New Zealand Gospel Workers’ Code of Conduct
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4. 12.
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5.22.
Children (Under 18) are a vital part of our fellowship; all Workers are responsible for promoting their safety, protection and well-being. Children under 16 years of age cannot even voluntarily engage in any form of sexual contact.
I will:
- Adhere to the Guidelines for Child-Safety and this Code of Conduct at all times.
- Be a positive role model to children and follow accepted guidelines relating to physical contact.
- Set clear boundaries about appropriate behaviour between children and myself and respect a child’s boundaries and personal space.
- Listen and respond appropriately to the views and concerns of children.
- Be transparent in my actions and whereabouts in relation to contact with children.
- Apply the “rule of two” – avoid spending time alone with children, ensuring parents know and support this boundary, and have educated their children about it.
- Wear publicly appropriate clothes in common areas during visits with families.
- Address inappropriate behaviour towards children.
- Ask for help if I am uncertain about child safety, or this Code of Conduct, or believe I have breached this Code.
I will not:
- Engage in behaviour or communication that causes children to feel uncomfortable, afraid or disempowered.
- Use language that is inappropriate, offensive, harassing, abusive, or sexually suggestive or provocative when speaking around children.
- Use any computer, mobile phone, video, camera or other electronic device to exploit or harass children.
- Do things for children of a personal nature that they or their parents can do for themselves, such as assisting with toileting.
- Hit or physically assault children. This includes refraining from physical punishment or engaging in discipline.
- Display favouritism, develop inappropriate or sexual relationships, or indulge in any form of sexual contact with children.
- Engage in the grooming of children and/or families.
- Rely on my position or my reputation and that of the fellowship to protect me.
- Minimise or cover up a suspicion or allegation of abuse.
- Investigate a suspicion or allegation of abuse by questioning a child or individuals involved, but rather encourage the parents to refer the matter to authorities. Whenever it is appropriate that I myself should do the reporting, I will certainly do so.
- Dismiss a child’s concerns or discourage disclosure.
- Allow any child to enter a bedroom where I am staying in the company of myself and/or co-worker.
Some examples of appropriate and/or acceptable behaviour:
- Handshakes, pats on the shoulder or back and shoulder-to-shoulder hugs.
- Holding hands while walking with small children.
- Sitting beside small children.
- Having discussions one-on-one with older children in publicly accessible areas.
- Encouraging children to respect personal spaces, i.e. knock on doors before entering.
Some examples of inappropriate and/or unacceptable behaviour:
- Developing intimate or special relationships with children.
- Advising children to keep communications or interactions secret.
- Holding a small child on the lap except in the presence of an adult member of the family. Lifting or placing a school age or older child on your lap.
- Wrestling, tickling, piggy-back rides or massaging.
- Remarks that relate to sexual attractiveness or development.
- Showing physical displays of affection in isolated areas of the premises such as bedrooms, bathrooms, private areas of the home or cars.
- Sharing a bedroom with a child.
- Inappropriate or lengthy hugs or kisses on the mouth.
- Touching buttocks, genital areas, chest, knees, thighs or legs.
Some examples of environments where additional caution should be used:
- Camping environment
- Convention grounds
- Swimming areas
- Physical sporting events
- Workers staying with families without a co-worker
In Conclusion:
- I recognise that children have the right to feel safe at all times.
- I recognise that child abuse has ongoing impacts and that the first step in healing for survivors starts with the telling of their experience.
- Should a child disclose to me that it has suffered abuse from some person, I will respond with compassion and care. I will not make promises to the child I cannot keep e.g. in relation to a child asking to keep matters confidential. Instead I will advise the child, “I will do everything I can to keep you safe.”
- I will do all I can to make the child feel heard and supported.
Developed and endorsed for New Zealand October 2023.
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WINGS for Truth 
Maybe I should just be glad they are trying, but, when reading this, I had to chuckle! Have we lost the simplicity of Christ? These things shouldn’t even need to be put in writing. The Love of Jesus within our heart just automatically shows us those things, without it being made into ‘mans law’… what about being Spirit-led? Something is very wrong here.
Agreed mary Lou. But since it is such a big problem, it unfortunately has to be spelled out.
Sadly this seems like a juvenile approach though, more steps need to be taken before people are accepted into the work, and the ones presently in the work need to be evaluated.
Sad I know, but necessary.
Also everything that has happened cannot be swept under the rug as though it didn’t happen.
If only they would allow the Holy Spirit to lead, they would get it right. That would mean changes and some stepping down.
We know how important place is……..
