Code of Conduct

OpenCenter Fellowship is committed to fostering a community in which every person is treated with dignity, compassion, integrity, and respect.

This Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behaviour that help create a safe, welcoming, accountable, and trustworthy community for everyone who participates in the life of the fellowship.

Contents

Introduction

Part I — Foundations of Conduct

Purpose
Scope
Our Shared Commitment
Our Behavioural Principles

Part II — Standards of Conduct

Expected Standards of Conduct
Unacceptable Behaviour
Responsibilities of Leaders

Part III — Concerns, Accountability, and Response

Raising Concerns
Responding to Breaches
Protection from Retaliation
Fairness and Confidentiality
Cooperation with Investigations

Part IV — Review and Continuous Improvement

Continuous Improvement
Review of this Code

Part V — Governance Framework

Related Documents
Our Commitment

Introduction

This document explains the standards of behaviour expected of everyone who participates in the life and work of OpenCenter Fellowship. It describes the principles that help create a safe, respectful, accountable, and welcoming Christian community.

It supports a community shaped by dignity, compassion, integrity, accountability, responsible leadership, good governance, and effective safeguarding.

These standards apply across the fellowship’s worship services, House Fellowships, meetings, events, pastoral relationships, volunteer activities, leadership responsibilities, and digital communications.

↑ Back to Contents

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to establish the standards of behaviour expected of everyone who participates in the life and work of OpenCenter Fellowship.

Our community seeks to reflect the life and teachings of Jesus Christ through relationships characterised by love, compassion, humility, integrity, wisdom, forgiveness, justice, service, and respect for the dignity of every person.

This Code exists to help create a community that is safe, welcoming, respectful, transparent, accountable, and worthy of the trust placed in it by members, volunteers, visitors, leaders, and the wider public.

It provides a shared framework for behaviour that supports healthy relationships, responsible leadership, good governance, and effective safeguarding throughout the fellowship.

↑ Back to Contents

2. Scope

This Code of Conduct applies to everyone participating in the life of OpenCenter Fellowship, including:

The Lead Pastor.
Members of the Leadership Team.
House Fellowship Leaders.
Members.
Volunteers.
Individuals serving in pastoral, volunteer, or leadership roles.
Participants in House Fellowships.
Visitors attending meetings, services, events, or activities organised by OpenCenter Fellowship.

Everyone is expected to uphold the standards described in this Code regardless of their role or level of responsibility.

Leaders are expected to model these standards consistently and recognise that leadership carries additional responsibility because of the trust placed in them.

↑ Back to Contents

3. Our Shared Commitment

OpenCenter Fellowship is committed to creating an environment in which every person is treated with dignity, kindness, fairness, and respect.

We recognise that every individual has inherent worth and should be able to participate in the life of the fellowship without fear of intimidation, discrimination, abuse, harassment, manipulation, or exploitation.

We seek to foster a culture that encourages honesty, humility, mutual respect, accountability, forgiveness, and personal responsibility.

Disagreement is a normal part of life within any community. We therefore encourage respectful dialogue, careful listening, and peaceful resolution of differences while recognising that sincere Christians may hold different views on many matters.

We reject every form of behaviour that undermines the safety, wellbeing, dignity, or freedom of another person.

↑ Back to Contents

4. Our Behavioural Principles

Everyone participating in OpenCenter Fellowship is expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the values of the fellowship.

The following principles guide the behaviour expected of everyone participating in the life of OpenCenter Fellowship:

Love — Treat every person with genuine care, kindness, patience, and goodwill.
Compassion — Show empathy towards others, particularly those who are experiencing difficulty, suffering, or vulnerability.
Humility — Recognise that no one possesses complete understanding. Be willing to listen, learn, apologise where appropriate, and receive constructive feedback.
Integrity — Act honestly, truthfully, and consistently in both words and actions. Avoid deception, manipulation, and behaviour that could undermine trust.
Respect — Treat every person with courtesy and dignity regardless of age, nationality, ethnicity, culture, language, disability, sex, financial circumstances, or background. Respect differences of opinion while maintaining a spirit of kindness and mutual understanding.
Service — Seek opportunities to support, encourage, and assist others rather than seeking personal recognition or influence.
Wisdom — Exercise good judgement, particularly where decisions may affect the wellbeing of other people or the reputation of the fellowship.
Accountability — Accept responsibility for personal conduct and be willing to acknowledge mistakes, learn from experience, and take appropriate corrective action where necessary.
Stewardship — Use the resources, opportunities, responsibilities, and trust entrusted to you faithfully and responsibly.

↑ Back to Contents

5. Expected Standards of Conduct

The following standards describe the behaviour expected of everyone who participates in the life of OpenCenter Fellowship.

