The following is my attempt to put into writing some sense of the nebulous ideas of ethics on which I live my life. It’s merely a guideline, and subject to change, but I think it’s a suitable starting point for the kind of ideals any member of the priesthood ought to strive for.
Many of these ideas are applicable to other people, but this essay is targeted at clergy members.
You will fail to live up to these principles perfectly. No one is perfect. But it’s something to strive for, and I think all priesthood should be at least reasonably proficient in these areas.
Community
The highest focus of priesthood must be on the community. It is vitally important that any clergy member live their life in a way which centers the needs of their community and its members, over their own desires. Selfishness, ambition, greed, and laziness have no place in the life of a member of priesthood.
It is our obligation to meet the needs of our community to the best of our ability, whatever those needs may be. We are also obligated to balance self care with those needs. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and so you must keep your own cup full.
Our obligation extends even to members of the community who we may not like or get along with. Personal grievances can’t get in the way of our work. While we need to keep the community safe from people who might harm others or disrupt events, we need not to exclude anyone for personal reasons. This most emphatically does not mean being a doormat or allowing abusive or exploitative people to take advantage of us just because they claim to be part of our community. Balance in all things.
Confidentiality
I have taken an oath of confidentiality to my gods, not unlike that of Catholic priests with confession. As a pastoral counselor, anything that is told to me in confidence will be kept in confidence. This helps people to unburden themselves, knowing that their secrets remain safe with me.
Catholic priests taking confession are protected by US law, and cannot be compelled to break confidentiality for any reason, not even by a court order. I don’t think I technically have that protection, yet. But if I was ever ordered by a court to break confidence, I would fight for that right to confidentiality, and under no circumstances would I break that oath.
The only situation under which I share privileged information is in seeking counsel from a confidante of my own under similar conditions.
Self Control
This is the most challenging of my expectations for myself. In Hellenismos, Σοφροσυνη (Sophrosyne or Sophrosune) is the practice of self control, through practices like meditation and shadow work.
Patience is a vitally important skill for any member of priesthood. People come to us seeking council when they are at their worst. While we shouldn’t accept abuse, we must respond with patience and compassion when establishing boundaries.
Hospitality
As a follower of Hellenismos, I follow the Hellenic principle of Ξενια (Xenia), which translates as “hospitality.” The guest/host contract. I am expected to welcome anyone who comes with good intent, and share with all visitors the best of whatever I have to offer. All guests in my space are treated with respect and kindness. I make sure their needs are met and that they are safe.
This contract goes both ways. The guest is expected to respect the host’s space, property, and self.
As priesthood, we should welcome and support everyone who wishes to be a part of our community.
Love of the Gods
The purpose of all priesthood is to serve the gods, and to protect and guide their people. It is not enough to be obedient to the gods or to any scripture of any religion. The path of priesthood requires love for the gods, and for their people.
In Hellenismos there are two related concepts:
Εὐσέβεια (Eusebia) can be translated as ‘reverence’ or ‘piety,’ and encompasses the idea of having a sense of duty and loyalty to the gods.
χάρις (Kharis) is most often translated as ‘grace,’ and is translated as such in the Christian Bible. As in ‘by the grace of God.’ This is the love and patience which the gods have for us in spite of our flaws and failings, and which we should reciprocate. The term can also be translated as “unconditional love.”
Pursuit of Understanding
We are never done learning. The pursuit of knowledge and wisdom is noble for its own sake. To represent the gods well, we must be open to new ideas, and constantly striving to broaden our understanding of the world around us, and the world within us.
We must remain humble in this pursuit, and never think that we have learned all we need to know, or that our studies make us better than anyone else. Every person, and every thing which exists has something to teach us. In the words of Socrates, “All I know is that I know nothing.”
It’s also important that we try to help others along the path who also are seeking understanding.
Right Action
The Greek term Ethike Arete literally translates to “moral excellence,” but is more complex than that. My personal interpretation, which may vary from other people’s, is that we are required to do what we feel is right in every situation. Not only must we never commit an act which we know to be wrong or unethical, but we also must assess every situation as unique and be able to make a decision of what is right in that moment, regardless of any more general principles or rules. In short, every rule or law has exceptions, including the ones laid out above, and we must be prepared to break the rules when they would prevent right action.
In short, no code will ever predict in advance what will be right in every situation. It can’t be done. All we can do is create guidelines, which must be ready to bend and change. There’s no way to always know what the right thing to do will be, until you’re actually in the moment. We must be ready to make moral judgments about our own choices in any given moment, and unfailingly do what we believe to be right.
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