Goal: Determine if the candidate meets Reliant's minimum standards of our Standards of Conduct and determine any areas that might need additional accountability or coaching within the local church setting.
The nice thing about this area of the process is that the pastor or ministry leader is most likely aware of anything that will come up prior to the candidate being interviewed. They would have reviewed and signed off that they had reviewed answers to questions relating to drugs, alcohol use, and sexual immorality, including pornography usage.
If you face an area where you are thinking a yellow or red flag is appropriate, it will be good and helpful to talk with a senior interviewer.

Statement on Biblical Foundations for Moral Conduct and Emotional Health

This portion of our assessment covers both areas of Christian moral (ethical) conduct and emotional health. These questions are rooted in our understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures.

Titus 2.11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Theological Foundations

We believe in the gospel and the reality of both sin and grace in the life of the believer.

Sin. That all humans were created good by a good God but are today affected by the Fall (Gen 1-3; Rom 3.23).

• Sin manifests as sinful word, thought, and deed
• We sin against ourselves, others, the created world, and God (Rom 8.19-25)
• We sin both in omission and commission (Jas 4.17; 1 Tim 5.24)
• We sin and are sinned against, experiencing the impact of a sinful world (John 9; Eph 6.12)

Gospel. We believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ that definitively has made, is making, and will make sin right (2 Cor 5)

• That salvation is not by the earned merit of human moral behavior but only by the grace of God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Eph 2.8-9)
• The good news of the Kingdom of God that requires repentance and change (Matt 4.17).

For more, refer to the Reliant Statement of Faith

Ministry Positions and Moral Conduct

Regarding how we assess missionary candidates in areas of moral conduct, we affirm that:

• All Christians have a expected standard of moral conduct to avoid sin and pursue conformity to the image of Christ (Titus 2.11-14; Eph 5)
• Though all Christians are called to Christ-likeness, ministry or church leaders are held to a more scrutable standard because of their responsibility and influence (1 Tim 3; Titus 1; James 3.1; 1 Peter 5)
• Jesus Christ's life is both our singular example for how to live and, through his death and resurrection, provides to only source of power to do so (Rom 6)
• The Holy Spirit (by illuminating Christ) convicts and guides in the Christian life (Gal 5; Rom 8.2-4)
• Thoughts and behavior are linked (internal and external). We believe both matter, but we know that external conduct is most easily demonstrable and evaluated over heart motive (Matt 5)
• Both legalism—over-zealously appropriating universal moral standards that scripture does not—or license—over emphasizing the grace of God to the point that a Christian's moral action is of no consequence—have been historic mistakes of the church that we strive to avoid. (Col 2:20-23; Gal 4-5)

Ministry Positions and Emotional Health

• Spiritual and emotional health issues are not the identical, yet are linked (Matt 22.37)
• The state of a sinful world has resulted in brokenness (Rom 8.18-26)
• God desires spiritually and emotionally healthy missionaries and pastors (John 14.27; Phil 4.4ff; Heb 4.14-16; Prov 12.25; Ps 30.11)
• Emotional health issues can be debilitating for Christian leadership and witness (2 Tim 1.3-7)
• Please note: our assessors are not trained or licensed counselors and do not purport to be.

What Reliant Particularly Values

• Transparency, honesty, and integrity. We are much more likely to look favorably toward humble honesty than discover items left out or glossed over later. (James 5:15-16; Col 3.9)
• Care and grace. As sinners saved by grace ourselves, we have a long history and deep value of showing grace like Jesus did for the woman caught in adultery. We expect all our assessors and Reliant representatives to be sensitive, thoughtful, and grace-filled when discussing these sensitive areas. (John 8)
• Reaching agreement with local spiritual leaders in any areas of discussion that face the sometimes difficult work of applying the text to today (Acts 15)
• Recognition that the fundraising process can add specific life stress or trials that can compound or resurface previous patterns of sin or emotional unhealth; and should be approached with wisdom (James 1.2ff)

We may ask about (when applicable):

• Description of area of concern
• Repetitive nature of area of concern
• Recency of area of concern
• Steps taken to address area of concern

Areas of Concern Organized Differently

For better ease of use, we've divided the organization of this section to reflect specific topics rather than grouped together.