They apply in person, online, during worship services, House Fellowships, meetings, events, pastoral conversations, and all other activities connected with the fellowship.

Respect and Relationships

Respect for Others — Every person should be treated with dignity, courtesy, patience, and respect.

Members are encouraged to listen carefully, communicate graciously, and seek to understand one another, even where differences of opinion exist.

Personal attacks, ridicule, insults, humiliation, intimidation, or behaviour intended to shame or belittle another person are inconsistent with the values of OpenCenter Fellowship.

Honest and Respectful Communication — We encourage communication that is truthful, constructive, and considerate.

Members should seek to resolve misunderstandings through respectful conversation whenever possible.

Deliberately spreading false information, gossip, malicious rumours, or confidential information that has been shared in trust is inconsistent with this Code of Conduct.

Constructive feedback and respectful disagreement are welcomed when expressed with humility and consideration for others.

Inclusion and Equality — OpenCenter Fellowship welcomes people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, nationalities, and life experiences.

Every person should be treated fairly and without discrimination.

No one should be excluded, disadvantaged, or treated unfairly because of personal characteristics or circumstances.

We seek to create a community in which every individual feels welcomed, respected, valued, and safe.

Healthy Relationships — Healthy relationships are built upon mutual respect, honesty, kindness, appropriate boundaries, and personal responsibility.

Everyone is expected to contribute positively to the life of the fellowship by encouraging others, resolving disagreements peacefully, and avoiding behaviour that damages relationships or community life.

Where conflicts arise, individuals are encouraged to seek reconciliation wherever possible through respectful dialogue and mutual understanding.

↑ Back to Contents

6. Unacceptable Behaviour

The following behaviours are incompatible with the values of OpenCenter Fellowship and are not acceptable within any activity, meeting, event, or online community connected with the fellowship.

These behaviours undermine the safe, respectful, and welcoming community that OpenCenter Fellowship seeks to build and may result in appropriate action being taken under this Code.

This list is not exhaustive but includes:

Abuse of any kind.
Spiritual abuse or manipulation.
Abuse of authority or position.
Bullying or intimidation.
Harassment.
Discrimination.
Sexual harassment or sexual misconduct.
Physical violence or threats of violence.
Coercive or controlling behaviour.
Financial abuse or financial dishonesty.
Fraud, theft, or deliberate misuse of fellowship resources.
Deliberate deception or dishonesty.
Malicious gossip or intentionally damaging another person’s reputation.
Retaliation against someone who raises a concern in good faith.
Knowingly making false or malicious allegations.
Behaviour that places children, young people, or vulnerable adults at risk.
Conduct that seriously damages the trust, safety, or wellbeing of the fellowship.

OpenCenter Fellowship will respond appropriately to behaviour that breaches this Code, taking account of the seriousness of the conduct, the wellbeing of those affected, the need for fairness, and the requirements of safeguarding and applicable law.

↑ Back to Contents

7. Responsibilities of Leaders

Leaders carry a particular responsibility because of the trust placed in them by the fellowship.

Because leaders influence the culture, wellbeing, and reputation of the fellowship, they are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of personal conduct and responsible leadership.

Leadership opportunities within OpenCenter Fellowship are open to qualified men and women, with appointments based on Christian character, spiritual maturity, integrity, demonstrated servant leadership, and suitability for the responsibilities of the role.

In addition to the standards expected of every member, leaders are expected to demonstrate conduct that reflects the values, mission, and governing principles of OpenCenter Fellowship in both their public responsibilities and private conduct where it may reasonably affect the fellowship.

Leaders are expected to:

lead through service rather than control;
exercise authority with humility, wisdom, and integrity;
act honestly, fairly, and transparently;
maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries;
avoid any misuse of influence, authority, or position;
safeguard the wellbeing of those entrusted to their care;
encourage respectful dialogue and healthy relationships;
declare conflicts of interest promptly;
manage fellowship resources responsibly;
cooperate fully with legitimate governance, safeguarding, and accountability processes;
undertake appropriate safeguarding and governance training where required.

Leaders should seek to build trust through consistent character, sound judgement, openness to accountability, and a willingness to receive constructive feedback.

↑ Back to Contents

8. Raising Concerns

Everyone associated with OpenCenter Fellowship has both the right and the responsibility to raise genuine concerns where they believe conduct may be inconsistent with this Code or where individuals may be at risk.

Concerns may relate to:

unacceptable behaviour;
misconduct;
abuse of authority;
safeguarding concerns;
financial misconduct;
unethical leadership;
discrimination;
harassment;
bullying;
breaches of this Code;
behaviour that places individuals or the fellowship at significant risk.

Concerns should be raised as soon as reasonably practicable so that they can be considered appropriately.

OpenCenter Fellowship is committed to ensuring that concerns raised honestly and in good faith are treated respectfully, fairly, and without retaliation.

