Integrity Series Finale

A blonde was weed-eating her yard and accidentally cut off the tail of her cat which was hiding in the grass. She rushed her cat, along with the tail over To WAL-MART!! Why WAL-MART you say??? HELLOOOOOOOOO!!! WAL-MART is the largest retailer in the world!!!
that ofcourse has nothing to do with my sermon today
I just wanted to start with something funny

Today we conclude the sermon series …
INTEGRITY: CREATING HEALTHY BOUNDARIES
Where we have been:
NEVER CONSIDER yourself ABOVE TEMPTATION
Keep a close watch on your spiritual temperature
maintain your home
develop healthy outlets for emotional energy
GUARD your MIND
REMEMBER THE DAMAGING CONSEQUENCES OF MORAL FAILURE

This week
Let’s take some necessary precautions to protect ourselves and others, let’s truly create healthy boundaries
not just talk about integrity
actually practice integrity
My job is to be the example, the shepherd goes before the sheep showing them the way
I need To actually practice what I preach
SO in that effort
I am covenanting with all of you this morning
This is my covenant of clergy ethics
It can be found at ag.org

This covenant calls Assemblies of God ministers to commit to God and the congregations they serve to be faithful to the biblical sexual ethic of fidelity in marriage or celibacy in singleness. Because integrity is foundational to Christian life and ministry…
Let’s begin with the theological foundation
Human sexuality is a good gift of God through which we become partners with God’s creative intent for humanity as found in Genesis chapter 1…
Faithful sexual practice expresses the loving commitment of marriage and embodies the mutual intimacy between husband and wife as found in Genesis chapter 2…
When we misuse our sexuality, God’s creative intent is supplanted by destructive consequences. Raised to the status of idol, the good gift of sexuality mutates into the power of exploitation, selfishness, anger and domination…
When sexual sin and abuse occur, Christian practice calls us to engage the work of justice, reconciliation, and healing. The work of justice involves repentance, restitution, and restoration. Justice builds the foundation for reconciliation by establishing conditions in which alienated and injured parties have the opportunity to heal. Healing can occur when the possibilities of justice and reconciliation are realized…
The relationship between ministers and congregants is based upon trust. In difficult times, church members turn to ministers for comfort, support, guidance, and assurance, expecting the minister to act as pastor, shepherd, counselor, and friend. Church members trust ministers never to take advantage of them or to manipulate them, especially when they are most vulnerable…

The purposes of a covenant of ethics for ministers are threefold: 1. To provide a framework for upholding integrity among ministers; 2. to support and protect ministers by defining ethical norms; and 3. to establish a process for achieving justice, reconciliation, and healing…
The Definitions of sexual misconduct by ministers:
…sexual relations outside of marriage
…unwanted or inappropriate physical contact
…all other sexually oriented or suggestive behaviors; such as overt and covert seductive speech and gestures
…the use of pornography
Preamble
As a disciple of Jesus Christ, called by God to proclaim the gospel and gifted by the Spirit to minister to the church, I dedicate myself to conduct my ministry according to the ethical guidelines and principles set forth in Scripture and this covenant, in order that my ministry may be acceptable to God, my service beneficial to the Christian community, and my life a witness to the world…

Covenant
As a minister called to serve God and God’s people, I commit myself to the following norms of ethical conduct, for which I am accountable to God, to my colleagues in ministry, and to the church in which I serve…RRAG
I will demonstrate integrity in ministry by understanding, respecting, and observing the boundaries of sexual misconduct as just defined…
I will nurture my physical, emotional, and spiritual health, maintain enriching friendships, and build strong relationships with my spouse and family…
I will develop relationships with God, my spouse, and close friends who encourage accountability and protect against temptation…
I will recognize the special power afforded me in the pastoral office by never abusing that power in ways that violate the personhood of another human being, by assuming responsibility for maintaining proper boundaries in church staff/church member relationships, and by acknowledging that the congregant may be in a vulnerable position…
I will avoid all forms of exploitation and/ or harassment in my professional and social relationships, even if others invite such behavior or involvement…
I will exercise good judgment in professional and private conduct by avoiding situations that create the appearance of evil…
I will assume responsibility to report any reliable evidence of misconduct by another minister to the appropriate person or committee…
I will submit to the policies and procedures of the church if an allegation of misconduct has been made, recognizing the importance of justice and due process procedures…
To conclude this covenant
As I seek to fulfill my responsibilities as a minister, I will strive to embody servant-leadership in all my relationships and to pattern my life and ministry after the example of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…
I say amen
will you bless this covenant by responding with an amen

Our new superintendent for the Oregon Network of the AG has shared his 7 accountability questions that he submits to with his accountability partners…
I wanted to share it with you
If you would like to practice this amazing accountability
I will post the questions on my blog
cause you probably can’t jot them down quick enough as I share them
1. Have you been with someone of the opposite sex anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
4. Have you spend adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
5. Have you given priority time to your family?
6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
7. Have you just lied to me?

Psalm 101:1-8
I will sing of your love and justice. I will praise you, LORD, with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life – when will you come to may aid? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all crooked dealings; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride. I will keep a protective eye on the godly, so they may dwell with me in safety. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me. I will not allow deceivers to serve me, and liars will not be allowed to enter my presence. My daily task will be to ferret out criminals and free the city of the LORD from their grip…
How’s that for a statement of integrity

Minister Joe Wright has guts he was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate with prayer, listen to what he prayed as senators left the room in protest…
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!"