Criminal or Civil Record

Time frame: ask about lifetime, action based on 3 years

IDEAL

No record, or clear redemptive story from a record in distant past

AREA OF CONCERN

• Loss in a civil action [in the last 3 years]
  • Detailed investigation required; moral circumstances matter; consider Christian conversion; consider reputation
  • Consider what other moral conduct issues this reveals
  • Example: loss in civil child support case may not automatically exclude, but may raise a reason for deferral based on Reliant moral bibilical convictions on marriage and family
• Conviction of a criminal state or federal crime [lifetime, prior to 3 years]

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• Conviction of a criminal state or federal felony or misdemeanor [last 3 years]
  • See best practices: EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Arrest and Conviction Records
  • Automatically a red flag because it must be reviewed by the Missionary Resources director. Criminal conviction does not automatically exclude employment but requires detailed investigation and, if deferred, documentation as to why
  • Must review:
    
    • nature of the crime
    • nature of the job description
    • time-frame (within 3 years)
  • Morally and theologically: moral circumstances should matter
  • The nature of Christian ministry job descriptions in our campus missionary, pastor, international missionary or church planter roles is that interpersonal trust and integrity is essential to successfully minister to others. How does the nature of the crime relate to trust and reputation?
  • Also: strongly consider Christian conversion

Hate Groups

Time frame: ask about last 5 years; action within 3-5 years

IDEAL

• Has not participated in, joined in with, or identified with groups in support of racial superiority, white supremacy or other hate groups, whether in person or online within the past 5 years.
  

AREA OF CONCERN

• Participated in, joined in with, or identified with groups in support of racial superiority, white supremacy or other hate groups, whether in person or online within the past 5 years.

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• Participated in, joined in with, or identified with groups in support of racial superiority, white supremacy or other hate groups, whether in person or online within the past 3 years.

Alcohol Abuse and Intoxication

Time frame: ask about last 3 years; action within 12 months

IDEAL

• Responsible enjoyment of alcohol under freedom in Christ, with no intoxication, dependence, and awareness of "weaker brother"

Concern

• Pattern of Intoxication (drunkenness)
  • Pattern: defined as 4 or more separate instances
  • "Intoxicated" as self-defined by the applicant; interviewer may ask into this for clarity (# of drinks within a timeframe may help clarify)
• DUI/DWI convictions
  • Recommend deferral or conditions if linked to alcohol abuse

AREA OF CONCERN

Any above within last 3 years but not last 12 months

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

Any above within last 12 months

Illegal Drug Use

Time frame: ask about last 3 years; action within in 1 or 3 years

IDEAL

• No drug usage
  
  

AREA OF CONCERN

• Illegitimate or Illegal use of prescription drugs or marijuana [Last 3 years, but not within 12 months]

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• Illegitimate or Illegal marijuana use [Last 12 months]
• Illegitimate or illegal use of prescription drugs [Last 12 months]
• Illegal drug use (other than marijuana) [Last 3 years]
  • Detailed investigation required; circumstances matter; strongly consider Christian conversion
  • Recommend deferral to meet 3 year distance and/or conditions

Pornography and Sexual Purity (individual)

Time frame: Last 3 years

IDEAL

• Strong sense of self-awareness along with strong record of sexual purity
• Ideal would be no pornography/ erotic fiction/ sexual fantasy usage. 
  