Detailed reporting procedures are set out in the Complaints & Reporting Procedure.

↑ Back to Contents

9. Responding to Breaches

OpenCenter Fellowship seeks to respond to concerns in a manner that is fair, proportionate, impartial, and consistent with the principles of natural justice.

The response to any alleged breach will depend upon the nature and seriousness of the conduct.

Where appropriate, responses may include:

informal discussion or guidance;
pastoral support;
mediation where suitable;
additional training or supervision;
formal review;
temporary restriction or suspension of responsibilities;
removal from a leadership or volunteer role;
termination of membership where appropriate;
referral to the appropriate civil authorities where criminal conduct is suspected.

Where safeguarding concerns arise, the wellbeing and safety of those affected will always take priority.

Internal fellowship processes exist to provide pastoral care, accountability, and appropriate organisational action. They do not replace the responsibility of the police, safeguarding agencies, or other statutory authorities to investigate suspected criminal offences.

↑ Back to Contents

10. Protection from Retaliation

OpenCenter Fellowship will not tolerate retaliation against any person who raises a genuine concern or participates honestly in an investigation.

Retaliation includes intimidation, threats, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, or any action intended to discourage someone from reporting concerns or cooperating with an investigation.

Anyone found to have engaged in retaliation may themselves be subject to appropriate action under this Code.

This protection does not extend to individuals who knowingly make false, malicious, or intentionally misleading allegations.

↑ Back to Contents

11. Fairness and Confidentiality

Concerns will be handled with appropriate sensitivity, fairness, and confidentiality.

Information will be shared only with those who have a legitimate need to know in order to safeguard individuals, investigate concerns, fulfil governance responsibilities, or comply with legal obligations.

Absolute confidentiality cannot always be guaranteed where safeguarding concerns, criminal conduct, legal requirements, or significant risks to individuals are involved.

OpenCenter Fellowship seeks to balance the privacy of everyone involved with its responsibility to protect people, uphold justice, and act responsibly.

↑ Back to Contents

12. Cooperation with Investigations

Everyone associated with OpenCenter Fellowship is expected to cooperate honestly and respectfully with legitimate safeguarding, governance, disciplinary, or external investigations.

This includes providing truthful information, respecting confidentiality where appropriate, preserving relevant information, and avoiding actions that may interfere with a fair investigation.

↑ Back to Contents

13. Continuous Improvement

Healthy communities continually learn and improve.

OpenCenter Fellowship is committed to regularly reviewing its policies, leadership practices, safeguarding arrangements, and governance procedures in order to strengthen the wellbeing of the fellowship and protect everyone who participates in its life.

Experience gained from concerns, complaints, safeguarding matters, and governance reviews may be used to improve future policies, training, leadership development, and organisational practice.

↑ Back to Contents

14. Review of this Code

This Code of Conduct will be reviewed periodically by the Leadership Team and the Supervisory Board to ensure that it remains effective, reflects recognised good governance and safeguarding practice, and continues to support the mission and values of OpenCenter Fellowship.

Revisions may be made where necessary to reflect organisational growth, practical experience, developments in safeguarding practice, or changes in applicable law.

↑ Back to Contents

This document forms part of the governance framework of OpenCenter Fellowship and should be read alongside the following documents:

Public Governance Documents

Internal Governance Documents

Constitution of OpenCenter Fellowship
Financial Management & Internal Controls Policy

Legal & Website Documents

Together, these documents establish the governance and legal framework of OpenCenter Fellowship and support our commitment to ethical leadership, responsible stewardship, safeguarding, accountability, transparency, and respect for the dignity of every person.

↑ Back to Contents

16. Our Commitment

OpenCenter Fellowship is committed to fostering a community in which every person is treated with dignity, respect, compassion, and integrity.

This Code of Conduct reflects our shared commitment to creating an environment that is safe, welcoming, accountable, and worthy of the trust placed in us by our members, volunteers, visitors, and the wider community.

We believe that healthy communities are built not simply through rules, but through people who choose each day to serve one another with humility, wisdom, honesty, forgiveness, and love. By seeking to live out these values together, we aim to reflect the example of Jesus Christ and to contribute positively to the lives of those we serve.

↑ Back to Contents

Document Information

Document: Code of Conduct

Approved by: Leadership Team

Version: 1.1

Effective date: 6 July 2026

Last reviewed: 15 July 2026

Next scheduled review: July 2027

© 2026 OpenCenter Fellowship. All rights reserved.

This document forms part of the governance framework of OpenCenter Fellowship and should be read together with the other applicable governance documents of the fellowship.

The official Dutch version of this document is legally authoritative. This English version is provided for the convenience of international readers. In the event of any difference in interpretation, the official Dutch version shall prevail.