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Code of Conduct

Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International provides a safe spiritual and social community to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex current and former Seventh-day Adventists, their families, and those who support them. SDA Kinship is committed to providing a safe and welcoming space, without regard to age, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, mental or physical disability, physical appearance, neuro(a)typicality, religion, level of knowledge, level of experience, parental status, marital status, socioeconomic status or background, political affiliation, or any other attribute.


The leaders of SDA Kinship share the responsibility of enforcing these policies to maintain an open and welcoming environment. They include:

 

  • SDA Kinship’s Board of Directors

  • Regional/Chapter Coordinators

  • Persons assisting SDA in Kinship Outreach Programs

  • Anyone representing SDA Kinship or hosting official SDA Kinship events

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Applicability

This code of conduct serves to ensure that everybody and anybody who chooses to participate is able to do so. It applies to all members of SDA Kinship at all official SDA Kinship events. Further, it applies to online activities related to SDA Kinship, including emails and postings on social media platforms.

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Harassment

Harassment is any unwelcome or hostile behavior toward another person for any reason. This includes, but is not limited to, offensive verbal comments related to personal characteristics or choices, sexual images or comments, deliberate intimidation, bullying, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of discussion or events, nonconsensual publication of private comments, inappropriate physical contact, or unwelcome sexual attention. Conduct need not be intentional to be harassment. SDA Kinship will not tolerate such behavior.

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Confidentiality

SDA Kinship’s focus is to create a safe community, specifically for our LGBTQ+ members. Some may be questioning their orientation and starting their personal journey of self-discovery and may not be “out.” Members may still be married to an opposite gendered spouse. Other members may be out to close friends or family, but not their church. Other members work in Seventh-day Adventist or other religious institutions where they can be fired if their sexuality is discovered.

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  • Ask before sharing information from a private conversation or SDA Kinship discussion.

  • Ask before taking or sharing any pictures taken during SDA Kinship events.

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Respect

The SDA Kinship community is designed as a place for people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Our members fall along all spectrums of gender, sexual orientation, age, and spirituality. We do not expect conformity to every belief, or that everybody will share the same opinion. But we expect disagreements to be respectful.

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Sharing an opinion/belief/understanding about an issue should be based on one’s own experience. Do not judge, shame, or talk about someone else.

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Reporting Processes

If you are unable to resolve the issue, or are uncomfortable doing so, contact a Board Member, coordinator, event host, or the SDA Kinship Office, either in person or electronically. SDA Kinship leaders agree to keep information shared relative to a Code of Conduct violation private, and may reveal it only with the approval of the affected person(s).

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Email info@sdakinship.org. Emails are checked frequently, but may not be seen immediately.

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When making a report, the following information is useful, but not required:

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  • Your name

  • The identity of the person who violated the Code of Conduct

  • Where and when the violation occurred?

  • What happened?

  • Who else was present when the violation occurred?

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Outcomes

SDA Kinship leaders agree to treat all violations impartially, and will strive to apply this code of conduct consistently. For situations in which this is not possible because of personal or business relationships, leaders shall refer the violation to an appropriate decision-maker with the approval of the affected person(s).

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Leadership may take any appropriate action, including expulsion and a ban from future events to resolve a violation of this code of conduct. In the event of gray areas, precedence will be given to the person affected by the conduct.

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