Submitted to the Board of Ordained Ministry of the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, January 1984, as part of the requirements for Deacon/Probationary status.

B. Practice of Ministry

3. Confidentiality in Pastoral Conversations

Yes, I will regard all pastoral conversations of a confessional nature as a sacred trust between the individual and God. Pastoral conversations often carry the weight of deep vulnerability, sin, guilt, and longing for grace. They are not mere dialogues, but sacramental encounters wherein the soul seeks healing, forgiveness, and restoration through divine mercy.

Within the Christian tradition, especially in the context of pastoral care, such confessional moments are penitential in character—spaces where sin is named and grace is received. It is through these sacred encounters that individuals are led toward confession, not merely as an act of speaking, but as a pathway to redemption. These conversations are held not only in the presence of the pastor but before God, the ultimate source of grace.

Theologically, the necessity for such sacred confidentiality stems from the reality of human bondage to sin and the spiritual warfare that often accompanies it. The Scriptures reveal that behind human brokenness lies the presence of unseen powers and principalities. Yet, through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, even these hidden dominions are overcome. Where forgiveness of sin is proclaimed, the reign of darkness is broken, and the liberating reign of Christ begins.

As such, pastoral care is not simply counseling—it is participation in God’s redemptive mission. It proclaims the hope of Christ, casts out fear and despair, and extends the promise of the Kingdom of God. To violate the confidentiality of such moments would be to disrupt the sacredness of that divine-human encounter and to diminish the trust that invites confession.

Therefore, I solemnly commit to guarding all pastoral conversations of a confessional nature with utmost integrity and confidentiality. In doing so, I act as a steward of God’s grace, a witness to Christ’s mercy, and a companion in the Spirit’s healing work.