Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees and Volunteers

As an employee or volunteer in an entity, governing body, or congregation associated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I commit myself to the following standards of ethical conduct.

I will conduct my life in a manner that will support the ministry of my workplace. Therefore I will:

1. Be honest and truthful in my relationships with others;

2. Treat all persons with equal respect and concern;

3. Maintain a healthy balance among the responsibilities of my position, my commitments to family and other primary relationships, and my need for spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual renewal;

4. Refrain from abusive, addictive, or exploitative behavior and seek help to overcome such behavior if it occurs; and

5. Refrain from gossip and abusive speech.

I will conduct myself at my workplace in a manner that will support its ministry. Therefore I will:

1. Honor relationships within the workplace and observe appropriate boundaries;

2. Be judicious in the exercise of the power and privileges of my position;

3. Avoid conflicts of interest that might compromise the effectiveness of my work;

4. Refrain from exploiting relationships within the workplace for personal gain or gratification, including sexual harassment and misconduct as defined by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) policy;

5. Respect the privacy of individuals and not divulge information obtained in confidence without express permission unless an individual is a danger to self or others;

6. Recognize the limits of my own gifts and training, and refer persons and tasks to others as appropriate;

7. Claim only those qualifications actually attained, give appropriate credit for all sources used in papers, music, and presentations, and observe copyrights;

8. Observe limits set by the appropriate governing body for honoraria;

9. Deal honorably with the record of my predecessor and, upon leaving a position, speak and act in ways that support the work of my successor;

10. Be a faithful steward of and fully account for funds and property entrusted to me;

11. Accept the appropriate guidance of those to whom I am accountable;

12. Participate in continuing education and seek the counsel of mentors and professional advisors;

13. Show respect and provide encouragement for colleagues; and

14. Cooperate with persons of other faith traditions.

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