Adopted by Narara Valley Baptist Church on 8th September 2020

BACKGROUND

For many years, the Vision of Narara Valley Baptist Church (NVBC) has been to be a church that is:

Desperate For God, Passionate For People

In light of this, we are committed to creating safe spaces where people can be confident that they will be cared for, nurtured and encouraged as they grow and at the same time, protected from spiritual, physical, sexual and emotional abuse. 

One of the great strengths of NVBC is that we’re a diverse group of people. Yet in our diversity, there is a need to have clear expectations of the way in which we’ll function as a church.

Rather than simply a ‘hoop to jump through’, it is hoped that this Code of Conduct will provide: clarity around expectations; an expression of our mutual commitment to one another; and further assist us in living out our Vision.

If you do not feel comfortable signing the Code of Conduct, we encourage you to discuss this with a pastor, as we believe it is important to prioritise authentic relationships and ongoing dialogue, whilst also being transparent around commitments & expectations and the beliefs we affirm.

PURPOSE

As part of this commitment to creating safe spaces, all staff and volunteers sign and abide by this Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct sets out the following: 

• the ministry commitments of employees and volunteers
• minimum behavioural standards and appropriate boundaries required of employees and volunteers; 
• the obligation of employees and volunteers to comply with Safe Church Policy and Procedures; and 
• the steps to be taken in the event of a potential breach of this Code. 

The Code of Conduct seeks to reflect the biblical call to godliness and faithfulness in ministry (eg/ 1 Timothy 3) but it is not intended as a replacement for the Bible as a fundamental guide for faith and practice. 

SCOPE 

The Code of Conduct applies to all staff and volunteers.

The Code of Conduct should be read in conjunction with the Safe Church Policy and: 

• Procedure for Staff and Volunteers 
• Procedure for Responding to Child Protection Concerns 
• Procedure for Handling Complaints against Staff and Volunteers
• Procedure for Conflict Resolution 

These can be found at www.nvbc.info/policies

I will:

a) uphold, support and abide by the Safe Church Policy;  

b) respond to reasonable directions from those with responsibility for the ministry I am involved in; 

c) communicate with integrity, including wise and accountable use of electronic communication, including in accordance with Guidelines for Activities with Children and Young People

d) Act with financial integrity, including:

• having accountable and transparent systems in place for financial matters. 

• not seeking personal advantage or financial gain from our position (other than in wages, recognised allowances and deductions). 

e) not knowingly make false, misleading, or deceptive statements; 

f) not engage in bullying, harassment, emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, of any person including my own family; 

g) ensure that romantic interactions are meaningfully consensual

h) give consideration to any power imbalances in intimate relationships. 

i) not act violently or intentionally provoke violence; 

j) not use any prohibited substance;

k) not take or use property belonging to others without express consent, including intellectual property (copyright); 

l) uphold confidentiality; not disclosing any confidential information without the consent of the person providing the information (the exception being where there is a legal obligation); 

m) report concerns about misconduct and/or abuse according to the Church’s Safe Church Policy and relevant procedures; 

n) disclose all relevant information as part of completing the Screening Check Questionnaire if I have not already done so; 

o) disclose to the Church Leadership if I am investigated for any criminal offences or have any knowledge of serious unlawful activity within the church context

I will:  

a) Nurture my own relationship with God through activities such as, but not restricted to:

• join regularly in the life and ministry of the Church; 

• study and reflect on the Scriptures in private and in groups; 

• pray regularly in private and in fellowship with and for the people and ministry of the Church;

• give of your time and finances to the work of the Church, as an expression of our gratitude to God. 

b) Nurture healthy relationships: 

• treat others with respect; 

• love and care for your family (including paying attention to the effect of ministry on them); 

• be a team player; 

• be accountable; 

• cooperate with other staff and volunteers; 

• treat every program participant fairly and equitably;

• acknowledge when I am out of my depth, or do not possess the required skill set in difficult pastoral situations (such as helping a victim of abuse, or a person who needs professional counselling), and seek help from the Safe Church Team or a Pastor; 

c) Act with sexual purity:

• express my sexuality in healthy and God directed ways, and restrict sexual intimacy to the confines of the marriage relationship (where marriage has the same meaning as in the Marriage Rites of the Baptist Union of Australia i.e. ‘the union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life’);

• avoid engagement with any type of pornographic material, and if I struggle with this addiction, I will seek appropriate help;

d) Be responsible in my use of substances that may be addictive (eg. prescriptions, alcohol); and if needed will seek appropriate help;

e) Avoid ongoing counselling of people with whom I have pastoral relationships; and not seek to ‘help’ beyond my personal capabilities;

f) Make alternative arrangements for pastoral ministry for any person with whom I may develop a romantic or intimate relationship.

I understand that if I breach the Legal Requirements of the Code of Conduct:

a) and it is a plausible complaint relating to Child Sexual Abuse or Sexual Misconduct involving a child, the Church may ask me to step aside from my duties while the complaint is being considered; and/or

b) if the complaint relates to serious misconduct and/or abuse (including Child Sexual Abuse) it will be reported to relevant government authorities in accordance with relevant legal requirements; and/or

c) I agree to participate in any process initiated under the Procedure for Resolving Conflict, Procedure for Handling Complaints against Staff and Volunteers and/or Procedure for Responding to Child Protection Concerns and agree to be bound by the outcomes of any such process, which may include termination of my employment/engagement as a staff member or volunteer with the Church.

I understand that if I breach the Personal Commitments within the Code of Conduct:

a) I am part of a church that embraces restoration, and is keen to empower and equip me to address this breach (Staff and volunteers can approach our Pastors and/or Elders to help process this breach and work toward restoration)

b) I agree to participate in any process initiated under the Procedure for Resolving Conflict, Procedure for Handling Complaints against Staff and Volunteers and/or Procedure for Responding to Child Protection Concerns and agree to be bound by the outcomes of any such process, which may include termination of my employment/engagement as a staff member or volunteer with the Church.

If I am a Pastoral employee, I:

 a) agree to uphold and be bound by the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT Code of Ethics and Conduct;  

understand that a breach of the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT Code of Ethics and Conduct will be considered a breach of this Code of Conduct; 

b) (if I am an Accredited or Recognised Minister) agree to participate in, and be bound by the outcomes of, any process initiated under the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT Procedures for Handling Allegations.

I sincerely declare that :

I have read, and agree to be bound by and uphold, the Code of Conduct for Staff and Volunteers. I understand I have a responsibility to report any situations to a Pastor where I may have breached the commitments as detailed in sections 1 & 2 of the Code of Conduct. I understand that pastoral support is available to assist me in adhering to this Code of Conduct.

By entering your name and today's date below you commit to this declaration.

(If you cannot sign the Code Of Conduct and still want to serve as a Staff or Volunteer, this will be referred to the Elders.)