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Covenant Journey Honor Code

A. PREAMBLE Covenant Journey is a Christian ministry operating in fidelity to the Christian faith expressed through Holy Scriptures. Students, staff, and volunteers are expected to act in a manner that brings honor to Jesus Christ. Their words and actions must comply with the highest ethical and Biblical standards of morality and personal conduct. While engaged in a Covenant Journey program or tour, it is important to understand that the acts of one person reflect on the entire group in particular and Covenant Journey in general. It is also important to emphasize that Covenant Journey has participants from a variety of Christian and secular colleges and universities, each with their own personal conduct code. Covenant Journey participants are expected to abide by both the Covenant Journey Conduct Code, which seeks to provide universal standards that comply with the Bible and with these respective codes. All participants must acknowledge that they have received and read the Covenant Journey Honor Code. This Code shall apply to any participant at the point of departure with the Covenant Journey group in the United States to the point of return with the Covenant Journey group in the United States and everything in between. As future leaders, all participants have the affirmative duty to report promptly to a staff member or volunteer of Covenant Journey all circumstances they have reason to believe constitute a violation of the Covenant Journey Honor Code. Breach of this duty itself shall be a violation of the Covenant Journey Honor Code. If requested, it is the duty of every participant to give testimony or evidence relevant to any alleged violation of this Honor Code. This Honor Code applies not only to overt acts of the individual but also includes social media in any form. A chaste, honorable, and virtuous life encompasses many principles, including, but not limited to, respect for authority, respect for the human dignity of others, respect for all Covenant Journey policies and standards of dress, and avoidance of verbally or physically threatening or violent acts towards others, as well as personal self-control. A violation of these principles may result in serious disciplinary action or, where appropriate, may prompt counseling. B. CONDUCT THAT UNDERMINES SAFETY, MISSION, OR REPUTATION Acts that may seriously undermine the safety, mission, or reputation of Covenant Journey are violations of the Personal Code of Honor. Examples of such acts include, but are not limited to: Commission of a crime or an intentional tortious act, Any action that intentionally or with reckless disregard places the participant or third-parties at risk of harm, Flagrant violations of Covenant Journey policies and standards of dress, Causing public embarrassment to Covenant Journey, its representatives, staff, or volunteers. C. SEXUAL, RACIAL, VERBAL, OR PHYSICAL Respect for the dignity of each individual as a person created in God’s image is fundamental to the culture desired of every Covenant Journey participant and the highest ethical standards are expected. Sexual harassment or unwanted sexual verbal or physical acts, racial, ethnic, or religious harassment, and verbal or physical conduct that demeans a person or places a person in fear or harm violate this Honor Code. Misconduct that is contrary to the teachings of the Christian faith and constitutes a violation of the Honor Code includes, but is not limited to: Sexually-oriented or demeaning jokes or comments, Unwelcome touching or any touching of a sexual nature, Verbal or physical abuse, Sexually-oriented comments about an individual’s body, Offensive or crude language directed at an individual or individuals, Display or viewing of objects, pictures, or images, or distribution thereof in any manner, or listening to or broadcasting sounds that depict nudity or are otherwise sexual or pornographic in nature, Persistent, unwanted attempts to change a casual or friendly relationship into a romantic or more intimate one, or Racial harassment or verbal or physical conduct that is demeaning toward a person or group of persons on a Covenant Journey tour because of the person’s race or ethnicity. Non-marital sexual relations outside of marriage between one man and one woman and the encouragement or advocacy of any form of sexual behavior that would undermine the Christian identity or faith mission of Covenant Journey are morally inappropriate sexual misconduct and constitute violations of this Honor Code. D. PORNOGRAPHY Involvement with pornographic, erotic, obscene, indecent, or other similarly offensive materials, expressions, or conduct is inconsistent with the Honor Code and the Christian faith. E. PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES Covenant Journey seeks to provide a drug-free, healthy, and safe environment. To this end, no participant may misuse legal drugs or other legal medications, or use, possess, distribute, or sell alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, or marijuana. F. COMPLIANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS, DIRECTIVES, OR OTHER POLICIES