General policy: GCM encourages employees to seek to resolve complaints and conflicts with GCM or with other GCM employees, supervisors, and management personnel, through an informal process of Christian conciliation informed by the principles discussed in Matthew 18, Matthew 5, Luke 12, and 1 Corinthians 6, and in Section 2.7 of this Employee Handbook. In the event that informal efforts do not resolve the conflict to the employee's satisfaction, the employee should pursue GCM's formal grievance procedure outlined in this section.

2.9.a Procedure

  1. Grievances must be presented in writing to an employee's supervisor, unless the supervisor is the subject of the grievance. In such a case, the grievance must be presented in writing to Missionary Resources.
  2. The supervisor, or Missionary Resources, will clarify the grievance and write out any points of clarification until both parties generally agree on the meaning of the grievance. This document must then be signed by the employee and presented to Missionary Resources.
  3. The supervisor, or Missionary Resources, should make every effort to investigate the grievance and resolve it. The supervisor may ask for assistance from Missionary Resources. All steps toward resolution must be documented by the supervisor and presented to Missionary Resources.
  4. If the employee feels their grievance has not been adequately resolved, they may appeal to the Executive Director for further investigation and resolution. The Executive Director may appoint an impartial individual, committee or formal Christian Conciliation organization to handle the grievance investigation.
  5. In the highly unlikely event that GCM and the employee are unable to resolve a dispute relating to any aspect of employment, or termination thereof, or any provision of the handbook, the employee agrees (by signing the required Employee Acknowledgement Form) to attempt to resolve the dispute without resort to civil litigation by submitting the dispute to mediation, and if not successful, arbitration, under the rules of the Institute for Christian Conciliation (406-256-1583) or such other alternative dispute resolution entity or person as Great Commission Ministries and the employee may, from time to time, mutually agree to in writing.

GCM will attempt to treat all employee grievances fairly and with respect. GCM is dedicated to accepting constructive criticism with open-mindedness and will attempt to be courteous and respectful of all persons. If at any time an employee feels their grievance is not being handled properly or fairly, they may contact the Executive Director. In the event that the Executive Director's final resolution of the employee's grievance is substantially unsatisfactory to the employee, the employee may seek to pursue the formal Christian conciliation process, as provided in Section 2.7 of this Employee Handbook.