While the complexity of some pastoral relationships is acknowledged, clergy are to avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of parishioners. All humans are sexual beings. They cannot and should not try to separate their sexuality from the rest of their being. Sexual behavior with parishioners is unethical, even when a parishioner invites or consents to such behavior or involvement. Sexual behavior is defined as but not limited to all forms of overt and covert seductive speech, gestures and actions, as well as physical contact of a sexual nature.
Sexual harassment is always unethical.
Harassment is defined as but not limited to repeated unwelcome comments, gestures or physical contacts of a sexual nature. D. Clergy are also expected not to engage in sexual behavior with or harassment of supervisees, students, employees, curates, assistants, or associates. When members of a congregation wish to leave money in thanksgiving for the role the Church has played in their lives or to further the work of religion, such money is appropriately left to the Church corporately and not to clergy as individuals. The behavior of clergy ought never be such as to induce or encourage people to leave money to them or to place it under their control. The details of estate planning are appropriately left to legal and financial professionals.