Module 09 — Pastoral Care, Boundaries, and Clergy Ethics

Workload: Approximately 40 hours  |  Section: Diaconal Ministry in Practice

This module forms you in pastoral presence, limits, confidentiality, referral, humility, and ethical conduct. It is not the safeguarding course — safeguarding remains a separate requirement, tracked outside the LDM. This module addresses the general pastoral ethics and limits that credible diaconal ministry requires, grounded in the course’s moral theology rather than policy compliance alone.

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Practise pastoral presence before advice-giving.
• Recognise emotional, relational, financial, digital, and liturgical limits.
• Explain confidentiality, discretion, and appropriate record awareness.
• Identify risks of clericalism, dependency, manipulation, and spiritual abuse.
• Apply the course’s moral teaching to diaconal practice and personal conduct.
• Create a personal Code of Conduct for ministry.

What this module covers

The course’s teaching on the theological and cardinal virtues, the Gospel, the Decalogue, conscience and human dignity informs pastoral practice here. Prudence guides judgement, justice protects fair dealing, fortitude sustains difficult action, and temperance keeps relationships accountable. Teaching on reconciliation, correction and repair helps you write a personal Code of Conduct grounded in moral formation.

Required and supporting resources

• Institute pastoral presence teaching and limits and accountability teaching — required original course material and supplied CPDV readings.
• Virtues and moral formation in pastoral practice — the course’s teaching applied to your conduct.
• Confession, correction and repair — required Institute teaching.
• Personal Code of Conduct guidance and the separate submission and marking criteria.
• Confidentiality, records and referral — required teaching on accountable care; consult the authorised local process for specific duties.
• The Care of Souls, Harold L. Senkbeil — supplementary, copyrighted, link only and not assessed. Read its Lutheran account of pastoral office alongside the Institute’s teaching on distinct ministerial orders.
• Pray for the Flock, Brian Croft and Ryan Fullerton — supplementary, copyrighted, link only and not assessed. Its Baptist pastoral setting does not determine the Institute’s sacramental or ministerial practice.
• From Social Media to Social Ministry, Nona Jones — supplementary, copyrighted, link only and not assessed. Compare its digital discipleship approach with the course’s confidentiality and accountable-care principles.

Further reading is strongly encouraged. No purchase is required; all assessed teaching and Scripture are supplied in the course.

Scripture and StepBible work

• Study shepherding and care texts: John 10; 1 Peter 5; Acts 20; Psalm 23; Galatians 6.
• Distinguish pastoral care from control, domination, or status-seeking.
• Prepare a brief biblical reflection on humility in ministry.

Assessment and evidence

The confidentiality and limits quiz assesses Units 9.2–9.3 only: 20 questions drawn from a bank of 60, 25 minutes, 80% to pass and two attempts. Your highest grade counts. Explanatory feedback is available after submission; the assessed scope excludes supplementary resources and local reporting rules.

• Pastoral case study.
• Confidentiality and limits scenario quiz.
• Personal Code of Conduct, approximately 1,000 words, grounded in the course’s moral teaching.
• Separate checkpoint: safeguarding course completion evidence must be recorded outside the Licentiate in Diaconal Ministry before public ministry, practicum, or ordination review.

Monthly cohort discussion

“Why are limits part of love?”

To complete this module, you will need to:

• Case study submitted.
• Scenario quiz passed with at least 80%.
• Personal Code of Conduct submitted.
• Cohort discussion with a minimum of two people completed and confirmed by the tutor. Safeguarding clearance remains a separate requirement before public ministry, practicum or ordination review.