Harassment policy.

STATMENT: New Life Church is committed to fostering a harassment-free environment where all are treated with dignity and respect. Everyone has a role in creating a safe church community through living out Jesus’ love in our interactions with those around us.

SCOPE: This policy describes the expectations of New Life Church staff and volunteers that may hold positions of authority within the church body. Harassment and/or abuse by a church leader or caregiver can occur within the church context and where one party has more power than the other. The perpetrator can be anyone in a leadership position, either paid or volunteer. It could include a pastor, Christian counselor, youth leader, Sunday School teacher or any other Church leader positions.

If anyone has witnessed or experienced harassment by church leaders or volunteers in our community, we encourage you to report your concerns so that we can live out our commitment to protecting the vulnerable and in modeling a Jesus-centered community.

This policy should be read alongside the Be In Christ Church of Canada’s Handbook on Faith & Life

DEFINITION: “Harassment” means a pattern of behaviour, including that of a sexual nature or based on a human right ground, that is or should reasonably be known to be unwanted and create a harmful environment. 

Examples of harassment can include:

  • aggressive or threatening behaviour, including verbal threats or abuse

  • persistently criticizing, undermining, belittling, demeaning or ridiculing someone

  • using inappropriate language toward someone

  • sending inappropriate electronic communications to threaten or maliciously embarrass someone

  • publicly ridiculing or disciplining someone

  • unwanted physical contact or threat of such

  • sexually suggestive remarks, jokes or gestures

  • soliciting a sexual or romantic relationship or making social invitations with sexual overtones

  • unwanted physical or sexual touching (for example, patting, pinching, caressing, kissing, fondling)

  • unwanted sexual invitations or requests

  • sending inappropriate electronic communications (for example, sexually explicit emails)

  • comments that demean or disrespect a person's sexual or gender identity

Sexual abuse or sexualized behaviour includes any physical contact, bodily movement, or verbalization that uses sexual expression to control or intimidate the less powerful person in the relationship. The acts involved may be overt, involving actual physical contact of a sexualized nature or covert, as in pornography, sexual innuendo, or inappropriate disclosures of a personal nature regarding sexual matters. The person victimized may be an adult or a child, female or male, and the same or of the opposite sex as the offender.

RESPONSIBILITIES & EXPECTATIONS: All members, congregants, staff and adherents play a role in creating and maintaining a healthy and safe church community. In addition to the everyone’s responsibility to treat each other with love and grace, these additional responsibilities apply:

Executive Director (Be In Christ Canada). The Executive Director of Be In Christ is responsible to provide guidance and direction where a report of harassment involves a member of the Board of Directors or Senior Pastor.

Board of Directors (New Life). The New Life Church Board of Directors is responsible to provide guidance and direction where a report of harassment involves staff members other than Senior Pastor. If a report of harassment involving the Senior Pastor is received, the Board of Directors will be also informed.

The Board of Directors is also responsible to ensure that the Case Management Team has the knowledge and skills to respond to reports of harassment.

Senior Pastor. The New Life Lead Pastor is responsible to provide guidance and direction where a report of harassment involves a ministry leader or other volunteer. Through consultation with the Case Management Team, identify harassment cases involving New Life Staff warranted to be brought forward to the Board of Directors for review. Update the Executive Director (Be in Christ Canada) if harassment involved an Associate Pastor.

Case Management Team. The New Life Case Management Team is responsible to receive and review reports of harassment. This team will engage the responsible group, based on the nature of the report, to determine appropriate steps to address the matter. Responsibilities may include reviewing and reporting harassment cases and recommendations to the Senior Pastor and Board of Directors.

The Case Management Team will be staffed with experienced and qualified personnel that have specific background in investigating allegations of Harassment.

REPORTING AN INCIDENT: In situations where you are exposed / witnessed harassment, reports can be made using the online form:

Note that harassment claims brought forwards toward New Life Staff will be taken very seriously and handled in a timely manner while ensuring all parties in the process are treated fairly and with respect. For any victims of harassment, New Life Church will provide support through a Victim Advocate if requested.

PRIVACY: New Life Church seeks to protect your privacy when reporting an incident. Disclosing any personal information in the reporting process requires your consent, except where necessary to appropriately respond to the situation or required by law, including:

  • Suspected or reported harm to self (e.g. suicide, suicidal ideation)

  • Suspected or reported harm to others (e.g. assault or other personal injury)

  • Suspected or reported abuse or neglect of a child/minor or vulnerable person

  • If an adult discloses childhood sexual abuse and the perpetrator holds a position at present where children or vulnerable persons are in their care, appropriate authorities will need to be consulted

ENQUIRIES: Questions or comments about this policy can be directed to the New Life Church Board of Directors or the Senior Pastor.