Employee Standards
Moody Bible Institute is a community of caring Christians dedicated to helping one another grow towards Christian maturity. We are part of the larger Christian community and we represent an institution committed to the training of Christian workers and to the spreading of the Word of God. We seek to cultivate attitudes and conduct that are consistent with Scripture, striving for Christ-likeness in lifestyle and in the conduct of our ministry.
Our community and witness require mutual understanding. Our voluntary association involves mutual submission and consideration.
The Scriptures encourage us to pursue a course of conduct that is free from both lawlessness and legalism. Rules are not in themselves a test of spirituality.
A spiritual person will submit to God's Word and to God's established authority. Such a person will live in love and self-control in the community in which God allows him or her to live and serve.
The Bible clearly states some precepts and principles as absolutes in moral and ethical behavior. In other areas where legitimate differences of opinion exist, the Bible provides guidelines for behavior. As members of the MBI Christian community, we each commit ourselves to live Christ-honoring lives. Employment at MBI presupposes that each employee has committed his or her life to Jesus Christ for salvation and for Christian service. A lifestyle in accordance with biblical principles is essential to demonstrate that commitment to fellow employees, to MBI students, and to the outside world. Scripture clearly indicates that "what ever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17).
Biblical Absolutes
By biblical absolutes, MBI means those unchanging scriptural truths about God, His creation, and truths that He has established. Rooted in His character and law, these truths are universal, unchanged by time, circumstances, culture, or human interpretation.
Included in the absolutes are certain commands or requirements of the Bible about moral living. Because we desire that the life of Christ be manifested in the Institute community, it is expected that every direct command of God for the believer will be obeyed. To love other Christians, do good to all people, be filled with the Holy Spirit, obey the Word, and trust God for personal needs are illustrative of some of the positive commands of Scripture (Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 5:18-21; Col. 3:3, 5-17; I Thess. 5:12-22).
The Bible also forbids practices such as stealing, drunkenness, gossip, gluttony, dishonesty, occult involvement, murder, profanity, premarital sex, adultery, and homosexual behavior. In addition, attitudes such as lust, thanklessness, pride, hatred, rebelliousness, and jealousy are equally displeasing to God.
These biblical precepts are to govern our lives at and away from the work place, manifesting the life of Christ in our conduct and attitudes, expressing joy and abundant living. Jesus Christ said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
Community Standards
At MBI, we are committed to maintaining a lifestyle based on biblical principles. These principles are abiding general truths deduced from Scripture that guide us in our thoughts and actions. We have, therefore, established some moderate standards to govern the lifestyle of our community. While we realize that these may not totally reflect the personal preferences of each employee, they enable our community to function in harmony and under the Lordship of Christ.
Therefore, we prohibit gambling, the use of non-commercial drugs, social dancing, tobacco in any form, consumption of alcoholic beverages, sexually explicit material, and similar practices which are not consistent with MBI community standards. Applying principles of modesty and appropriateness, we employ a moderate dress code.
We expect membership in and regular attendance at worship services of a conservative, evangelical local church and other spiritual activities on Sunday to make it a special day of renewal set apart from other activities of the week. In all things, we desire to live balanced Christian lives, avoiding that which is offensive, divisive, or legalistic, not flaunting our liberty in Christ.
Individual Discretion
By individual discretion we mean that each believer, though free to follow a biblically informed conscience in some practices, must in love and consideration adapt behavior to benefit others and the community. The application of some biblical principles governing Christians living in the community is an administrative prerogative at MBI, and other principles are left for individual application.
For instance, while the principle stands that we all need fellowship with God in Bible study and prayer, the specific time, place, and method for personal devotions are an individual choice. Employees also have the responsibility to apply these principles to their own life situations, such as choosing a church to attend or developing friendships.
The entertainment industry often promotes values and products which are contrary to Scripture. Profanity, excessive violence, illicit sex, inappropriate lifestyles and other forms of aberrant behavior not only dominate entertainment themes but are portrayed as desirable. Conversely God's Word instructs believers to be committed to "whatever is true,...honorable,...right,...pure,...lovely, and of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things" (Phil. 4:8). Therefore employees of the Moody Bible Institute should avoid any form of entertainment or activity which does not promote values consistent with biblical principles of righteousness and personal purity.
While a person is an employee of Moody Bible Institute, we expect personal behavior to be manifested in a consistent Christian testimony, thereby furthering the effective witness of this Christian community. Each employee is responsible to exercise discretion with reference to reading materials, visual entertainment, choices of music, concerts, and attendance at places of entertainment. An employee is never justified in violating these standards for the sake of exposure to a particular form of media—even in pursuit of so-called relevance. Employees should be guided by the overriding principle that the freedom of the Christian goes hand in hand with individual responsibility to Christ and fellow believers. "For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Gal. 5:13).
Administrative Procedures
Certain rules and guidelines are necessary for the proper functioning of a community that may not apply to individuals. Since we are committed to honor Christ and to love one another, employees of the Institute freely assume certain regulations governing personal behavior. In addition to those stated above, others are stated in the Employee Information Guide.
Business Dress
All Institute employees are expected to dress in a manner that is modest, professional, and appropriate to their specific job and workplace.
Hair should be well groomed, avoiding extremes in cut and color. For men, hair should not reach lower than the top of the collar and should leave the lower portion of the ear visible. Other than earrings for women, visible piercing with adornment is not appropriate.
A complete statement on MBI business dress appears in the Employee Information Guide and includes guidelines for "business dress" and "business casual dress."
Business casual dress is an option that may be extended to employees by department management, depending on the work and business requirements of the work unit. In areas where employees are granted the option of business casual dress, it remains the employee's responsibility to be properly and professionally attired for occasions when business dress is appropriate.
In some departments employees are asked to wear uniforms while performing their work. Employees are responsible for following all department rules and requirements about the use and care of those uniforms.
The Institute Administration reserves the right to make interpretive application of all the aforementioned guidelines with respect to employees. In addition, the Administration may evaluate an individual's response to these standards and extend counsel where appropriate. In cases where employee conduct is determined to violate these guidelines, the Institute may, at its sole discretion, elect to discipline or discharge the employee.
Implicit in accepting an offer of employment is agreement to abide by these standards.
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