Jun
09
2008
Rick Warren’s 10 Commandments For Ministry Staff
In order to provide for integrity in ministry, Rick Warren issues 10 commandments for the staff at Saddleback:
1. Thou shalt not go to lunch alone with the opposite sex.*
2. Thou shalt not have the opposite sex pick you up or drive you places when it is just the two of you.*
3. Thou shalt not kiss any attender of the opposite sex or show affection that could be questioned.*
4. Thou shalt not visit the opposite sex alone at home.*
5. Thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex alone at the office, and thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex more than once without that person’s mate. Refer them.
6. Thou shalt not discuss detailed sexual problems with the opposite sex in counseling. Refer them.
7. Thou shalt not discuss your marriage problems with an attender of the opposite sex.
8. Thou shalt be careful in answering emails, instant messages, chatrooms, cards or letters from the opposite sex.
9. Thou shalt make your co-worker your protective ally.
10. Thou shalt pray for the integrity of other staff members.
[*The first four do not apply to unmarried staff.]
(HT: Steve Dumas)
4 Comments
Great list! And not only for church staff but for all. My husband who works in the financial world has turned away accounts that would require innocent proximity of some of the activities on this list. As a wife it has made me feel greatly secure.
I might not agree with everything Rick Warren says, but I’d have to say he’s right on the money with these guidelines! Too bad all Christian workers don’t heed this advice.
I will agree with Cindy. Not a big Rick Warren fan. I will have to admit that these are excellent guidlines that all Christians should adhere to in the workplace and in our friendships as well.
To some extent a few of these are common sense/pragmatism.
But some are complete bunk. There are way too many pastors giving up their pastoral duties over legalistic fears. You cannot “Refer” the sheep. Come on. Too many single women, divorced/abandoned mothers, widows, etc… need male leadership from the church. You can’t just give up your responsibility.
But the worst of the list is #9 – “Thou shalt make your co-worker your protective ally” — That is total role reversal. I’ve been in a church where the elders and pastors wives were like guard dogs. The elders are supposed to be the ones protecting the sheep from the wolves. the wives have no qualifications or authority. They’ve never been to seminary and not ordained. Give me a break. I’ve seen poor, oppressed, lonely, desparate women destroyed by other women in the church out of fear and misunderstanding — in the name of “protecting” the leadership. NO. The leadership should be protecting them.
Sorry if this sounds angry. I don’t know anything about your church. But I do now what I’ve witnessed in other churches that follow these practices and it is cruel and unfair to women.