These include such things as confidentiality, deception and dishonesty, effort to subvert a congregation to withdraw from conference, physical and emotional abuse, acts of sexual abuse, behaviors that undermine the service of another minister, major deviations from Christian and Mennonite teachings, and loss of accountability to bodies granting credential for ministry. These violations are given as reason for investigating accusations and possible discipline on credentials keeping in mind response of the minister and the redeeming grace of God. Ministers who tend not be accountable to other ministers or who think themselves doing ministry in isolation become quite vulnerable in many areas of ministry. I trust ministers whose credentials are held by ACC see their credential as a trust granted by the conference, affirmed by the congregation and the sense of call by God. Violating ethical standards breaks trust in the faith community and weakens the office of ministry, whether as pastor or counselor.
Ministers are never above temptation to fall into traps.
We become most vulnerable when we forget to establish appropriate boundaries and keep the other person's best interest in mind at all times.