No matter how many times I hear it, it still shocks me: A pastor announces his resignation because of adultery. Often it’s with someone within his church, sometimes even someone actively involved in ministry, such as a choir member or Sunday school teacher.

It’s such an incredible waste of God’s resources that it not only grieves me – it angers me. I have told my staff that if any of them even flirt with temptation, I may come after them with a baseball bat, and I’ve told them to do the same with me.

As Christian leaders, we need to be above reproach. Paul wrote, “Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence” (1 Corinthians 10:12, Msg).

That’s why we established specific Staff Standards at Saddleback to help each other maintain moral integrity:

• Thou shalt not go to lunch alone with the opposite sex.*
• Thou shalt not have the opposite sex pick you up or drive you places when it is just the two of you.* 
• Thou shalt not kiss any member of the opposite sex or show affection that could be questioned.* 
• Thou shalt not visit the opposite sex alone at home. 
• Thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex alone at the office, and thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex more than once without that person’s mate. Refer them. 
• Thou shalt not discuss detailed sexual problems with the opposite sex in counseling. Refer them. 
• Thou shalt not discuss your marriage problems with the opposite sex. 
• Thou shalt be careful in answering emails, instant messages, cards, or letters from the opposite sex. 
• Thou shalt make your secretary your protective ally. 
• Thou shalt pray for the integrity of other staff members.

* The first 3 do not apply to unmarried staff.

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” (Ephesians 5:3, NIV)

-Purpose Driven®-

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. ©Copyright 2004. Used with permission. All rights reserved.