Student and supervisor hold one another to the program s deadlines and do not ask for special treatment in place of planning the year s work. The examples are endless. These ethics also involve major issues. In the realm of covenants and relationships, one of the most fundamental is the use of power. As the student develops as a ministry professional, it is vital that he or she understands and appreciates the ethics of power.
Power is inherent in the role of the minister and in the role of supervisor.
In the field education experience, students should learn how to relate responsibly to a parishioner, a congregant, or a client. As student and supervisor meet, appropriate boundaries will be acknowledged and observed. Business, ecclesial, and sexual relationships carry obvious potential for difficulty. Whenever a role is laden with power, and that power can be wielded unequally, abuses can happen. Money may be awarded without proper accountability and misappropriated.