what makes the clergy, professional?
Jan 22nd, 2009 by Sade
What makes the clergy, professional then? Before replying to this question, we should firstly give an answer to the question, what makes a professional, professional? Although there is no single answer to it, various attempt to locate some key marks and their implications for professional ethics have been made. Noyce (1988) suggests that what makes a professional, professional is actually the promise that he or she has made to the public. By a promise-making act, a professional accepts his or her professional role
. People may then expect certain commitment and competence from a professional. Some of those expectations can be found in the code of ethics of the professions. But all the discussions regarding various ethical dilemmas and their complexities should depart from these promises.
Now what does the clergy promise to the public? Noyce (1988) offers four promises every clergy makes to the public.
First, in the process of ordination, the clergy engages in a promise-making commitment to represent the universal church in practicing their profession. The clergy enters a covenant relationship in ordination which binds the ordaining church body and the clergy to a promise of competence and quality in ministry.
Second, through the ordaining process, the ecclesiastical body and the clergy enter a covenant promise to the public towards integrity in worship. While the clergy has some responsibility for experimentation, innovations and creative self-expression, the promise made at ordination is to uphold the traditions of the church in worship.
Third, the clergy enters a promise-making commitment to be competent in preaching and teaching ministry. Implicit in this promise is the commitment to continued study and reflecting the faith of the church with a view towards offering quality and effective performance of these duties.
Lastly, the clergy has the responsibility to reflect Jesus Christ’s compassion towards others. As the ambassador of Christ through the ministry of the Church, the clergy makes a promise to imitate and as much as possible embody something of the compassion of Jesus Christ.
In sum, the professional professes; he or she makes promises. In this regard, the clergy should at least know the answer to the question, what have I promised to the public?
