Final Project
Final Project: Ministry Ethics & Referral Handbook
Assemble a personal handbook you will carry into ministry. It should be practical enough to use in a real situation and honest about the limits of lay ministry. Handwritten work is fully acceptable. Local phone numbers and addresses are left blank to complete after release with your ministry leader.
Requirements
- Cover page with your name, honest title, and Galatians 6:2
- Ethical anchors and scope of practice statement, including what you will never do (Modules 1–2)
- Plain-language confidentiality statement for care receivers, including its limits (Module 3)
- Boundaries statement: physical, emotional, financial, digital, and re-entry safeguards (Modules 4–5)
- Referral resource template with blanks for local information; 911 and 988 filled in (Module 6)
- Red-flag and crisis-response quick sheet with a note template (Module 7)
- Self-care and accountability plan (Module 8)
- A one-page reflection on how your view of ministry, boundaries, and referral has grown
Timeline
- Modules 1–2: ethical anchors and scope statement
- Modules 3–5: confidentiality and boundaries statements
- Modules 6–7: referral template and quick sheet; full draft complete
- Module 8: self-care plan, final copy, sharing, and commissioning
Grading Rubrics
Grading Rubrics
Every rubric uses the same four levels. Your instructor will mark the level that best matches your work for each row and add a short comment.
Module Assignment Rubric
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completeness | Every required part is done | Most required parts are done | About half the parts are done | Little of the assignment is done |
| Accuracy & Skill | Skills applied correctly with no significant errors | Minor errors that do not affect the result | Several errors that affect the result | Major errors throughout |
| Professional Quality | Neat, clear, and ready for an employer to see | Clear with small issues | Hard to follow in places | Unclear or disorganized |
| Effort & Growth | Went beyond the minimum or clearly improved | Solid, consistent effort | Minimal effort | Little evidence of effort |
Total possible: 16 points.
Reflection Journal Rubric
Journals are graded on effort and reflection, never on spelling, grammar, or the details of a personal story.
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completion | Responds fully to every part of the prompt | Responds to most of the prompt | Responds to part of the prompt | Entry missing or one line |
| Connection to Lesson | Clearly applies the week's skill or idea | Mentions the lesson | Vague link to the lesson | No link to the lesson |
| Faith Reflection | Thoughtfully engages the Scripture or faith theme | Engages the faith theme | Brief mention of faith theme | Does not address the faith theme |
| Personal Application | Names a specific next step or change | Names a general next step | Next step is unclear | No next step |
Total possible: 16 points.
Participation Rubric
Scored at the end of each module. Average the eight scores for the Attendance & Participation grade.
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance & Punctuality | Present and on time for the full session | Present; late or left early once | Missed part of the session more than once | Absent without make-up work |
| Preparation | Completed assignment and brought workbook every time | Usually prepared | Sometimes prepared | Rarely prepared |
| Engagement | Contributes thoughtfully and draws others in | Contributes regularly | Contributes when asked | Seldom contributes, even when invited |
| Respect & Covenant | Models the classroom covenant for others | Follows the covenant consistently | Needs occasional reminders | Needs frequent reminders |
Total possible: 16 points.
Final Project Rubric: Ministry Ethics & Referral Handbook
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completeness | All eight sections included | Six or seven sections | Four or five sections | Three or fewer |
| Safety & Scope | Crisis steps, red flags, and scope limits accurate and clear | Mostly accurate | Some errors or gaps | Unsafe or missing |
| Plain Language & Usability | Clear, practical, ready to use | Mostly clear | Hard to use in places | Unclear or disorganized |
| Biblical Foundation | Accurate KJV Scripture applied thoughtfully | Scripture in most sections | Scripture in a few sections | Little or none |
| Reflection & Growth | Specific reflection showing clear growth | Clear reflection | Brief reflection | Missing |
Total possible: 20 points.
Quick Guide
Ministry Ethics & Referral Quick Guide
Keep this guide with your important papers after release.
My Honest Introduction
I'm a lay [title your church authorizes]. I listen, pray with you if you'd like, and help you take next steps. I'm not a licensed counselor, so if you need more help, I'll help you connect with someone who is.
Lay Helpers Never
- ☐ Diagnose any condition
- ☐ Advise on medication (send to doctor or pharmacist)
- ☐ Treat trauma, addiction, or mental illness
- ☐ Give legal advice
- ☐ Handle a crisis alone
- ☐ Call themselves licensed counselors or therapists
Limits of Confidentiality
- ☐ Risk of suicide or self-harm
- ☐ Threat to harm others
- ☐ Abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult
- ☐ When law or ministry policy requires it
- ☐ Mandatory reporting varies by state and role: learn your policy and local law
Four Kinds of Boundaries
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Physical | Touch only with permission and policy; visible meeting places; same-gender norms per policy |
| Emotional | Not her savior; not her support system for your needs |
| Financial | No lending, borrowing, or business deals; gifts per policy |
| Digital | Texting and social media per policy; never post about care |
| Re-entry | Never a go-between; respect supervision conditions and no-contact orders |
Get Help Immediately
- ☐ Talk of suicide or wanting to die
- ☐ Self-harm
- ☐ Threats to harm others
- ☐ Abuse of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult
- ☐ Domestic violence or fear for safety
- ☐ Signs of losing touch with reality
- ☐ Severe withdrawal symptoms
- ☐ Medical emergency
Crisis Steps
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 1 | Stay calm and present |
| 2 | Take it seriously |
| 3 | Ask directly and calmly about suicide |
| 4 | Stay with her if safe |
| 5 | Connect to help: inside, staff or chaplain; outside, 911, call or text 988, domestic violence hotline or local shelter |
| 6 | Tell your ministry leader |
| 7 | Document briefly and factually |
Warm Referral Steps
- ☐ Explain why with care
- ☐ Ask permission to connect her
- ☐ Give specific information
- ☐ Offer to help make the call
- ☐ Follow up with permission
- ☐ Stay in her life within your role
My Contacts
Emergency: 911 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
Ministry leader: ______________________ Phone: ______________
Pastor/chaplain: _____________________ Phone: ______________
Accountability partner: _______________ Phone: ______________
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.— Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
Final Exam
- 1.
Philippians 2:4 says to look on:
- 2.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 says:
- 3.
Which is within a lay helper's scope?
- 4.
This certificate is:
- 5.
Which title may a lay helper use?
- 6.
A helper should promise:
- 7.
Mandatory reporting rules:
- 8.
Which is a dual relationship?
- 9.
A care receiver asks to borrow money. The helper should:
- 10.
If asked to pass a message to someone under a no-contact order, the helper should:
- 11.
Which calls for immediate help?
- 12.
A warm referral includes:
- 13.
In the U.S., call or text this number for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
- 14.
Good ministry notes are:
- 15.
Inside a facility, a helper in a crisis should tell staff or the chaplain immediately.
- 16.
Needing a counselor or medication means a person has weak faith.
- 17.
Romantic involvement with a care receiver is never acceptable.
- 18.
Lay helpers can handle a suicide crisis alone if they pray first.
- 19.
List the seven crisis-response steps.
- 20.
Explain how Galatians 6:2 and Mark 6:31 together shape a healthy lay ministry.