Practice Statement
In an appendix, the book’s principles are distilled into a preliminary Practice Statement, intended to guide faith communities in navigating tensions as and when they arrive.
Preliminary Practice Statement on Freedom of the Pulpit
A preacher has the right to freedom of the pulpit (FOTP).
FOTP applies not just to the content of sermons but to all aspects of the preacher’s expression, including teaching, writing and social media, where such expression is relevant to or informed by the preacher’s religious tradition.
A preacher is not a spokesperson for anybody but themselves and their own best understanding of their religious tradition.
FOTP protects the preacher against reprisal for the subject matter and/or the manner of their preaching.
A preacher has the duty to use their FOTP, and they fail in that duty if they allow personal concerns (such as career advancement) to take precedence over their responsibility to preach with integrity.
A preacher is validly exercising their FOTP so long as both the substance and the manner of their preaching are justifiable by reference to voices in their religious tradition (whether or not those are minority voices).
A preacher and their congregation may agree in writing certain concrete doctrinal principles that both parties will respect; to that extent, the preacher voluntarily limits their FOTP.
Where there is a concern that a preacher has overstepped the bounds of their FOTP, as defined above, all possible means to resolve the dispute collaboratively and by discussion should be taken.
If it proves impossible to resolve a dispute, a panel of clergy jointly nominated by the preacher and the disputant shall be assembled to mediate.
Should the preacher refuse to coöperate in the nomination of a panel of clergy, the disputant may assemble one on its own, provided that the panel’s members are impartial.
Invoking the dispute resolution process should be truly exceptional, as the very necessity for a preacher to justify their preaching before a formal panel is itself likely to have a deterrent effect on the unfettered exercise of FOTP.
Congregational leaders, professional staff of faith bodies, senior members of clergy and clergy associations all have a duty to uphold and protect preachers’ FOTP.
Upholding and protecting FOTP includes not only refraining from interfering (or threatening to interfere) with it but also taking active steps to defend preachers from pressure, abuse, harassment and bullying related to their exercise of FOTP.