Integrating Faith with Practice: Where Do We Draw the Line Between Professional Ethics and Personal Beliefs?

Background and Purpose: Research on the effectiveness and ethical issues related to providing services to at-risk populations is complicated within a faith-based organization. With the tension between professional values, licensing ethics, and the values of a faith system, controversy arises among different viewpoints. The purpose of this study was to explore the staff perspectives of client success and personal belief systems that are in tension within the professional community. Our research question addressed how faith-based values and professional ethics inform the framework of an agency and definitions of client success.

Methods: A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at a faith-based nonprofit in the southern region of the United States. The organization works directly with women who are exiting the sex industry. Six female staff members between the ages of 30 and 50 who work either part-time or full-time in positions ranging from direct practice to managerial positions were interviewed at the agency. Three interviewers conducted and transcribed the interviews. All transcripts were coded and triangulated until themes emerged.

Results: Themes that emerged from the data included how the sample balanced the integration of their religious beliefs into their practice while maintaining a person-centered approach, and how their faith led them to work with an agency that helps women leave the sex industry. The staff members reflected on the liberating and inspiring ability for them to incorporate God into their practice. Each mentioned how imperative it was to let the women guide any discussion about religion and the importance of maintaining a person-centered approach at all times. Further, the interviewees explored how their faith brought them to this work, continued to inspire them to stay, and helped them work through the fatigue of working with a population that has experienced deep levels of trauma and loss. Allowing their faith to take the weight of the stress enabled them to keep burnout at a distance.

Conclusions and Implications: The overall finding of this study suggested that this sample established a balance between embracing their religious beliefs while tailoring to the needs of the clients. The findings also suggested that professionals have effectively practiced within the ethics of their profession. Implications of this study can inform how service providers can improve the life-balance between their profession and personal belief systems in a safe and client-centered approach. Future research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of balancing beliefs at work and relationships with professional burnout.