Informed consent and parish clergy

Abstract

Pastors are given permission by others to extend care and to practice ministry. This permission may be given in denominational policy, congregational expectations, or individual requests for pastoral care. At the individual level, permission for pastoral care can be understood as analogous to the notion of informed consent in health care ethics. Informed consent is a compound concept involving: (1) the sharing and clarifying of relevant information, and (2) the respect for a person's consent for care or refusal of care. It functions as a guard both against harm and against unwanted beneficence. Because many expectations for pastoral care are not explicitly stated, ministers need to develop sensitivity to hear both requests for help and requests for privacy.