Introduction
In keeping with its Christian identity and its vision, mission and values, the Diocese of West Malaysia (“DWM”) is committed to maintaining the highest degree of ethical conduct amongst all its personnel. This Code of Conduct details DWM’s expectations of personnel in key areas.
Scope and purpose
This Code of Conduct applies to all personnel of DWM. For the sake of clarity, the term “personnel” shall include all clergy (bishops, priests and deacons), locally-ordained ministers, deaconesses, lay readers, evangelists, members of Diocesan and/or Archdeaconry boards, commissions and committees, lay leaders, and staff of DWM or any of its churches, missionary districts, outreach centres or congregations, whether full- or part-time, whether paid or voluntary. It shall also include all who are leaders or front-line workers of church-based ministries, whether serving people within or outside the local church. In case of uncertainty, the assumption shall be that a person falls within the definition of “personnel” unless it is clarified otherwise. Where the situation requires, it will also apply in relation to any interaction with volunteers and partners who are not from DWM.
The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to set out the conduct expected of DWM personnel whilst they carry out their various activities and responsibilities. If personnel are under either a contract of service with or for service to the organisation, this Code of Conduct shall form part of such a contract. The Code of Conduct is applicable at all times. Breaches of the Code of Conduct are grounds for action on disciplinary grounds, and may lead up to and include dismissal or termination of contract for cause.
Vision, mission, and values
DWM’s vision is of a Church that proclaims the healing and redemptive work of God amidst the rapid changes of globalization and instant information which leave traces of brokenness, fractionalization unwanted poverty and human degradation with the message that Christ brings wholeness.
The mission of DWM is to move towards making Christ known through Church planting, mission, social concerns, environmental care, intentional discipleship and building up of family units with love, grace and fellowship of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
DWM’s values are rooted in the proclamation of the Gospel, prioritising the needs of the poor, the marginalised and the unreached, and in the practice of responsible stewardship of its assets and resources according to good management standards.
Reporting procedures
DWM will progressively put in place within each church or missionary district, or at an Archdeaconry level, as appropriate, procedures and mechanisms to receive complaints and/or reports of alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct, and processes to investigate such complaints and/or reports.
DWM is committed to providing pastoral and practical care and support for all victims of abuse.
DWM will also comply with all requirements to report harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual offences against children to the relevant secular authorities as required under law.
Code of Conduct
As one of the DWM personnel, I will:
Uphold the integrity and reputation of DWM by ensuring that my professional and personal conduct is consistent with DWM’s vision, mission and values.
- I will uphold Christian values of justice, integrity and human dignity, seeing each person as made in the image of God.
- I will treat all people fairly with respect and dignity.
- When working in a Provincial or international context or travelling Provincially or internationally on behalf of DWM, I will observe and be sensitive to all local laws and customs.
- I will seek to ensure that my conduct does not bring DWM into disrepute and does not impact on or undermine my ability to undertake the role for which I am engaged.
- I will not work under the influence of alcohol or use, or be in possession of, illegal substances on any of DWM’s premises or accommodation.
- I will not engage in sexual activity outside of marriage (understood as being between a man and a woman). Specifically, I will not engage in sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18). Mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defence.
Not engage in abusive or exploitative conduct
- I acknowledge that negative conduct that leverages on inherently unequal power dynamics due to position, gender, age, family relationships, education levels, immigration status, or other factors, can be seen as abusive or exploitative. I will not engage in any form of abuse or exploitative conduct.
- I will not exchange money, employment, goods or services for sex, including sexual favours. I will not engage in other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour. This includes any exchange for assistance that is due to beneficiaries of assistance.
- I will not engage in sexual relationships with beneficiaries of assistance.
- I will not engage in any commercially exploitative activities with children or vulnerable adults including child labour, human trafficking and modern-day slavery.+1
- I will not physically abuse or assault a child or vulnerable adult.
- I will not emotionally or psychologically abuse a child or vulnerable adult.
Not engage in harassment or sexual harassment
- I will not engage in harassment or sexual harassment of any kind, including unwelcome sexual attention or physical contact.
- I will not undertake disruptive and anti-social behaviour and practices, including drinking alcohol excessively.
