Because leadership is a highly influential piece of the spiritual formation of our church, we are held to a higher standard of wholeness and spiritual health.

Since we are given the responsibility to lead others, we have the same weight and the responsibility to lead ourselves well. Every position of platform at Journey is handled with reverence toward the weight of our spiritual, physical, and emotional health.

Journey Church has implemented the Honor Code as a tool in building a healthy Church. Our conduct should never be an embarrassment to Christ, but should exemplify the best qualities of a mature believer and servant-leader.

I will be fully committed to the following:

A Healthy Spiritual Walk

I am committed to growing daily with the Lord by living a life of prayer, reading the word, and regularly seeking community and accountability. I will make this my first priority. On the platform, I will never pour out from a cup that is empty.

Being Punctual

I will make sure to plan and prepare to arrive to call times 10 mins early. Being on time communicates that I am committed to this team and that I value everyone else’s time.

Timely Communication

I understand this team is an active team that involves my best communication, reception, and feedback with those that I serve with and those that are leading me. If I am running late for a service, I will communicate to my leader as soon as possible.
I commit to replying to personal messages from my leader within 48 hours. I also commit to staying updated with the most recent announcements and updates from the team.

Attending or Leading a Small Group

I will attend or lead a small group during the fall and spring small group semesters. I understand that we are not just a church with small groups but OF small groups. Small groups help my spiritual walk.

Staying away from sexual misconduct

I am committed to live above reproach and to withstand from sexual sin. If I am struggling in any area, I will communicate to my leader and be transparent. I understand that we all fall short and that my leaders are here to help me and not judge. Sexual misconduct includes: Sexual intercourse outside of marriage, Sexual messages through text, DM’s, social media, dating apps, ect.

Refraining from gossip

Gossip is engaging in negative observations, conversations, or interrogations, about another leader, staff member or ministry without that staff member or ministry leader present.

I will refrain from participation in gossip, murmuring, and complaining about church leaders and policies.

I will address my concerns to the appropriate leaders in a civil and Christ-like manner.

Don’t make a private disagreement public. No church gets 100% agreement on every decision. But once that decision has been made, we expect our leaders to get in step with it publicly. Constructive criticism and feedback is highly recommended by your leaders and should be made privately and to the appropriate personnel.
I understand that the biblical model for confrontation is to directly confront your brother or sister (Matthew 18:15).

I will not ask another team member to represent my opinions on my behalf. This includes disagreements, suggestions, complaints, or advice.

Representing Christ well online

We expect our Platform Leaders to embody our church’s mission while online: To Make Jesus Accessible to Anyone.

Think like Jesus. Our posts should be consistent with biblical truth. We must be clear that Jesus is the only path to salvation. We don’t tear down other Christians even when we disagree with them.

Be like Jesus. These character traits should be evident in our every post: patience, joy, peace, love, gentleness, self-control, faithfulness, humility, and kindness. And yes, it’s more work to translate those qualities to social media.

We expect our leaders’ behavior to be above reproach. If you’re doing something that looks questionable, don’t post it! Online, there is no context for the drink in your hand or the person you are photographed with. On social media, perception is reality; it matters how your post will be perceived.

Be modest. If you are intending your post to show off your body outside of the context of an active recreational setting, you are probably better off not making the post. Even then, whether you're at the gym or the beach, celebrate your blessings modestly.

The social media accounts of any platform or leadership personnel have the potential to directly negatively affect the public relation standings of Journey Church. Because of this, you agree that your leader reserves the right to request any media to be taken down if deemed inappropriate or offensive to the community that we serve.

Be wise with your influence. God has placed you in a position of leadership because you have gifts and talents that make a difference. The world is aware of that and is watching you. Be smart about what you post.

Honoring God

When we live a life of integrity. patterned after the life of Christ, we honor God. As Christians, we are adopted as sons and daughters in God's House. As the Dream Team, we are appointed as leaders in God's House.

1 Peter 2:12 (NIV) - "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Exemplifying the highest moral commitment, Journey's leaders are to maintain a disciplined life of Bible reading, prayer, and fasting.

By providing an example in speech and action, we encourage others to grow in Christ and become servants-leaders themselves. This is a way of life measured by the heart and commitment of each leader in the Journey Church family. We should regard it as an essential part of our development, not as an imposition or restriction.

We honor God by …

• Refraining from such things as…
  • Excessive Profanity
  • Indulging in too much wine or other alcoholic beverages
  • Smoking or chewing tobacco
  • Dishonest gain
  • Illegal drugs
  • Pornography
  • All behaviors which might cause Christ to grieve and others to stumble
• Receiving water baptism
  John 3:5 (NLT) - "Jesus replied, I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.'"
• Participating in communion
  1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV) - "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
• Supporting Biblical marriage
  Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV) - "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.
• Faithfully Tithing
  Matthew 6:21 (NLT) - "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
• Honoring the leadership of the church
  Hebrews 13:17 - "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy. not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
• Honoring His people
  Romans 14:19 (PH) - "So let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony, and on the growth of our fellowship together.
• Honoring His House
  Honor the way God directs us to build His House. In 1 Timothy, Paul provides a description of the character that is to be exhibited in Church leaders. Not perfection - character. And he instructs us to give a "close examination" of people before we appoint them as leaders.

As Christians, the way we present ourselves to others is of vital importance to the way others perceive Christ. Our conduct should never be an embarrassment to Christ, but should exemplify the best qualities of a mature believer and servant-leader.