Really it needs a whole new structure, built on the foundation ( Jesus) not on the Ministry.
Going the way Jesus sent them, mostly married men , having wives and children, homes, going for short periods of time, returning home, living pretty ordinary lives.
None of this globe trotting continually, overseers, hierarchy.😳
Doesn’t look like it’s going to happen
No confidence, exactly! Surely doesn’t look like it will happen so we just keep praying and waiting to see what God will do. With Him all things are possible~
‘Spirit-Led’ is a hoax. How can you tell if someone is spirit-led from someone who is not? You can’t, until it is too late. This obsession with ‘spirit-led’ is what allows hucksters and psychopaths to led you around by the nose, take the shekels from your pocket, while raping your children. You conflate ‘spirit-led’ with ‘being nice’ or ‘being agreeable’. Stop it.
@Elaine “Spirit-led” isn’t a hoax. If the people are truly reading and praying (like Jesus said, without ceasing and believing what you’ve asked, in Jesus name)…you will have the Spirit. Have you ever sat in a spiritual gathering and gotten a weird sense that “there’s no bread being shared?” I have. Because they were busy preaching their opinion,, and not the Gospel according to Jesus. The first time I ever experienced it was in Florida at Apopka convention, and William Lewis was blabbering on about nothing…and I looked around the meeting and absolutely no one was taking notes. I was 25. Since then, I have been very aware of the wolves in their sheep’s clothing. It’s happened on both coasts (I’ve lived in many states, and we’ve got family in many more – there’s only two states we haven’t spent time in) and in convention in British Columbia, Canada. I’m now 60. There’s been a lot of lazy workers, but the friends are to blame too, because they never did what the examples of the
New Testament did – they took Paul aside and expounded more perfectly the scriptures. If they don’t listen, they are OUT! Because no honest Elder would stand behind a wolf! When workers come to our home I know before they step through my door if they prayed that morning or at any time before they arrived. Then staying in our homes and seeing their routine helps us know how to pray for them, because if they aren’t bringing the Spirit of peace because they haven’t sought God, then they need not be welcomed. I am not shy to speak with anyone about what is missing.
Also, I have a “welcome” card in my guest rooms, that reminds them that We can see EVERYTHING that they visit on the internet (even if they try to delete/erase it)…which IS true. The first worker to breach our standards (since we put those cards in the rooms) will be made an example of! No secrets here!!
The Apostles weren’t perfect, and we don’t expect todays ministry to be, but we have the right to EXPECT them to bring peace and the Spirit of God.
My thoughts exactly. I’ve been very vocal about this in America. This is what happens when people start changing the simplicity of God’s work. They get into positions (“overseers”) giving themselves titles that were meant for the Elders (only place in the Bible that word is used) and start usurping authority that God didn’t give them, then claim they think “they are doing the right thing”…when Matthew 18 nixes that in the bud! If these ministers aren’t going to believe what Jesus taught (and yes, I know some agree wholeheartedly with me), then why are they in a ministry to share a Gospel He came to tell about??
Agreed but I believe the benefit of an explicit code of conduct is that it gives others the mandate inappropriate behaviour
You forgot the important verses from Matthew 5-10 which describes their end if they do touch (offend) one.
This would be comical if it wasn’t so sad. The exclusive fellowship and only true way of God, a subset of whom will be the only ones to know of eternal salvation, as every other living person is judged to damnation forever, after lifetime’s worth of coverups and acceptable casualties to preserve the institution and maintain control, finds itself forced to flail about in a clumsy effort to demonstrate what noble shepherds and godly leaders they are.
Thank goodness they’re on the case, imagine the state things would be in otherwise. It’d be complete shambles without them!
“Do not use language that is inappropriate, offensive, harassing, abusive, or sexually suggestive or provocative when speaking around children. Do not use any computer, mobile phone, video, camera or other electronic device to exploit or harass children. Do not hit or physically assault children. Do not show physical displays of affection in isolated areas of the premises such as bedrooms, bathrooms, private areas of the home or cars (if it’s not being done in a private area, is it then okay?). Do not sharing a bedroom with a child. Do not have inappropriate or lengthy hugs or kisses on the mouth (Is it okay if it’s not lengthy kissing on the mouth? ). Do not touch buttocks, genital areas, chest, knees, thighs or legs… “. IF THESE RESTRICTIONS NEED TO BE SAID OUT LOUD TO ANYONE, THAT PERSON HAS NO BUSINESS BEING AROUND ANY CHILDREN!!!! PERIOD!!!! Further, for a supposed person of God, this is so far removed from the Word of God, the Bible, that these guys are said be adhering to. They are making a joke of what God is. He is not amused and will not be mocked. Workers have become a parody of what they are said to be. But, their dress standards are spot on. Or at least what they think is spot on.
