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 We
accept membership at different competency levels.
All members are evaluated in accordance with several ethical issues,
some of which are: competency, training, and credentialing. These
issues remain problematic for the Christian counseling community due to
the ongoing ambiguity that surrounds Christian counseling itself.
In acknowledgment of our Rev. Tiny
The IFPCC
has a binding and non-provisional Code of Ethics in place which has
always addressed
these issues of concern.
Our members consider the seriousness of providing the public full
informed consent, and a forum with which to weigh the competency of the
Faith Based professional. Fingerprints, background checks,
and various other elements are not only standard for membership, but required. We
consider the public safety and awareness when dealing with the freedom
of choice to attend the services of a Faith Based practitioner to be a
consumer protection issue of grave concern. Although there
are many organizations to which a faith based "professional" can
belong, merely submitting a yearly fee is insufficient for IFPCC
membership. While collecting funds is in the best interests
of some of these "Christian" Associations, the Board of the
IFPCC does not subscribe to anything but the highest standards
of membership. This includes accountability,
certain levels of personal knowledge and open communication
with each member.
Nothing less will protect the consumer, and nothing less will protect
the reputation and honor of the God whom we serve. Our members
understand they are the salt and light of this world, and that as such,
there is a moral, ethical, and spiritual responsibility to serve all
without regard to religion, culture, background, national origin, or
any other feature that could in any way be construed as prejudicial.
Our members will and must refrain from inter-practice hostility with
state licensed professionals; rather-we strive to work side by side
with those individuals in order to help them fill in their service gap
by affording the highest caliber spirit care available. Recent public
recognition of the advantages of faith based providers has emphasized
the need for organizations to step up to the high standards set so long
ago by the IFPCC. Situations that are ranked as
"mega-disasters" have proven the efficacy of faith based interventions
in the arena of health care to the degree that all must now offer
standards as high as those implemented by the IFPCC, or the public will
be sorely under served, and the field of counseling and mental health
services will lack
serious professional faith based
providers. Because even the medical field has now so clearly
included faith based and spiritual professionals, it is incumbent upon
the field of faith based counseling to clearly identify both what it is and what it is not. The
IFPCC does not blur the lines between proper credentialing
and any false use of the word
"license".
We do not
betray our own faith based professionals by using them to provide
income streams for our own unjust enrichment; rather,
we provide a safe, educational setting for fraternal
fellowship and professional advancement.
We have established a clear identity for faith based professionals, as
well as enforceable rules, ongoing personal
educational seminars, and other arenas for the advancement of the
professional ministerial calling--all of which have been in place to
eliminate any ambiguity or false pretenses utilized by slick marketers,
"mom and pop" type set-ups, and greedy
pseudo-professionals.
We have the capacity, for member and consumer protection, to
address, educate and enforce the high moral standards we have
embraced as necessary and prudent for the ethical practice of faith
based counseling and chaplaincy. We have never subscribed to
utilizing the clergy mantle as an excuse to adopt "privilege" or
"divine right" in the counseling arena in order to use any specific
religious activity as a healthy intervention when, in fact, such a
practice is controversial and may not consider first and foremost
the best interests of those to whom we minister. Our
professionals agree to utilize only approved, ongoing
education, to clearly define their own competency levels, and
to honestly disclose that competency and training to those seeking the
professional's help. This includes the ethical mandate to be a true and
certified faith based professional
(with measurable theological competency)
integrating behavioral and social sciences with
theology, and not "practicing" any particular religion, and
thereby can take emotional advantage of the public by wearing
two "hats". The ability to pass a state test for "licensure" had been
the historic bench mark for clinical measurement as to competency.
While Ordination has been a recognized process for pastoral skill sets,
it is considered a primary step for certification.
Transcripts, professional recommendation letters, and other
measures in place underscore the member's competency, and
accountability to the organization and the public they serve.
Responsibility is enforced by sanctions and discharge, if the member
violates the strict code of conduct and ethical behavior agreements.
Uniformity of practice and ethical procedures will comfort and protect
both the consumer and the situations and states in which the faith
based professional practices.
The IFPCC membership has a long and proud history of conforming to
ethical standards of measurement, education, competency and behavioral
ethics LONG before any other organization decided to copy what we have
always practiced - for the safety of the public, and the enhancement of
our professions. Our protocols are not vague; rather, members
have a sharp, clear, identifiable image and honest, ethical practices.
We are unique in the faith based community -
distinct accountability and wholly competent
in service.
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