they counsel.
This includes consensual and nonconsensual contact as well as inappropriate
sexual commentaries that could eventually lead to misunderstandings and more
serious accusations being leveled at the Member of Clergy.
1.5 Clergy should establish and maintain clear, appropriate boundaries in all
mentoring, counseling and counseling-related relationships. Setting healthy
boundaries reinforces the definition of the roles and does not encourage
spilling over into undesired modes of behaviour.
1.6 Clergy should ideally avoid all physical contact (i.e., touching, hugging,
holding, slapping, prodding, etc.) as these gestures can easily be misconstrued
as romantic or sexual overtures. A brief hug at greeting and parting times is the
accepted norm, but anything outside of that should be avoided for the sake of
correctness.
1.7 Counseling sessions should be conducted in an appropriate place and at an
appropriate time.
1.7.1 No sessions should be conducted in private living quarters. A room
designated for this purpose, a quiet corner in the garden, sitting across one
another around a living room table would all be viewed as acceptable environs
for mentoring or counseling sessions.
1.7.2 Sessions should not be held at places or times that would tend to cause
confusion about the nature of the relationship for the person being counseled
or for the observers. We might not give “a rats arse” (importance) to the
“wagging tongues”, but unfortunately gossip affects even those not directly involved
in the “vicenda”. Run things by the book to avoid upsets.
1.8 Clergy should maintain log book records of the times, places and persons
counseled as well as a brief detail of matters discussed or taught.
Responsibility, accountability and professionalism should be the goals of every
spiritual leader and teacher.
2. Confidentiality
Clergy
Members should remember that information disclosed during counseling or
spiritual advising sessions should be held in the strictest confidence
possible.
2.1 Information transpiring from the session is strictly confidential, except
if it be of a compromising nature and required by the authorities/law to solve
a crime or shed light in some legal situation. This obviously refers to
incidents where criminal implications are the reality you have to deal with.
2.1.1. If there is clear and imminent danger to the counseled person or those
around him/her the Clergy member should then only disclose the information
pertinent to the matter at hand and which is considered vital for the
protection of the parties affected as well as to prevent further harm from
happening. Clergy should also refrain from giving advice which involves
breeching of the Law of our Country.
2.1.2. In the rare event that disclosure is required, and where feasible,
Clergy members should inform and warn the person being counseled about the need
for disclosure and the potential consequences of this disclosure.
2.2. Clergy Members should discuss the nature of confidentiality and its limits
with each person before counseling them. This gives the individual the freedom
to go ahead with the counseling or to opt for not discussing matters with
anyone.
2.3 While counseling a minor, if a Clergy Member discovers that 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
child’s health and wellbeing, the Counselor or Spiritual Director should:
• Attempt to secure written consent from the minor for the specific disclosure.
• If consent is not given, disclose only the information necessary to protect
the health and well being of the minor and nothing more. Remember, your word is
your bond.
3. Sexual Conduct
Clergy
Members should never take the liberty of exploiting those who have placed their
trust and faith in them, for sexual gain or any form of services and/or
intimacy. Avoid any actions that could be interpreted as "taking advantage
of" others.
3.1 Clergy Members should not allow any of their group members to exploit
another person for sexual purposes or any other purpose at all.
3.2 Allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct should always be taken
seriously and reported to the appropriate person and to civil authorities if
the situation involves a minor or dependent individual.
4. No Harassment
Members of
the Clergy should not engage in physical, psychological, written, or verbal
harassment of members of the Pagan Community over which they preside. They
should create a professional environment which is free from any form of abuse
whatsoever. COS members will not be verbally, psychologically, sexually,
financially or physically intimidated or harassed.
4.1 Allegations of any form of harassment and or abuse should be regarded as a
serious matter and be reported immediately to the authorities. If you are
experiencing difficulty you may contact the COS council for advice on how to
address the matter and what authority to contact. Please remember, the COS’s
Executive, may be called upon for advice, but they cannot and will not be able
to take the place of the correct legal entity. All Members should also remember
that false accusations and cases of libel and crimen injuria are punishable by
Law.