  

AREA OF CONCERN

 (less than once a week)

• Occasional pornography usage that is less than a pattern of "once a week" [Last 12 months]  
• Occasional erotic fiction or romance fantasy that is less than pattern of "once a week" [Last 12 months]
• Any pattern of pornography or erotic fiction/fantasy [Last 3 years, but not last 12 months]
  
  

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

 (once a week or more)

• Pattern of pornography or erotic fiction/fantasy that is "once a week" or more [Last 12 months]
  • Recommend deferral until 12 month condition of sexual purity in this area is met
  • Local leadership may argue instead for conditions: e.g. personal involvement, strong accountability and record of improvement.
  • Pastor/leadership levels may have a stronger standard imposed by the church
• Any "live" sexually explicit show e.g. strip club, topless bar, etc [Last 12 months]
  • recommend deferral until 12 month condition of sexual purity in this area is met
    

Thought Life / Sexual Fantasy

• Reliant believes thoughts and behavior are linked, but we recognize that behavior is more easily quantified. We also recognize the distinction between what it looks like to be tempted vs what it looks like to act out in an area. Keeping those ideals in mind, the following would be considered "Areas of Concern" in the category of Thought Life/ Sexual Fantasy: 
  • Pattern of actively encouraging sexual fantasy in thought life. 
  • Engaging in secret thought life and embracing it vs bringing it into the light of accountability. 
• It is left to the assessor's discretion if a pattern in this area would qualify as a general area of concern (yellow flag) or a serious area of concern (red flag).

Considerations / Follow-up questions: 

• • Does this behavior result in specific forms of acting out? 
  • Is the area of sin a habitual pattern or occasional? 
  • Is there consistent improvement in this pattern or is it getting worse? 
  • What are the triggers toward acting out with pornography/erotic fiction/ sexual fantasy? Would these triggers be more frequent during MTD?
  • Is the applicant open to accountability? Do they have a content blocker? 
  • The goal is zero pornography usage. How can we support you in reaching that goal? 

Comments on Pornography

Reliant's most commonly addressed area is in the area of pornography and erotic materials usage. This is especially true for young men but is not limited to them. We find older pastors, women, and others with significant struggles here. 

Our current standards are to recommend deferral for a candidate who shows a "pattern" of pornography in the last year (as defined by usage once per week or more). Of course, our prayer is that candidates are completely free of pornography. However, the saturation of our current culture (particularly with sexually explicit materials via the internet) has made this a challenge that many Christian ministries report struggling with. We seek to find a Biblical balance of clear recognition of sin yet strong grace in this area.

In the pastoral/church interview, we make a special note of this issue and say to the pastor:

• Please specifically review your candidates self-report on pornography.
• Please inquire about specific steps taken to address the issue, including personal accountability, moral training and discipleship, practical steps and even Christian counseling
• Reliant is more free to provide flexibility on this issue if the local church or ministry demonstrates active personal involvement
• Consider suggesting this process of breaking free from porn addiction (from Collegiate Collective). 

Sexual Immorality (with another)

Time frame: last 3 years

AREA OF CONCERN

• Engaged in sexual intercourse or oral sex outside of covenant marriage [Last 13-36 months], including:
• Engaged couple [last 13-36 months]
  • May be appealed by local leadership if the couple is now married
• Unmarried boyfriend & girlfriend sexual intercorse or oral sex [last 13-36 months]
• Homosexual sexual contact [last 13-36 months]
• Sexting or Phone Sex (mobile or online interaction with a partner using sexually explicit language and/or photographs) [last 13-36 months]
• Participated in mutual masturbation or any other inappropriate sexual contact [last 13-36 months]
• Co-habitation with opposite sex [last 12 months]
• "Sleeping over" with opposite sex without explicit sexual contact [last 12 months]
  
  

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• Engaged in sexual intercourse or oral sex outside of covenant marriage [Last 12 months], including:
• Engaged couple [last 12 months]
  • May be appealed by local leadership if the couple is now married
• Unmarried boyfriend & girlfriend sexual intercorse or oral sex [last 12 months]
• Homosexual sexual contact [last 12 months]
• Sexting or Phone Sex (mobile or online interaction with a partner using sexually explicit language and/or photographs) [last 12 months]
• Participated in mutual masturbation or any other inappropriate sexual contact [last 12 months]
• Bestiality [last 3 years]
• Soliciting a prostitute [last 3 years]
• Prostitution [last 3 years]
• "Hooking up" (intentional sexual encounter with random partners, often set up online or at bars) [last 3 years]
• Sexual misconduct: previously dismissed for sexual harassment [greater than 3 years]

