Sacred Trust

Ethical Education Task Force
History
The Task Force (Team) began work in 1990 to develop a Conference Policy and Procedures Manual. In 1992, a "Design Team" was formed to develop for the Conference an educational plan. For two years persons (two female laity, two male laity, and one male clergy) with staff support from the assistant to the bishop developed a plan. The Team was requested by the bishop to provide Response Team services and has continued to provide such services on request. During 1994 and 1995, the Team provided more than 40 full days of training across the Conference, a total of 1,541 clergy and laity participated.

At the 1999 Annual Conference Session, a petition (AC07) that required all clergy and strongly encouraged all lay leadership to participate in training updates every four years. We are in the final year of the second cycle. In accordance with the Petition AC07, beginning in 1999 a total of 61, training has been held with attendance of 1,391, clergy and laity.

Response team services have been requested on 24 separate occasions within the Conference. Duration of intervention and transformation (healing) varies with each case.

At the 2006 Annual Conference Session, a petition (AC11) was adopted that required clergy of all ministry settings to participate in training every four years. Employees and volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend the training. (See Links for copy of Petition.)

Purpose and Process
Prevention
Purpose
To provide education and training of clergy and laity in the Rocky Mountain Conference
To provide education and training of clergy and laity in the Rocky Mountain Conference

To create an awareness of the ethical standard as provided by THE BOOK of DISCIPLINE of the United Methodist Church and standards as adopted by action of the Conference
Process
All training is led by a two member team. Training is schedule over a three-year period throughout the Conference. The design is to accommodate persons in a 100-mile radius of the training site

Intervention

Purpose
To respond with care to a situation whereby the standards as set forth in the manual and THE BOOK of DISCIPLINE have been violated

Purpose
To respond with care to a situation whereby the standards as set forth in the manual and THE BOOK of DISCIPLINE have been violated

To respond with care to the violator of such standards
To respond with care to the aggrieved person(s) of such violations
To care for any and all involved people and affected institutions
Process
To perform such response of care in accordance with and guidance of the bishop and cabinet

Transformation
Purpose

To assist in the healing process of all involved persons and affected institutions
To educate and allow understanding for the transformation of the violator
To provide care and sustaining recovery for all aggrieved parties
Process
To provide healing opportunities in accordance with guidance of the bishop and cabinet

Questions & Comments!

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