onespirit’s code of ethics

Code of Ethics

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” – Rumi

Introduction

OneSpirit exists to kindle understanding, compassion and awakened service across the wide landscape of human spirituality. Rooted in the wisdom of many traditions, we celebrate the sacred spark in every being and the freedom of each seeker’s path. This Code sets out the ethical commitments that safeguard that freedom while guiding us to act with integrity, courage and love. It is offered in a spirit of shared responsibility rather than rigid prescription, inviting each minister, student, tutor and staff member to enter a living conversation about ethical practice.

This revised Code of Ethics draws on feedback from students and ministers, guidelines from other spiritual organisations and related professions, as well as recent publications on ethical practice and the potential for spiritual abuse. It is informed by core values such as inclusivity, compassion, authenticity, integrity, honesty, respect, open heartedness, humility and spiritual connection.

We recognise that ethical practice is a living process, not a fixed destination. As such, this Code emerges from and contributes to an ongoing dialogue within our community – a shared journey of deep listening, mutual learning, and collective care. We commit to evolving and refining these principles in response to lived experience, reflection, and the spiritual needs of our time.

Ethical frameworks are key in helping and caring professions. They facilitate the co-creation of safety ensuring core values are lived values. This Code of Ethics is a living document. It does not represent a static or final statement but an evolving framework, informed by experience, dialogue, and reflection. We expect to review and revise it regularly, in response to feedback from our community, developments in ethical thinking, and the ever-deepening understanding of compassionate spiritual care.

We use our ethical framework as offering orientation and direction for the OneSpirit community. It frames and anchors, helps to guide, direct and affirm the health and sustainability of the OneSpirit Community. It affirms to the public we serve, our commitment to equitable and responsible decision making processes.

The following framework is intended as a resource to support reflection, discernment, and self-awareness in our work, to guide our tutors, staff, students and ministers through ethical dilemmas, offer a basis for accountability, and informs clients about the standards they can expect.

Our Community Covenant – a concise summary

1. We honour the divine in all: We treat every person with dignity, actively challenging discrimination and oppression.

2. We walk our talk: Our words, actions and use of resources reflect the truths we teach.

3. We serve responsibly: We hold clear boundaries, maintain confidentiality and do no harm.

4. We grow continually: We cultivate spiritual practice, seek supervision and embrace lifelong learning.

5. We are accountable together: We steward our community’s trust and lovingly address concerns when they arise.

The Five Ethical Pillars

The paragraphs below expand the Covenant into five organising pillars. They combine aspirational vision with concrete commitments while allowing room for the diversity of ministries that flourish under the OneSpirit canopy.

1. Sacred Inclusivity & Respect

  • We recognise the inherent worth of every being and are committed to caring for the well-being of those we work with, acting with kindness and compassion. We keep our hearts and minds open to everyone, celebrating the inherent dignity, value, and uniqueness of every individual.
  • We practise cultural humility, decolonising our language and methods, and remain sensitive to the historical wounds carried by peoples and places.
  • We cultivate trauma‑informed awareness, creating environments of emotional and spiritual safety.
  • We respect each individual’s autonomy and spiritual agency, refraining from proselytising or imposing our own beliefs.
  • We offer our services as far as possible to those of limited means and underserved communities, recognising the call to social and ecological justice.

2. Integrity & Authenticity

  • We align our personal conduct with the values we espouse, acknowledging mistakes transparently and seeking to amend them, while valuing the learning gained.
  • We communicate truthfully and kindly, ensuring our words are accurate, necessary and compassionate.
  • We represent our qualifications, experience and scope of practice honestly; we do not claim skills or titles we have not earned.
  • We handle finances with fairness and transparency, setting clear terms and avoiding exploitative arrangements.
  • We exercise mature judgement and appropriate responsibility in the use of any intoxicants or mind‑altering substances.

3. Responsible Service & Boundaries

  • We place the wellbeing of those we serve at the centre of our work and commit to doing no harm, while recognising that personal wellbeing underpins safe and effective service.
  • We establish and maintain contracts or clear agreements covering purpose, expectations, confidentiality and any fees.
  • We keep all disclosures confidential within the law, explaining at the outset the rare circumstances that may require disclosure for safeguarding purposes.
  • We acknowledge the power inherent in ministerial and teaching roles and maintain appropriate boundaries at all times.
  • We avoid or carefully manage dual relationships and conflicts of interest, seeking supervision when grey areas emerge.
  • We stay within the limits of our competence, referring or signposting to other professionals when a person’s needs exceed our expertise.

4. Continuous Growth & Supervision

  • We sustain a regular personal spiritual practice that nourishes authenticity and resilience.
  • We engage in appropriate supervision, mentoring or peer reflection to review our work and support ethical discernment.
  • We pursue continuing education in areas relevant to our ministry – including theology, pastoral skills, safeguarding, cultural awareness and trauma‑sensitivity.
  • We welcome feedback from those we serve and from colleagues, seeing critique as an invitation to deepen integrity.

5. Accountability & Community Stewardship

  • We accept this Code as a living covenant and cooperate with OneSpirit’s Ethics & Standards processes when questions arise.
  • We approach colleagues first with compassion when minor concerns surface, and refer serious or unresolved matters to the Ethics & Standards Committee.
  • Any record keeping is kept confidential, secure and compliant with regulatory standards.
  • We contribute to the wider social good, acting for peace, justice and the flourishing of the earth.
  • We safeguard the reputation of OneSpirit and the wider interfaith movement by modelling ethical leadership in public and online spheres.

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Affirmation

Mindful of the sacred trust placed in us, we hereby affirm these commitments and dedicate ourselves to continual learning, courageous self‑examination and compassionate service, for the wellbeing of all beings and the glory of the Love that holds us.