Where’s the Boundary? A Helpful Ten-Point Test

Below are 10 Moral Tests, which can be used to help guide in determining healthy relational boundaries in ministry.

1. The Bullhorn or Transparency Test: How would my actions be perceived if they were made public?
2. The Test of Fiduciary Responsibility: Whose needs are being met? Are my actions in the best interest of the one that I am ministering to?
3. The Ministry Service Test: What ministerial service am I providing? And what is included in that ministerial service? What is not included?
4. The Collegial Accountability and Supervision Test: How do my supervisor and colleagues respond when I report my behavior? (Am I willing to honestly share my behavior with them?)
5. The “Do No Harm” Test: Who is put at risk by my actions?
6. The Staying Above Reproach Test: How might my behavior be perceived by others? Am I avoiding any appearance of impropriety?
7. The Dependency Test: How important or indispensable do I feel in this relationship? Being needed by others is a powerful form of dependency. Ministry is not about me.
8. The Dependency Test 2: Does the person I’m ministering to show signs of emotional dependency?
9. The Precedent Test: What kind of precedent am I setting? Am I setting a precedent or creating a culture that accepts certain behaviors that could put someone at risk.
10. The Exception Test: Do I feel that for some reason this situation or relationship is an exception to the usual rules and limits?