You are correct, they shouldn’t be anywhere around children. Nor should anyone who thinks writing up a list like this be a part of our fellowship! Because if they need this “contract” to sign, they don’t have the Spirit of God !! I know the victims want assurances, and that’s what’s driving this, but they also need to do their part to seek justice, support, and counseling to help them have the courage to not become a victim again. Speaking from experience. While getting therapy, take some self defense courses (parents – put your children in self-defense classes BEFORE someone gets them on their radar! Just stay there to observe). Once you have the tools, the predators move on. They may take a look, but they’re looking for someone who is quiet, reserved, is insecure, likes to play off by themselves, doesn’t squawk when their toys get grabbed from them, etc.
But, predators are everywhere there are humans. The grocery store, schools, universities, colleges, the library, family gatherings, friends homes, churches of any kind, theaters, bowling alleys, restaurants, bars, AA meetings, hospitals, doctors offices, dental offices, post office, etc.
Our population is less than 20,000 and we have just shy of 100 KNOWN predators. So, if they only list the ones who hit the felon stage, and only 66% ever get reported…that means there are DOZENS more!
Agreed. That this even needs to be said, shows just how low these reprobates have sunk…and how much the ‘flock’ have allowed this behavior to happen through silence, worker worship, spiritual threats etc. I genuinely don’t think most people even stop to think what this actually says about the Fellowship.
Yet if it hadn’t been written / said then the workers would be criticized for that too. A step in the right direction I would say.
Reply to “A Friend Too”. You entirely missed the point, any minister who needs to be told not to rape children should make you think about what kind of ministry it is! They earned all the criticizism they get and more!
‘@A Friend Too’. You utterly missed the point. Agreed that it is a step in the right direction … if the bar has sunk so low or the moral compass is so broken, that this even needs to be said amongst this fellowship, God’s own chosen. Church institutional failure. Once the veil is pulled back, alas there is nothing but deceit, arrogance and ignorance. Wilful blindness from the weak sycophants so unsure of their allegiance.
The “workers” are always referred to as the shepherd of the sheep. This new set of rules for the workers to go by, is no set of rules a real shepherd would need. Why are the workers acting like a shepherd anyway? There is only one Shepherd that can get us our needs. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”. Do people realize that all throughout the Bible Jesus is called a shepherd? But it’s the adjectives that give it meaning. He’s called a gentle shepherd, a good shepherd, a great shepherd, a chief shepherd, and my Shepherd. What a Shepherd He is! WHAT A SHEPHERD! Why are the workers trying to replace Jesus?
I’ve never heard the workers be called the Sheperds…Jesus is The Shepherd, the ministry was told to “Feed the Lambs and Feed the Sheep”. I’ve fed sheep for shepherds before, and that doesn’t make me a shepherd. I’m sorry that a wolf in sheep’s clothing ever uttered those words in your presence. Because it’s a lie.
That is interesting because I have enjoyed for over 60 years hearing the parallel between Gods true servants having the attributes of a shepherd. Sure Jesus is the Shepherd. The more we become like Him because of His Spirit dwelling within us, the mote we will have His attributes in our lives. Our desires will be the care of the sheep. We will do all we can to find the one sheep that has gone astray. Our care will be His care. That is Gods desire for us to become more and more like His Son. Some begin to fit into His plan and fail. That doesn’t change the plan He has for each one of His children. There was an old man in our area who told of going into the mountains and living with the sheep all summer when he was a child. Years later someone asked him why there were no longer sheep in those mountains, just cows? He replied, no one wants to be a shepherd.
@Amen the ministry is here to bring the message. Feeding HIS lambs and sheep with those words.
I certainly don’t disagree with you. I remember a time when a sister worker was distraught over some problem in her field. She wanted to talk with the brother worker who happened to be in our home. After listening to her his advise was pretty simple-give them bread.
If ANYONE expects this as normal, Godlike behavior and says nothing, or states this is “a step in the right direction”, things are drastically morally wrong in their life. This is beyond the morally inept society we live in, let alone any church organization. And, this is supposed to be not just ANY church organization, but God’s called? To have to tell a minister these things? “Do not hit or physically assault children. Do not show physical displays of affection in isolated areas of the premises such as bedrooms, bathrooms, private areas of the home or cars. Do not share a bedroom with a child. Do not have inappropriate or lengthy hugs or kisses on the mouth. Do not touch buttocks, genital areas, chest, knees, thighs or legs…” This is very, very vile, evil and disturbing that it NEEDS to be said, and it does, due the ongoing, very real threat that is ever present in this group.
