Conflict of Interest Policy and Disclosure
For all decision-makers at The Austin Stone, which includes the church’s staff
Conflict Of Interest Summary
A conflict of interest can exist when a decision-maker at The Austin Stone, which includes the church's staff, has personal interests that could potentially influence decisions that conflict with the church's interests. Often this occurs when an employee is in a position to personally benefit from actions or decisions made by the church. To have a private interest that could possibly conflict with the church’s interests is not necessarily something to avoid, but transparency and accountability is what will keep us all above reproach.
Examples:
- You own a small bakery, which the church decides to use for catering
- You have a farm business and sell your chicken eggs to friends at work
- Your supervisor is a family member
- You provide advice to another organization and accept consulting fees for it
- You own stock in a company, and also make decisions about purchasing that company’s products for the church
- Any other situation where you might have personal interests that could potentially influence decisions that conflict with the church's interests (often this occurs when an employee is in a position to personally benefit from actions or decisions made by the church)
What If I Have A Conflict Of Interest?
Any decision-maker at The Austin Stone, which includes the church’s staff, that has what could possibly be considered a conflict of interest should disclose using the form below:
Each decision-maker at The Austin Stone, which includes the church’s staff, shall exercise good faith and best efforts in the performance of his or her duties to the church and all entities affiliated with the church.
Conflicts of Interest
In all dealings with and on behalf of the church or any affiliated entity, each person shall be held to a strict rule of honest and fair dealing and no such person shall use his or her position, or knowledge gained therefrom, in such a manner as to create a conflict, or the appearance of a conflict between the interests of the church or any affiliated entity and other interests of such person.
Disclosure
To have a private interest that could possibly conflict with church interests is not necessarily something to avoid. Transparency and accountability is what will keep us all above reproach.
So, each person shall immediately disclose to their direct supervisor, executive pastor, or elder, any employment, activity, investment, or other interest which might compete or conflict, or appear to compete or conflict, with the interests of the church or any affiliated entity.
All disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are to be reported for awareness to the executive team.
Actions adversely affecting the church
In all matters affecting the church or any affiliated entity, each decision-maker at The Austin Stone, which includes the church’s staff, shall not take any position or engage in any action that could adversely affect the church or any affiliated entity.
Accepting compensation or undue favor
No person who is an decision-maker at The Austin Stone, which includes the church’s staff, shall accept any material compensation, gift, or other favor that could influence or appear to influence such person's actions affecting the church or any affiliated entity.
Wisdom in discerning potential conflicts of interest
When in doubt as to whether a conflict of interest exists, or may exist, each person should use wisdom and good judgment and have a conversation with an executive pastor or elder to determine if there is any true conflict.
View the Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form
Notifications Will Be Sent To:
- Human Resources Team
- Employee’s Department Leader
- Accounts Payable Team