Automatic Disqualification or Executive Exception Required

• Sexual misconduct: sexual behavior with child or minor [Lifetime]
• Sexual misconduct: previously dismissed for sexual harassment [last 3 years]

Marriage, Family, Divorce

Time frame: lifetime; 3 years

AREA OF CONCERN

• Marital status of divorce [Lifetime]
  • While we'll leave the judgement on the suitability of the divorce on the church or ministry, it should be noted as it may be a reputational barrier for donors.

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• Marital status of separated
• Separation or divorce in process or finalized [within last 12 months]
  • A reputational issue for ministry fundraising as well as moral
  • Context matters: we ask about general circumstances/reason for divorce, although we will leave moral judgement on the suitability of divorce on the church or ministry
  • Recommend minimum deferral to meet a year
• Child or spousal support delinquency

Self-injury

AREA OF CONCERN

• Self-injury or self harm, single occasion [Last 12 months]
• Pattern of self-injury [in the last 3 years]
  
  

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• Pattern of self-injury as defined as "more than once" [Last 12 months]
  • Recommend deferral to get specific care

Depression

Time frame: 3 years and 12 months

AREA OF CONCERN

• Self-reports some feelings of sadness, anxiety, or depression that are "more than normal," [12 months]
  • Question: "Have you experienced feelings of sadness, despair, hopelessness, or apathy that seem "more than other people?"
• Debilitating depression or anxiety or formal treatment for clinical depression [Last 3 years, but not within 12 months]
• Managing ongoing depression with anti-depressants [last 3 years]
  
  

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• Self-reports feelings of sadness, anxiety, or depression that are "more than normal," but also includes in the [last 12 months]:
  • Debilitating depression or anxiety (example: changes normal functioning to include loss of income, relationships)
  • Formal treatment for clinical depression
  • Recommend seek input from mental health professional as to suitability of full-time ministry and MTD; recommend condition on counseling or consistent emotional support and accountability during MTD

Anxiety

Time frame: 3 years and 12 months

We’re seeing more applicants letting us know they have a diagnosis of or struggle with anxiety. Currently there’s a gap in our application on what follow-up questions are needed to really assess these struggles. We recognize that. In the meantime, follow-up questions may be included in your Assessment Summary. Below are some guidelines used when assessing anxiety. 

• • The applicant indicated a struggle with anxiety that leaves us with some follow-up questions.
  • Severity: To what extent does the applicant’s anxiety impact his or her daily life and function at work/school/ministry? Within in the past 24 months, has it ever hit a point where it’s debilitating?
  • Frequency: How often does the applicant struggle with anxiety?
  • Triggers: Is the applicant aware of what tends to trigger anxiety? (We’re looking for their level of self-awareness.)
  • Accountability/help: Has the applicant brought this struggle into the light of community? Has he or she reached out for help? If so, how is he or she currently engaging in that help?

Suicide

Time frame: 3 years or 12 months

We’re seeing more applicants responding “yes” to our question about recent suicidal thoughts. Currently there’s a gap in our application on what follow-up questions are needed to really assess these struggles. In the meantime, follow-up questions may be included in your interview. Below are some guidelines used when assessing suicidal ideations: 

• Reliant considers suicidal ideations a safety issue that should be approached with care and caution. If the applicant indicated he or she has considered suicide within the last 12 months, we may have some follow-up questions.
• Severity: To what extent has the applicant taken these ideations? Has he or she gone so far as to create a plan for how he or she would carry it out?
• Frequency: How often is the applicant considering suicide?
• Triggers: Is the applicant aware of what tends to trigger these thoughts? (We’re looking for self-awareness here.)
• Accountability/help: Has the applicant brought this struggle into the light of community? Has he or she reached out for help? If so, how is he or she currently engaging in that help?

