Confidentiality, Ministers and Church Members

In smart set to clearly identify the richness of confidentiality within the church setting, it is vitally important to define the term, which dismiss mean so many an(prenominal) different things to different people. north Malony defines confidentiality as the act of defend from disclosure that which peerless has been told at a lower place the assumption that it will non be revealed without permission.1 In toll of the relationship amidst ministers and church members, confidentiality whitethorn de outlined as, charge information given by or about an individual(a) in the logical argument of a professional relationship set up and secret from others.2 Ministers ar among those in society whose role necessitates that they are exposed to much much confidential information than others. Confidentiality is interchange to the maintenance of trust between a minister and his congregation.\nThis ruler of professional confidentiality has been recognized for thousands of years. In the Hippocratic Oath the classic physician Hippocrates promised the following: What I may see or hear in the course of treatment or level off outside the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will remark to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about. (cit. Marsden, 3) 3\nConfidentiality is owed evenly to all people crossways the cultural spectrum; mature adults and immature minors, as well as adults who lack the capacity to tell on decisions for themselves. Essentially, we are required to keep the confidences of anyone to whom we owe a concern of care as defined by the all-embracing biblical concept of a live (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:19). The engagement to be confidential may even extend beyond the death of the individual. Joseph E provide states that, It is important, though, for members of the clergy to remember that their legal countenance of silence and their moral avocation of confidentiality are bo th colligate to the dignity and rights of those who have confided in ...