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VILLAGE MISSIONS

STATEMENT OF LIFESTYLE AND MORALITY STANDARD

VILLAGE MISSIONARY
The Reverend Walter Duff, his wife Edith, and the others associated with him in the founding in
1948 of this missionary organization were very godly people. While rejecting both legalism and
liberalism, they scrupulously embraced the clear directives in God’s Word concerning the
lifestyle of the believer. This balanced approach of the founders has been and should be the basis
as we continue to adapt to the times and serve our God.

The Board of Directors has become increasingly grieved and concerned with the eroding
standards and compromise so very evident even among evangelical believers today. All too often
it is difficult for the unbeliever to recognize any significant difference in his standard and that of
the Church.

Because of this deep concern, the Board has voted to put in place this Village Missionary
Statement of Lifestyle and Morality Standard that applies to all serving as Village Missionaries.
It is important to understand that this is not a new standard, but is simply a statement of the
Scriptural Principles upon which Mission personnel have been governed and guided since the
beginning of Village Missions. This is an effort by the Board of Directors to keep this standard
before all so that Village Missions can maintain and preserve a holy, godly, pure, and righteous
testimony before the Lord as well as before the world.

Scripture makes clear that a leader must exhibit certain character qualities
(1Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:6-9). In addition to reflecting the character of a leader, specifically the
lifestyle of the Village Missions family must be above reproach in the following areas:

1) Confidentiality and Trustworthiness - in matters of personal confidences: Lev. 19:16;

Ps. 50:20; Prov. 11:13; 20:19; 25:9; 2 Cor. 12:20; 1 Tim. 5:13

2) Truthfulness - avoiding all lying and deceit: Exod. 23:1; Lev. 6:2-3; Prov. 6:16-17, 19;
Prov. 12:17; Matt. 5:37; John 8:44; Eph. 4:25, 29; Col. 3:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:9-10

3) The Sacredness of Marriage. Village Missions adheres to the Biblical witness regarding the
sacredness of marriage: The term 'marriage' has only one meaning and that is marriage
sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as
delineated in Scripture.

a. Because of the nature of this relationship we would view a Village Missionary who
divorces as being no longer qualified for service as a Village Missionary (Mal. 2:13-16;
Matt. 5:31-32, 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; 1Cor. 7:10-16; 1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6).

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b. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman
who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate
sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
Therefore, we believe that all behavior that runs counter to the Biblical teaching on
marriage is sexual immorality. We oppose all inappropriate sexual conduct including,
but not restricted to:

i. Adultery: Exod. 20:14; Matt. 5:27-28: Rom. 2:22a; 13:13; 1Cor. 6:18-20

ii. Fornication (all premarital sex): Prov. 5:3-13; 7:6-27; Mark 7:21-23; Eph. 5:3;
Col. 3:5-7; 1Thess. 4:1-8

iii. Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Incest: Lev. 18:6-18; Deut. 22:25-27

iv. Homosexual and Transgender Relationship(s) including medical changes to

sexuality: Gen. 19:1-19; Lev. 20:13; Rom. 1:26-27; 1Cor. 6:9-10; 1Tim. 1:10;
Jude 1:7

v. Reading or Viewing Pornographic Material: Matt. 5:27-28; Phil. 4:8; Col. 3:5;
2 Tim. 2:20-22; James 1:13-16; 2Pet. 2:19

4) Physical Aggression and Physical, Mental, or Verbal Abuse: Rom. 13:10; 1Cor. 13:4-5;
Gal. 5:l9-24; Eph. 4:29, 31-32; Col. 3:8

5) Theft, Fraud or Any Other Illegal Activity: Lev. 19:11,13; Rom. 2:21; 13:1-10; Eph. 4:28;
Titus 2:9-10; 1Pet. 4:15

6) Illicit and Psychoactive Drugs (other than prescription), Tobacco, and Alcohol: Village
Missions recognizes that the Bible is clear regarding the prohibition of drunkenness but not
as clear regarding the consumption of alcohol or the use of tobacco. We recognize that with a
changing legal environment illegal drugs may become legal. We minister within a culture
where the effects of alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse are devastating and specifically in a
rural culture where the behavior of the Village Missionary is apparent. Therefore, Village
Missions expects Village Missionaries to abstain from the above mentioned products.
Prov. 20:1; 21:17; 23:20-21, 29-35; 31:4-7; Matt. 24:48-49; Luke 21:34;
Rom. 13:12-14; 14:17-21; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:18; 1Tim. 3:2-3

7) Financial Integrity: Lev. 19:13; Prov. 11:1; 20:10,17,23; 22:1; Isa. 32:7; Jer. 22:13;
Amos 8:4-5; Luke 16:13; Rom. 13:6-10; 1Tim. 6:6-10; James 5:4

8) Respect for Authority: Matt. 26:39; Rom.13:1-5; Eph. 6:5-8; Tit. 2:9-10; Heb. 13:17;
1Pet. 2:13-18;

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Village Missions stands upon the unchanging Word of God as its final authority for faith and
conduct. All who serve with the Mission are encouraged to establish personal disciplines that
will foster and promote a deep and intimate relationship with God, which are essential to
effective service as a Christian believer. This includes prayer, personal Bible study, consistent
times of fellowship, and the sharing of the Gospel with others, all of which are elements of a
healthy and growing spiritual life.

We remind you that reconciliation with God comes from faith in the atoning work of Christ;
our behavior is the expected fruit of our position in Christ and all that comes from our position
including the indwelling Holy Spirit.

In the event of a violation of one or more of the elements of this standard and dependent upon
the nature of the violation, the Mission will attempt to bring about the restoration of the
individual in order that a working relationship with Village Missions can be maintained.
In case of serious allegations, the Investigation of Serious Allegations policy will be followed.

AGREEMENT WITH AND ADHERENCE TO, THE STANDARD SET FORTH HEREIN IS
A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE WITH VILLAGE MISSIONS.

All persons presently serving as missionaries, associate missionaries, and interns must
acknowledge agreement with this lifestyle and morality standard in writing. Such
acknowledgment by those presently serving and by new appointees/employees will be made by
signing this statement:

I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND, AND WILL SUBMIT TO THE FOREGOING

VILLAGE MISSIONARY LIFESTYLE AND MORALITY STANDARD OF VILLAGE MISSIONS.
I ALSO AGREE THAT ANY VIOLATION OF THIS STANDARD BY ME MAY BE JUST
CAUSE FOR TERMINATION OF MY EMPLOYMENT OR VOLUNTEER SERVICE WITH
VILLAGE MISSIONS.

Signed ___________________________________ Date _____________________

Signed ___________________________________ Date _____________________

Lifestyle and Morality Statement 11/14 BSW