- I will not behave in any way that discriminates against a person or group or class of people contrary to law.
- I will not make unnecessary or unsavoury comments about a person’s capacities, attributes or appearance.
- I will not use violent, aggressive or threatening language or behaviour, or otherwise contribute to a toxic working or meeting environment or relationship.
Definitions:
“Harassment” occurs where a person engages in unwelcome conduct, whether intended or not, towards another person where the harassed person feels, with good reason, offended, belittled or threatened. This behaviour may consist of a single incident or several incidents over a period of time. It includes:
- Making unwelcome physical contact with a person;
- Making gestures or using language that could reasonably give offence, including continual and unwarranted shouting;
- Putting on open display pictures, posters, grafitti or written materials that could reasonably give offence;
- Making unwelcome communication with a person in any form such as telephone calls, email, text or other electronic messages and social media;
- Stalking a person; and
- Engaging in “cyberstalking” which is a form of harassment which involves the use of technology such as sending text or other electronic messages and social media.
“Sexual harassment” occurs where a person makes an unwelcome sexual advance, or an
unwelcome request for sexual favours, to another person. It may consist of a single incident or
several incidents over a period of time, and may involve different forms of communication such as telephone calls, email, text or other electronic messages and social media. It includes:
- Asking for sex;
- Making gestures, jokes or comments containing sexual references; and
- Showing sexually explicit material.
Ensure the safety, health and welfare of all DWM personnel, volunteers and partners
- I will adhere to all legal and organisational health and safety requirements in force at my location of work.
- I will comply with any local security guidelines and be pro-active in informing management of any necessary changes to such guidelines.
- I will behave in a manner such as to avoid any unnecessary risk to the safety, health and welfare of myself and others, including partner organisations and communities with whom I work.
Be responsible for the use of information, assets and resources to which I have access by reason of my governance, employment or other participatory role, whether paid or unpaid, with DWM
- I will ensure that I use DWM assets and resources entrusted to me in a responsible manner and will account for all money and property.
- I will not use DWM IT equipment, software or e-mail and social media platforms to engage in activity that is illegal under local or international law or that encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offence. This includes any material that intimidates or harasses any group based on protected characteristics, or encourages extremism.
- I will not use DWM IT equipment to view, download, create, distribute or save in any format
inappropriate or abusive material including but not limited to pornography or depictions of abuse.
Perform my duties and conduct my private life in a manner that avoids conflicts of interest
- I will not engage in any corrupt practices or give or receive any form of bribes or financial inducements, or give or accept gifts (de minimis value excepted) contrary to good governance procedures and practices.
- I will declare any financial, personal or family (or close intimate relationship) interest in matters of official business which involves, whether directly or indirectly, the work of DWM.
- I will not be involved in awarding benefits, contracts for goods or services, employment or
promotion within DWM, to any person with whom I have a financial, personal, family (or close intimate relationship) interests. - I will seek permission from the relevant DWM authority before agreeing to being nominated as a prospective candidate or another official role for any political party.
- I will not accept for myself or my personal use, or that of my family members, significant gifts or any remuneration from governments, partners, communities with whom I work, donors, suppliers and other persons which have been offered to me as a result of my employment or governance role with DWM.
Uphold confidentiality
- I will exercise due care in all matters of official business, and not divulge any confidential information relating to colleagues, work-related matters or any sensitive information unless legally required to do so.
- I will not misuse or abuse an individual’s personal information.
Complaints and reports
- DWM personnel are obligated to bring to the attention of the appropriate designated DWM person (as advised from time to time) of any potential incident, abuse or concern that they witness, are made aware of, or suspect which appears to breach this Code of Conduct.
- DWM staff members who have a complaint or concern relating to a breach of the Code of Conduct should report it immediately to the Chief Administrator. If the staff member does not feel comfortable reporting to the Chief Administrator (for example if they feel that the report will not be taken seriously, or if that person is implicated in the concern) they may report to another senior staff member or to the Diocesan Secretary.
- DWM staff members receiving reports or concerns are obliged to refer the report immediately to the appropriate designated DWM person as per the procedures laid down from time to time.