For Your Professional Ethics Edification

Once a month the ACPE Professional Ethics Commission (PEC) posts a couple of statements from our Code of Professional Ethics for ACPE Members.  Each posting is accompanied by a brief personal reflection from a commissioner of the PEC sharing some ways this person lives these commitments*. September’s statements are:

   In conducting business matters, ACPE members:

1. Distinguish private opinions from those of ACPE, their faith group or profession in all publicity, public announcements, or publications.
2. Accurately describe the ACPE center, pastoral services, and educational programs. All statements in advertising, catalogs, publications, recruiting, and academic calendars shall be accurate at the time of publication. Publications advertising a center’s programs shall include the type(s) and level(s) of education offered and the ACPE address, telephone number and website address.
3. Accurately describe program expectations, including time requirements, in the admission process for CPE programs.

For September, Julie Hanada, ACPE Certified Educator, Seattle, WA, comments:

These three codes model for students ethical and professional behavior and create a sense of trust of the learning environment. Students may be learning how to embrace their new roles and identity as a religious and spiritual leader or authority. When we distinguish private opinions from the positions of the organizations of which we are a part, we model for students’ professionalism, integrity, and personal and professional boundaries. Updating our program information (and ACPE’s new address) in our handbooks, and ensuring our institution’s websites are updated, does take some time, and perhaps money if we have brochures printed. Accurately describing our programs, clinical environments, schedules and time requirements does not ensure applicants read, or remember the information. However, many look for this information as they discern which programs to submit their applications. Applicants need to feel they are entering into a learning environment where information is freely shared. This can model and foster honesty and transparency. It can reduce confusion, misunderstandings, and feelings of distrust. It can feel reassuring, and who wouldn’t want that as they embark on this CPE journey?

This article concludes the Professional Ethics Commission’s series focusing on the Code of Professional Ethics for ACPE Members, which began September 2020. The previous articles will be compiled and available on the ACPE website in the near future. Starting next month our commissioners will be writing on a variety of topics, including the complaint process and addressing frequently asked questions of commissioners. If you have a topic suggestion, please feel free to contact me at hanadajulie@gmail.com.

*Every situation is unique, and no member should act based solely on the comments in the article but to base action on an independent review of the ethical standards applicable to his/her situation.