The Code of Conduct

“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7

At Local, we believe leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility.

To represent Jesus and serve His Church is one of the greatest honors we could ever be given.
But with influence comes responsibility.

Whether we realize it or not, the way we live speaks loudly. Our attitudes, relationships, conversations, choices, integrity, and online presence all communicate something about the Jesus we represent. The truth is, our lives preach before we ever pick up a microphone.

People are watching how we live. Not because we are expected to be perfect, but because leadership carries influence. And influence should be stewarded with wisdom, humility, and integrity.

This Code of Conduct exists to create healthy boundaries, clear expectations, and a culture of accountability that protects both people and the Church.

It is not about control. It is about care.
It is not about legalism. It is about leadership.

As servant leaders, we understand that discipleship includes correction, accountability, growth, and honesty.
When we signed the Servant Leader Covenant, we gave leadership permission to pastor us, challenge us, disciple us, and help us become more like Jesus. Healthy accountability is not punishment, it is protection.

This code is not meant to restrict people, It’s meant to help us build a healthy, trustworthy, life-giving church culture together.

Our Code Of Conduct

1. We Represent Jesus Everywhere We Go

Serving does not stop when Sunday ends. Whether we are at church, online, at work, at school, in relationships, or out in the city, we understand that our lives reflect both Jesus and the Church we are part of.

We commit to living with integrity, wisdom, humility, and self-awareness in every environment. Not because we are trying to perform for people — but because people deserve to see a genuine representation of Jesus through our lives.

2. We Dress With Wisdom And Honor

We believe you can be modern, stylish, creative, and expressive while still carrying wisdom and honor. As servant leaders, we commit to dressing appropriately and thoughtfully while serving, especially on Sundays and at church gatherings.

We avoid clothing that is excessively revealing, distracting, offensive, inappropriate, or dishonoring to the environment we are helping create. We understand that excellence and stewardship include the way we present ourselves.

3. We Use Social Media Responsibly

Social media is powerful because influence is powerful. As leaders, we understand that what we post, repost, joke about, celebrate, promote, or engage with online reflects our values and impacts people connected to our church community.

We commit to using wisdom, discernment, and maturity online. We avoid posting content that is vulgar, sexually explicit, hateful, divisive, reckless, or damaging to the witness of Jesus and His Church. We want our platforms to reflect life, integrity, encouragement, wisdom, and authenticity.

4. We Honor Boundaries In Relationships

We commit to healthy, appropriate, honoring relationships in every area of life. We avoid unwelcome flirtation, emotional manipulation, inappropriate communication and relationships that create confusion, temptation, or distrust.

We believe trust is built through transparency and wisdom. As servant leaders, we understand that emotional health, relational integrity, and sexual integrity matter deeply. We choose honor over compromise.

5. We Protect Unity

We refuse to participate in gossip, slander, division, unhealthy criticism, or dishonor toward leadership, teams, or people in the church. Healthy conversations happen face-to-face, not intentionally behind people’s backs.

We commit to being people who protect the spirit of unity and fight for healthy communication. Because what we normalize privately eventually shapes culture publicly.

6. We Show Up With Excellence

We honor people by being dependable. As servant leaders, we commit to being punctual, prepared, communicative, and responsible.

We understand that inconsistency affects people beyond ourselves. Excellence is not perfection, it’s stewardship. We bring our best because people matter.

7. We Live Free From Substance Abuse

We commit to living with wisdom, self-control, and sobriety. We understand that addiction, drunkenness, substance abuse, and reckless behavior damage both people and influence.

As leaders, we want our lives marked by freedom, health, and maturity. We believe the Holy Spirit leads us toward wisdom, not compromise.

8. We Value Purity And Integrity

We commit to living lives of sexual integrity, honesty, and personal holiness. We avoid pornography, inappropriate content, sexual misconduct, deception, and behavior that compromises trust or leadership credibility.

We understand that private compromise eventually impacts public influence. Integrity matters.

9. We Protect The Privacy And Trust Of People

As servant leaders, we understand that trust is sacred. People often share vulnerable parts of their lives within church community, and we commit to handling those moments with wisdom, discretion, and care.

We do not share private conversations, sensitive information, prayer requests, counseling moments, or personal struggles irresponsibly. We refuse to use access to people for gossip, influence, or control.

Trust takes years to build and moments to break. We choose to protect it.

10. We Receive Accountability With Humility

We understand that correction is part of discipleship. As servant leaders, we commit to remaining humble, reachable, teachable, and accountable.

If concerns arise regarding behavior, integrity, relationships, or conduct, we understand leadership may step in to pastor, correct, restore, or provide guidance.

We do not view accountability as rejection. We view it as care. We believe healthy correction helps healthy leaders grow.

Our Commitment

This Code of Conduct is not about creating perfect people.

It is about building trustworthy leaders, healthy teams, safe environments, strong culture and a church that reflects Jesus well.

At Local, we are committed to building a life-giving church marked by integrity, humility, excellence, love, and spiritual maturity.

And we understand that culture is not built by what we preach occasionally, but by what we practice consistently.

Today, we choose to live differently.

To lead with wisdom.
To serve with humility.
To protect the culture.
To honor people.
To represent Jesus well.

Not out of pressure.
But out of purpose.

And we believe that as we do, God will continue building a healthy, beautiful, life-giving Church through us.