ETHICS FOR CAMPUS MINISTRY
Campus ministries and their staff have a unique responsibility to enhance the presence and the ministry of the church within higher education and to influence the future of the church and society with the message of the Gospel.   Campus ministries and their staff are to provide “a faithful witness to the truth, love, and justice of God, as expressed in Jesus Christ, in the higher education community in this country and around the world.”  We believe that Jesus Christ alone is Lord of the conscience and profess the dignity of all individuals.  We understand the role of education to be central to our calling as Christians.

In Covenant with Texas A&M Unversity (from CMA Code of Ethics), United Campus Ministry promises:

1. To respect the values of all people regardless of religious background and we affirm the right of every person to retain his/her own belief system, to privacy, to be left alone, to survey other belief options, and to make their own decisions in freedom.
2. To foster an atmosphere of religious tolerance within the TAMU community and disavow behaviors which seek to promote one religion by publicly demeaning another.
3. To defend the human dignity and freedom of all people and disagree with coercive techniques or manipulative appeals intended to bypass one’s right to critical thinking.
4. To affirm the right of religious groups to speak freely about their beliefs and faith in a manner consistent with the solicitation policies of TAMU and this CMA Code of Ethics.
5. To promote openness and honesty among religious groups and to state clearly on all printed material and advertisements the names of all sponsoring groups of any religious activity we organize within the TAMU community.
6. To express both unity and diversity among our religious communities and to work, whenever possible, with other religious groups within the TAMU community to serve the needs of all students, faculty, administrators and staff.
7. To affirm the importance of religious belief and practice in the educational formation of students and to work with administration, faculty and staff to fulfill the educational goals of the university.
8. To promote a relationship of mutual respect with TAMU for the benefit of the students served by both the Campus Ministers Association and TAMU and to respect the non-sectarian nature of the university, recognizing that it cannot promote any particular religious belief. We therefore agree to conduct our on-campus activities in accordance with university policies.
9. To support the right of every campus ministry (including UCM) NOT to participate in any program that would violate a principle or tenet of their faith.
10. To participate in appropriate professional organizations and to pursue continuing professional education.

As a Minister In Higher Education (from PMHE Code of Ethics) our staff promises to commit:

1. To The Standards Of My Profession.
   I strive for wholeness and excellence in my ministry.  I seek to serve people with energy, intelligence, imagination and love. I seek to form communities shaped by the Gospel and capable of witnessing to God’s Reign and purpose in the world.  Our ministry prepares, celebrates and reflects on God’s redemptive presence in Jesus Christ.
   
2. To Discipline And To Service.
   I promise to my community of faith an active discipleship in the spirit and mission of Jesus as he sought to love, do justice, offer healing, and to speak the truth. We relate with others in ways that respect their dignity as persons and their freedom of conscience without compromising our own beliefs.   I recognize the privileged relationship I have with the people I serve and promise them acceptance and confidentiality. I will give my community of faith dedicated service. I will work hard, given a reasonable job description and work schedule.
3. To The Gospel, The Reformed Tradition And Pastoral Values.
   I look to Scriptures as the unique and authoritative guide. I am committed to Christ who directs me to embody a global perspective, to have a deepening respect for the mystery of life and openness to God’s call to all persons to serve others in response to the love of God.
   We are rooted in the Reformed tradition of which higher education ministry has been an inherent part since 1559. We lift up the values and beliefs about the sovereignty of God over all of life, the goodness of the created world, the value and limitation of reason, a commitment to the moral life, and the call to service. We look to the movement of the Spirit of God throughout the entire human story to promote the value and dignity of the person and the unfolding of the Reign of God in human history.  We are committed to providing a safe and healthy
   environment in which to conduct our ministry.  This environment would be free of any form of harassment.
4. To Be Held Accountable.
   I pray that our church, our community of faith, and my colleagues will support me and challenge me to live out these ethical principles. We believe that any violation of these principles needs to be handled on the local level through the due process procedures available to the person or persons in question.