The Interfaith code of ethics
To promote integrity in our training and practice, the following code of ethics has been established for staff, students and ministers of the Interfaith Seminary. Together, we dedicate ourselves to excellence in our service, and commit ourselves to the following precepts:
Remembering our Unity; Honouring our Uniqueness
As we embrace the universal truth that resides in all authentic religions and spiritual paths, we agree to live by our vision of inclusiveness. We aim to keep our hearts and minds open to everyone, celebrating difference but not separation. We refuse to marginalise people on the basis of age, state of health, race, gender, nationality, religion, sexuality, economic status or any other irrelevant distinction.
Walking our talk
We understand the importance of practicing what we preach, and agree to uphold the ethical and practical principles of the spiritual path we follow, that our service may be in integrity. While our various paths may seem very different, even contradictory, we recognise the underlying principles and goals are essentially similar – all emphasise the importance of honesty, respecting self and others, non-stealing and non-harming. Whatever our beliefs, we will encourage this common spirit we share to permeate all our activity.
Celebrating honesty
Knowing that truthfulness brings freedom, we aim to cultivate conscious and clean communication. We aim to speak and listen as truly as we can, being mindful that our words are kind, true and useful. We especially commit ourselves to refraining from gossip, which diminishes everyone associated with it and is not compatible with our intent to love.
Protecting clarity
Since we value purity of awareness, we support each other in exercising maturity over the ingestion of intoxicant or mind-altering substances. Before or during seminary classes, retreats and functions, we will avoid using such substances, which would interfere with our purpose.
Honouring physical boundaries
In order to create safe space for the opening of our hearts and minds, we aim to be sensitive and respectful in expressing physical affection. Mindful of the power our position as teacher, counsellor or minister may bring, and that a sexual relationship between a teacher and student, spiritual counsellor and client is confusing and inappropriate, we undertake to refuse absolutely sexual relationships with students or clients. Where this shows signs of developing, we will seek immediate supervision to find the best way forward for all concerned.
Representing ourselves accurately
Since we strive for integrity, we understand the importance of not misleading others about the services we can offer, and not exaggerating our professional achievements. We will respect contributions form elsewhere by acknowledging the source of our materials and the rights of the authors. Further, we commit ourselves to open and just dealings in all of our financial transactions.
Maintaining confidentiality
We honour the sacred trust between a spiritual counsellor and a client, between a minister and the community served, and promise to hold any personal information in the strictest confidence. The same applies to 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, only identifying the issues not the individuals concerned. On the rare occasions we see a need to break confidentiality, we will first aim to encourage the individual themselves to share information that could be in their best interest to disclose.
Valuing support and supervision
We acknowledge the need for supervision and guidance beyond our years of study at the Interfaith Seminary. We agree to draw from our community for support, guidance, and continued learning. Where situations arise in our own ministries and counselling practices that challenge our personal judgment and stretch our professional skills, we will seek both peer support and specialist supervision. We commit to regular supervision of our spiritual counselling work.
Committed to Continued Awakening
We understand that our spiritual unfolding is an ongoing process, and dedicate ourselves to continually deepening our personal spiritual practice that our service may be grounded in an authentic and evolving spiritual life. Our commitment to service demands that we remain continually open to new information, new encounters, new ways of looking at ourselves, and a willingness to move with our discoveries.
Safeguarding the Whole
As Ministers and students of the Interfaith Seminary, we agree to do all that we can to live and work by these precepts. We appreciate however, that there will be times where in our humanness, we will sometimes miss the mark. Knowing that we all have blind spots, we recognise how important community feedback is. We commit where necessary, to lovingly call to attention either one to one or through our peer group any issue that may place another in danger or compromise the good reputation of Interfaith Ministers and Spiritual Counsellors - however difficult this may seem. We commit to addressing concerns without fear in the atmosphere of compassion, honesty and fairness to all that the Interfaith Seminary embodies.