AREA OF CONCERN

• Thoughts of suicide [last 12 months]
  
  

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• Suicide attempt [Last 3 years]
  • Investigate circumstances, response, and care: may recommend deferral or conditions for accountability and care

Eating Disorder

Time frame: 3 years or 12 months
Eating disorder information

FYI: People who may have a disorder in this area frequently lack insight into, or have considerable denial of, the problem and may be unreliable historians. It is often necessary to obtain information from parents or other outside sources to get a clear picture of the depth of the issue, frequency & patterns. 

Other questions that can be asked to help uncover the severity of an eating disorder:  

• Do you feel the pressure to be superior or perfect in academics, athletics or how you look? 

• Does your life often feel out of control? Or is your weight or appearance one of the few things in your life you can control? 

• Do you use laxatives, diet pills of diuretics to lose weight? 

• Do you ever feel guilty about eating?

• Do you count the calories hidden in every bite you eat? 

• Do you feel society pressures to be thin or fit or look a certain way? 

• Do you ever induce vomiting? 

• Have you experienced any medical issues lately? (usually a range medical issues accompany an eating disorder)

• Do you often feel depressed or unhappy with yourself? 

• How often do you exercise, and for how long? (calorie restriction with overexercise can be dangerous)

• Have you ever felt embarrassed or ashamed to tell someone the activities you do in order to maintain a particular weight or physical appearance?   

• Have you recently weighed yourself? How do you feel about the number that appeared on the scale?

  *The more affirmative answers, the greater vulnerability. If there is evidence of a disorder, you can inquire how the church/ministry can come alongside in their healing process.  

AREA OF CONCERN

• Eating disorder including (e.g. anorexia nervosa (self starvation/ limits food intake and/or over-exercise), bulimia nervosa (over-eating and/or self-induced purging of food), binge eating disorder (compulsive, uncontrolled eating) [last 3 years, but not last 12 months]
  
  

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• Above [last 12 months]

Life Stress

Holmes-Rahe Stress Test is a standard in life-stress self-assessment based on significant life events and change. It's commonly used in pastoral counseling. It predicts the probability of becoming sick or depressed in response to life changes.

IDEAL

• 149 or below (37% chance of getting sick or depressed)
  
  

AREA OF CONCERN

• 150 to 250 (51% chance of getting sick or depressed)
  
  

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• 251 or more (up through 80% chance of getting sick or depressed)

Other issues

While we won't directly ask about every issue, other serious issues in moral conduct or emotional health may appear via open questions on the application. Interviewers may pursue issues at their discretion if they believe it's reasonable to do so based on other responses.

Time frame: Lifetime, 3 year, 1 year.

Generally issues are evaluated on a 3 year/1 year basis. Within 1 year is often a red flag issue, while something within 2-3 years is generally a yellow flag issue. For some areas with longer lasting impacts, it may be appropriate to ask about lifetime.

Pattern or instance: some issues require patterns, others are issues at one "event" or episode. Patterns could indicate a greater likelihood to returning to the behavior under life stress such as MTD

Generally speaking:

IDEAL

• No significant issues in any of the above for the last 3 years or minor or occasional issues without strong patterns
• Evidence of strong self-awareness
• Counseling or care when necessary
• Accountability and community in relationships
  
  

AREA OF CONCERN

• Unusually strong lack of self-awareness
• Complete lack of knowledge or accountability in any given area
  • e.g. nobody has any idea about the person's pornography patterns
• Unless otherwise stated: Within the last 3 years, but not within the last 12 months
  
  

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

• Unless otherwise stated: within the last year
• Disagreement on moral conviction on any of the above issues
  • e.g. "I don't believe drunkenness is a sin or issue"
• Acknowledged lack of humility or repentance on any of the above issues
  • e.g. "I did it, but I don't really care."