5 Community/Organizational Records
5.1 The COS’s
Community/Organizational Records and personal information contained in the
Organization’s records will be kept confidential in order to preserve the
anonymity of the individuals.
5.2 Only members who are authorized to access the records and supervise their
use shall handle the said records. The Members privacy is of paramount
importance and will be protected at all times.
5.3 The bank statements and financial records of the Organization will be
controlled by the Fiduciary Members, be audited by an independent Chartered Accountant
and be submitted to SARS. A resume will be publicly disclosed at the Annual
General Meeting of COS.
5.4 Individual contribution records of the organization shall be regarded as
private and shall be maintained in strictest confidence. A mention of their
sponsorship, unless otherwise requested, will be made on the Sponsors page on the
COS site.
6. Reporting Ethical or Professional Misconduct
Members of
organizations ordinarily give themselves the duty to report their own ethical
or professional misconduct and the misconduct of others. Given the mercenary
side of human nature and the dispersed nature of the Council Members
themselves, the inability to investigate with accuracy or validity of the
allegations, the Council will not interfere with the sacrosanct right to
autonomy of groups. The Council serves primarily as an advisory body. Where
hard evidence is provided, the Council may address the matter by writing to the
person(s) who stand accused of abuse or misconduct or to address the Community involved
in order to offer its assistance and guidance in finding an amiable solution to
the matter at hand or suggest how they can go about reporting the matter to the
relevant authorities.
6.1 The COS Executive suggests that its Members must hold each other
accountable for maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards.
6.2 Where uncertainty and doubt arise upon investigating a situation of
misconduct and in the case of failure to determine whether a situation or
course of conduct violates the Code of Conduct or moral and ethical principles,
consult with (in this order):
• Your Community Elders
• The COS Executive
6.3When
it is evident that a member has violated the Code of Conduct report the issue
immediately. Bear in mind that the rule of confidentiality applies here too.
7. Administration
The Executive
Elders of COS shall administer the day to day operations of the group.
7.1 No Member of the Executive or Clergy is to use his or her position to
exercise unreasonable or inappropriate power and authority and thereby take
advantage of people who have placed their trust and spiritual well-being in
their hands.
8. Member’s Well-being
COS Clergy
Members have the duty to be responsible for their own spiritual, physical,
mental, and emotional health.
8.1 Members should be aware of warning signs that indicate potential problems
with their own spiritual, physical, mental, and/or emotional health and take
the necessary steps to address the problem at hand.
8.2 Members should seek help immediately whenever they notice behavioral or
emotional warning signs in their own professional and/or personal lives. A
withdrawal period may be in order if this be the case.
8.3 Members must address their own spiritual needs. Support from a Spiritual
Director is highly recommended.
8.4 Inappropriate or illegal use of alcohol and drugs is ill advised.
9. Guidelines for Pagan Clergy
• Treat
everyone with dignity and respect, patience, understanding, courtesy and
consideration. Refrain from publicly engaging in actions which will afford you
the reputation of someone who takes advantage, discriminates, bullies or abuses
others.
• Do not abuse alcohol or any form of medication or do community work whilst
under the influence
• Do not use, possess, or be under the influence of illegal substances or
drugs.
• Avoid ambiguous situations, for example being alone with a child or teenager.
• Use positive reinforcement rather than criticism, competition, or comparison
when working with children and/or less mature members of your communities.
• Do not employ corporal punishment of any sorts, humiliate, use profanities,
pressure, or frighten a member of the Pagan Community.
• Refuse to accept expensive gifts or large sums of money from anyone.
• Cooperate fully in any investigation in case of alleged misconduct.
• Do not humiliate or ridicule another member of the Community.
• Keep close watch over your own mental, emotional and psychological well-being
and take timeous action if you start “falling apart” due to stress or pressures
of the position in which you’ve chosen to serve. Be responsible. Get help, get
yourself together and then return to the line of duty.