EASTERN SYNOD
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR PASTORS
IN THE EASTERN SYNOD
NOT UNDER CALL TO A CONGREGATION
No ordained minister shall preach or perform any ministerial act (including parish visitation) within the parish of another pastor except at the latter’s request or consent. Consent implies clear communication with the duly called pastor prior to any arrangements or commitments.
Requests to the duly called pastor for permission to perform ministerial acts should come from the party or parties to be served.
No ordained minister shall visit within the parish or perform ministerial acts at a time of pastoral vacancy without a clearly expressed invitation from the congregational council.
Wherever possible, retired pastors should transfer membership to another congregation upon retirement. Where this is not possible, arrangements between the retired pastor and the congregation served immediately prior to retirement should be worked out in consultation with the Bishop.
Retired pastors are expected to respect and be supportive of the office of the pastor currently under call in the congregation served immediately prior to retirement. In the event of situations requiring intervention, retired clergy, or any other clergy who are members of the congregation, are expected to follow appropriate constitutional procedures in consultation with the Bishop’s office.
Adopted: Eastern Synod Council – November 4, 1999