Ethics and Conduct

Policy Applicable to:  Supported and Paid Staff, Volunteers

Wycliffe USA serves others by facilitating the translation of the Scriptures for the people groups of the world.  The transformation that comes through God’s Word is our motivation as well as our goal.  We therefore encourage and expect our staff and volunteers to maintain an exemplary standard of ethics and conduct that reflects Biblical principles. (Matthew 22:36-40; Romans 1:18-32; Colossians 3; 2 Peter 1:3-11)

Leaders, administrators, and managers should respond positively toward those behaviors that build up the Body of Christ, and must address behaviors that tear down the Body and bring dishonor on Christ.  In general, good judgment based on biblical principles will guide Wycliffe staff and volunteers to act appropriately.  If staff or volunteers are unsure about the ethical course of action implied by a specific situation, they should discuss the matter with their manager.  Staff may also consult with their Director, Vice President, head of Human Resources, or equivalent.

Unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Inappropriate use of power, including:
  • physical or sexual abuse,
  • child abuse (see separate policy on Child Safety and Abuse Response)
• harassment and discrimination
• Acts of violence against self and/or others
• A pattern of untruthful, disrespectful, and/or abusive communication, e.g. bullying, gossip, backbiting
• The wrongful use of corporate funds (e.g. financial malfeasance)
• Illegal, unethical, or dishonest business practices
• Inappropriate use of alcohol or legal drugs
• Use of illegal drugs
• Inappropriate sexual identification and activity including, but not limited to:
  • Repeated and intentional viewing of pornographic media and/or material,
  • Sexual activity outside of a marriage relationship between one man and one woman (e.g. adultery, premarital sexual activity, homosexual activity, incest)
  • Homosexual and/or cross-gender orientation
  • Indecent exposure

As a community of believers committed to moral purity, it is the expectation of our community that staff and volunteers will hold each other accountable and not ignore violations of this standard by one another.  Additionally, parents will be held responsible to hold dependent children accountable to these standards.  If a staff person or volunteer is aware of a violation, they should not attempt to deal with the situation independently, but rather must notify their Director, Vice President, head of Human Resources, or equivalent so that an appropriate inquiry can be made.

Staff should expect that unacceptable behaviors will be addressed with appropriate discipline by administrators.  Appropriate discipline serves to protect the wellbeing of the community, while confronting the offender in love in order to lead the offender towards a path of repentance and restoration.  Staff should be aware that appropriate discipline may be action up to and including termination of membership status and/or employment.  Volunteers should expect that such behaviors will be addressed by administrators and may result in the loss of volunteer privileges or other action deemed appropriate under the circumstances.