Participants must comply with all reasonable instructions or directives of the Covenant Journey designated leader, leaders, or tour guide and any other policy of Covenant Journey that are not in violation of this Honor Code. Failure to abide by such instructions, directives, or policies after receiving a verbal or written warning shall be violation of this Honor Code. G. SEPARATION FROM COVENANT JOURNEY GROUP The personal security of each participant on a Covenant Journey tour or program is of utmost importance, especially when traveling in a foreign country. Covenant Journey tours in Israel are designed to provide a safe and enjoyable experience. While Covenant Journey tours include a wide array of demographic locations and events, due to time and safety constraints or considerations, these tours may not include places or locations that some participants may desire to visit. Staying with the group is of such importance that a standard security question asked of the Covenant Journey leader or leaders or guide by Tel-Aviv airport security when departing Israel airport is whether anyone at any time separated from the group. Unauthorized separation from the group may place the person, the group, and the Covenant Journey tour at risk. Participants who leave the group without the express knowledge and authorization of the Covenant Journey leader violate a cardinal principle that no person should be separated from or leave the group to visit an unauthorized location or event. H. PROCEDURE FOR INVESTIGATION AND DISPOSITION OF VIOLATIONS 1. Processing Allegations and Counseling When an alleged violation of the Honor Code has come to the attention of any participant, that allegation shall be passed on to the Covenant Journey leader, who shall determine whether the matter is best be handled by counseling or merits formal discipline. Where counseling is deemed in order, the Covenant Journey leader may personally provide such counseling or delegate the counseling to another person. 2. Conduct Review That Require More Than Counseling Where evidence exists of a violation of the Honor Code, which in the opinion of the Covenant Journey leader merits more than mere counseling, the Covenant Journey leader shall consult with another Covenant Journey leader who is also present with the participants or who is a Director, Officer, or Board Member of Covenant Journey to obtain a second person’s concurrence prior to proceeding with disciplinary action. If both concur that disciplinary action is warranted beyond mere counseling, then the Covenant Journey leader may proceed with further disciplinary investigation and action. Discipline beyond counseling may include any one or more of the following: a. Revocation of any privilege or opportunity during the tour or program otherwise provided to other participants, b. Immediate cancelation of the person’s participation in the tour or program requiring the person to leave the tour or program and return home, which cost shall be the responsibility of the participant, c. Full or partial charge or reimbursement of the actual cost of the tour or program, payment of which may be placed on the person’s credit card provided by the participant when applying for the tour or program, d. Any other discipline tailored to the facts and circumstances. 3. Disciplinary Actions Requiring the Concurrence of the President While the Covenant Journey President or the President’s designee should be apprised of any and all violations of the Honor Code, the Covenant Journey leader must obtain the concurrence of the President, or if absent or unavailable, then the next in line shall be the Chairman of Board, an Officer of the Board, or the Executive Director, before the Covenant Journey leader may take any of the following disciplinary actions: a. Immediate cancelation of the person’s participation in the tour or program requiring the person to leave the tour or program and return home, which cost shall be the responsibility of the participant, b. Full or partial charge or reimbursement of the actual cost of the tour or program, payment of which may be placed on the person’s credit card provided by the participant when applying for the tour or program, c. Any other discipline tailored to the facts and circumstances. 4. Final Decisions or Actions Any decision or action involving counseling or revocation of any privilege or opportunity during the tour or program otherwise provided to other participants is final and non-appealable. Any decision in which the President is required to concur and does concur, or in the absence or unavailability of the President and the next in line pursuant to H(3) concurs, is final and nonappealable. 5. Record of Discipline Any violation of the Honor Code may be provided by Covenant Journey only to the participant’s parents or legal guardians, pastor or church representative, organization with whom the participant is associated with respect to the Covenant Journey tour or program, college or university official who has responsibility for students or who is the contact person for Covenant Journey on the college or university campus, and, when deemed necessary, to appropriate law enforcement.