This is Sick, How sad…the ongoing, very real threat, as you said. I Thess. 4.9 says, “As touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” That is being Spirit led.
Mary Lou;
As all this split-wide-open, we had a deep mourning for all the trusting souls who were and have been so violently destroyed by 3 piece suits and shinny shoes in the name Of Our Supreme Father, our humble, God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit.
And Then, we became ANGRY: They had the “audacity” to do it in the very name of Jesus, who was God, who humbled himself and Philippians 2:8 became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Why? So “satan”could twist and wrest: as an angel of light??? with their Banner of God’s Only One Humble Right Way???
Our anger cooled, and has been replaced by a focus to make God’s WORD; as written; the focus and awareness for ALL WHO diligently want to KNOW God’s Heart, mind, and will. Yes, God has revealed by the Spirit of Christ(1 Peter 1:11 and 2 Peter 1:20-:21) and the Holy Spirit.
AND Peter warns 2Peter 2:1 There were false prophets and false teachers…. :2 AND many shall follow their pernicious WAYS.
You have only one defense!; Ephesians 6:11-:17 against the wiles of the “devil”; know the—which is the Word of God.!
Mary Lou: Paul explains in Ephesians 1:12. who first trusted in Christ
Eph. 1:13. In whom ye also trusted after ye heard the WORD of Truth, the “gospel of your salvation”:
in whom ALSO after ye believed,
“ye were SEALED” with that Holy Spirit of ‘promise!!!!
Also, to put emphasis to your important emphasis; Romans 5:5;
1 Corinthians 6:19 and 12:12 – :13; 2 Timothy 1:14
AND just KNOW: that any who deny this basic fact in God’s Word; do NOT know or have God’s Gospel of Grace.
This has allowed us to Pray without ceasing for the healing of the destroyed and tossed aside, and against all the wiles of satan: that continues to hold its grip on the perpetrators and their protectors.
Dear Astounded, thank you for all of the bible verses you mentioned. I looked up each one. I’m so thankful that we have the pure, holy word of God in all it’s cleaness and simplicity, to focus on, with nothing of man added to or taken away. That’s what gives me rest in heart. And we can pray for all of the souls who’ve been unheard, unvalued and left behind. Our loving Father earnestly yearns for each one, not desiring that ANY should perish! Thanks again.
Mary Lou;
What an encouragement. Thank you. Our assurance of even God’s presence was questionable during our decades of 2×2’s…. as we had feed-back from the supreme workers. So thank you for the quiet Joy given us in the pure, holy word of God. It was when we let the “word’s of Romans 3:21 soak in” BUT NOW:; ((something happened?? What??)) Now, that we have been able to understand It is by the “”faith of Jesus Christ”: that God is able to be Righteous and ALSO have :24 That we being justified ‘freely’ by God’s grace — through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (( Ephesians 2:4 -:12)
HOW? :25-:26 this is such simplicity for HIM who “believeth in ‘Jesus’ Risen”. As in Romans 4:24 :25 and raised again for our ‘justification’.
Oh, how we desire THAT all the wounded and weary souls; could have this assurance and rest in heart you speak of.
“-give them bread”. That sounds so awesome. But, what does it mean? Jesus always said words with meaning. This just sounds worker lite where no answers are available. Instead of the worker attempting to be the solution and say, “-give them bread”, why not give the problem to Jesus, the only One who saves and the One who can help those who are, “distraught over some problem”. Pray to God, Jesus the Almighty can help!
I am convinced that no matter how a problem is handled by a worker that there are many on this site who will find something to find fault with and sow seeds of discord. The advise given -give them bread- is exactly what you have said. Give them bread from the word of God and let Jesus work with them. In that way they can come to the real solution to their problem. The worker taking sides and getting into the midst of the problem will only cause other problems.
So it looks like it’s still OK to view porn via a Host’s WiFi then?
How about, if they have a Smartphone or device provided by the church, it has non user-editable content filtering.
In fact none of these should be required if they are Spirit-led, as touted.
They won’t be at our house! They have a warning in their rooms, and we can SEE literally EVERYTHING they visit on the internet…and you breach the standards of our home, and you’ll get a talking to and be told to leave our home. They wouldn’t be the first to be removed, and sadly, likely not the last!
My husband and I take our service to God very serious. That saying, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord “ is not a suggestion…if Jesus teachings, and God’s Son aren’t important to you, find a hotel.