SCOPE & APPLICABILITY
This policy has been developed as a foundational guide for all DIF Volunteers. These include but are not limited to Church Oversight Council Members, CORE Leaders, Servant Leaders, and all other Volunteer Team Members.

TEAM MEMBERS

1. The desire to serve originates from the heart of God, it is countercultural and contrary to the natural inclination of persons to think only of themselves. Therefore, we view a volunteer as someone whose heart is being stirred by the Holy Spirit and we want to affirm and join His work in a person’s life.

2. If the desire to serve is born of the Holy Spirit, then service is a gateway to further exploration and experience of the Gospel and becomes a bridge to building relationships with mature believers and a deepening personal walk with Christ.

3. Service provides a self-denying, others-focused activity that can lead to a softer heart to receive spiritual truth.

4. The resulting foundational guide, then, is that DIF welcomes Volunteer Team Members. Volunteer Team Members are differentiated from “Servant Leaders” who have responsibility to speak into the lives of others (see below).

5. Council Members and CORE Leaders are charged with the responsibility to build relationships with Volunteer Team Members and exhort them in personal faith and discipleship. If behaviours that bring a reproach to the Gospel come to light, the CORE Leader of the pertinent team will contact their Volunteer Team Member to exhort, encourage, and pray with them about those concerns. If the issue is not resolved, the CORE Leader will notify a Pastor about the issue at hand and follow-up accordingly.

6. Council Members, CORE Leaders, Servant Leaders and Volunteer Team Members should be open to correction and humble enough to submit to the Holy Spirit to modify attitudes and behaviours so as not to discredit the Gospel or the church.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, CORE LEADERS & SERVANT LEADERS

(*Servant leaders include but are not limited to Praise & Worship Team Leaders; Life Group Leaders; DIF Service Prayer Partners; Kids Leaders; Youth Leaders; and others that the Church Oversight Council deems as having a role of spiritual impartation.)

Building on from the above foundational guidelines for DIF Volunteer Team Members, there are additional expectations for those in Council Member, CORE Leader and Servant Leader positions:

1. The aspiration to Christian leadership is a noble calling, requiring humility and surrender to a higher standard of spiritual, personal, and public scrutiny.
2. The aspiration to Christian leadership broadens the influence of the leader, and therefore, demands extra care to maintaining a testimony that honors the Gospel.
3. Those in leadership positions (as outlined above) will sign this DIF Volunteer Policy, also agreeing to the following guidelines as long as they are serving in a DIF leadership role:
   1. Demonstrate a servant heart (John 13:3-14)
      • Strive to be worthy of the trust and authority bestowed in being affirmed as a leader.
      • Embrace the vision, values, and mission of the DIF; by signing this document, the leader commits to support the DIF Statement of Faith and organizational Constitution.
      • Be accountable to their team members and to one another.
   2. Strive for wholesome speech (avoid swear words, and other offensive language including sexual connotations, or racial, religious, or political slurs). A commitment to integrity and accountability in online communications.
   3. Exercise caution with potentially addictive behaviors/harmful substances. Illegal drug use and/or drunkenness is never acceptable. DIF Council Members, CORE Leaders and Servant Leaders agree to refrain from the consumption of alcohol at all DIF events.
   4. Live a lifestyle of sexual integrity:
      • Extra care in physical contact with those we serve (even gestures of care and concern can be misinterpreted).
      • Sexual purity: sex outside of marriage is prohibited; sexual innuendo and harassment are never acceptable.
   5. Endeavor to align their attitudes and behaviors in a lifestyle befitting the title “Christian” or “Christ-one”—including all the above and in other areas:
      • Honesty and integrity in financial matters. Seeking financial benefit from a church role is never acceptable.
      • Confidentiality in serving. Informing only the Church Oversight Council Members immediately where there are concerns for safety (of the person or others), legal implications, or when information is in the public domain. Disclosure is a serious matter and the assistance of a Council member should be sought.
      • Notification of a Council Member in situations that involve a victim of abuse or a person who may need professional counseling.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS POLICY

1. Any breach of this code involving a criminal offence may lead to a report being made to the relevant authorities.
2. Any breach relating to the harm, or risk of harm, of a child or young person will be dealt with according to DIF’s Child Protection Policy.
3. Any other breach will be considered by the CORE Leader and the Pastor(s) considering the best interests of the volunteer and those we serve and may result in the volunteer being stood down either temporarily or otherwise. The Pastor(s) will notify the Church Oversight Council of any decisions in this regard.
4. All Council Members, CORE Leaders, Servant Leaders and Volunteer Team Members should be open to correction and humble enough to submit to the Holy Spirit and the Church Oversight Council to modify attitudes and behaviors that may discredit the Gospel or the church.