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Racial Justice and Intercultural Life Formal Statements of Community Standards Respect for People and Property Policy Against Sexual Harassment |
Official Statements of FullerThe following declarations, commitments, and standards have been adopted by the faculty and the board of trustees of Fuller Theological Seminary to help guide the life of the seminary community in various ways. Response procedures for alleged violations of community standards have also been developed and are included in this collection. Institutional Declarations
Institutional Commitments
Formal Statements of Community Standards
INSTITUTIONAL DECLARATIONSPurpose StatementFuller Theological Seminary, embracing the Schools of Theology, Psychology, and Intercultural Studies is an evangelical, multidenominational, international, and multiethnic community dedicated to the equipping of men and women for the manifold ministries of Christ and his Church. Under the authority of Scripture, it seeks to fulfill its commitment to ministry through graduate education, professional development, and spiritual formation. In all of its activities, including instruction, nurture, worship, service, research, and publication, Fuller Theological Seminary strives for excellence in the service of Jesus Christ, under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of the Father.
Mission Beyond the MissionThe following is an excerpt from the Mission Beyond the Mission statement. A complete copy of the Mission Beyond the Mission is available upon request at the Office of the President or Provost. Beyond the immediate purpose of the nurture and training of students for the ministries of Christ, the faculty and Board of Trustees of Fuller Theological Seminary see a further mission. In 1983, they adopted a statement titled "Mission Beyond the Mission," which sets forth the vision that will give further direction to the seminary's planning and priorities. The statement is organized around five imperatives:
Committees composed of faculty, trustees, and student representatives have prepared recommendations on some of the ways in which Fuller's responses to these imperatives can be implemented in the life and ministry of the seminary. These recommendations form an important part of the seminary's long-range planning process.
Evangelical CommitmentFuller Theological Seminary trustees, faculty, managers/administrators, and students believe that Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Holy Scripture and proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit, is the only ground for a person's reconciliation to God. The seminary expects, then, a commitment to:
Doctrinal PerspectiveDoctrinally the institution stands for the fundamentals of the faith as taught in Holy Scripture and handed down by the Church. Consistent with this purpose, the faculty and trustees of the Seminary acknowledge the creeds of the early church and the confessions of the Protestant communions to which they severally belong, and among recent evangelical statements, the Lausanne Covenant (1974).
Statement of FaithUnder God, and subject to biblical authority, the faculty, administrators/managers, and trustees bear concerted witness to the following articles, to which they subscribe, and which they hold to be essential to their ministry. I. God has revealed himself to be the living and true God, perfect in love, and righteous in all his ways; one in essence, existing eternally in the three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. II. God, who discloses himself through his creation, has savingly spoken in the words and events of redemptive history. This history is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, who is made known to us by the Holy Spirit in sacred Scripture. III. Scripture is an essential part and trustworthy record of this divine self-disclosure. All the books of the Old and New Testaments, given by divine inspiration, are the written Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice. They are to be interpreted according to their context and purpose and in reverent obedience to the Lord who speaks through them in living power. IV. God, by his word and for his glory, freely created the world of nothing. He made man and woman in his own image, as the crown of creation, that they might have fellowship with him. Tempted by Satan, they rebelled against God. Being estranged from their Maker, yet responsible to him, they became subject to divine wrath, inwardly depraved, and apart from grace, incapable of returning to God. V. The only Mediator between God and humankind is Christ Jesus our Lord, God's eternal Son, who being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, fully shared and fulfilled our humanity in a life of perfect obedience. By his death in our stead, he revealed the divine love and upheld divine justice, removing our guilt and reconciling us to God. Having redeemed us from sin, the third day he rose bodily from the grave, victorious over death and the powers of darkness. He ascended into heaven where, at God's right hand, he intercedes for his people and rules as Lord over all. VI. The Holy Spirit, through the proclamation of the gospel, renews our hearts, persuading us to repent of our sins and confess Jesus as Lord. By the same Spirit we are led to trust in divine mercy, whereby we are forgiven all our sins, justified by faith alone through the merit of Christ our Savior, and granted the free gift of eternal life. VII. God graciously adopts us into his family and enables us to call him Father. As we are led by the Spirit, we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, freely keeping his commandments and endeavoring so to live in the world that all may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. VIII. God by his word and Spirit creates the one holy catholic and apostolic church, calling sinners out of the whole human race into the fellowship of Christ's Body. By the same word and Spirit, he guides and preserves for eternity that new, redeemed humanity, which, being formed in every culture, is spiritually one with the people of God in all ages. IX. The church is summoned by Christ to offer acceptable worship to God and to serve him by preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations, by tending the flock through the ministry of the Word and sacraments and through daily pastoral care, by striving for social justice, and by relieving human distress and need. X. God's redemptive purpose will be consummated by the return of Christ to raise the dead, to judge all people according to their deeds done in the body, and to establish his glorious kingdom. The wicked shall be separated from God's presence, but the righteous in glorious bodies shall live and reign with him forever. Then shall the eager expectation of creation be fulfilled and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God who makes all things new.
INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENTSAcademic FreedomIn the pursuit of truth before God, faculty members are free to express, in their writing, speaking, teaching, and activities, their individual positions. While free to develop, change, and accept any academic position, the unique task of the institution requires that the ultimate positions of faculty members not be at variance with the basic theological stance of the community as set forth in the Statement of Faith and other official statements derived from it and approved by vote of the faculty and board. Fuller recognizes that as its faculty members pursue their respective disciplines, scholarship will create a healthy and dynamic tension which Fuller must encourage. Therefore: Faculty members are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results within their fields of academic competence. Faculty members are entitled to freedom in their classrooms to address matters within the general subject area implied by the course title and description. faculty members are free as individuals and as citizens to speak and write about matters, whether or not the matters are directly related to theology. While Fuller will not limit individual expression in any respect, faculty members should avoid the impression that they are speaking for the seminary. Faculty members have the freedom to entertain positions which stand in an uncertain relationship to our community's Statement of Faith, but each member must realize that the faculty as a whole, and not its individual faculty members, has the task of interpreting the Statement of Faith. If the community finds that a given position is consonant with the Statement of Faith, the community has a responsibility to protect the academic freedom of the individuals involved against any attacks from the public or from some segment of the seminary constituency. If a faculty member believes that a peer has separated from the theological community at Fuller by publicly advocating a position clearly at variance with the Statement of Faith and Fuller's unique academic task, the faculty member should first approach that colleague directly and privately for clarification. If this attempt is not successful, then the two faculty members should request the aid of their dean(s) within the community to attempt such clarification. If after faculty discussion a faculty member remains convinced that a position is correct, even though it is at variance with Fuller's theological stance, that member has the right to attempt to change the Statement of Faith. The process of change must follow the procedures established for that purpose in the seminary's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. If attempts for such changes do not receive the community's support, however, Fuller expects that a faculty member will act with integrity and leave the community rather than act in opposition to the community's confessional stance. Any faculty colleague, however, does have the right to a full hearing and investigation by the Board of Trustees, according to the procedures stated in the seminary's bylaws and Faculty Handbook, with the understanding that the outcome of such a process may still require a severance of the relationship for the sake and interests of both parties. Students are not required to subscribe to the Statement of Faith and are free to learn and to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in the Fuller community. In their public expressions students and student organizations should make clear that they speak only for themselves. Faculty members are responsible for safeguarding the academic freedom of their students to learn by encouraging free inquiry into controversial issues, presenting alternative viewpoints, refraining from undue influence of the process of learning, taking dissenting student opinion seriously, and offering a forum for discussion.
Inclusive EducationFuller Theological Seminary is committed to the admission and education of students without discrimination on the basis of gender. In welcoming women into all of its programs, the seminary thereby incurs an obligation to make all of its resources available to them as they pursue the professions and ministries - ordained or nonordained - to which the Lord has called them. The Fuller community is aware of the fact that the role of women is a matter of controversy in many denominations, churches, and parachurch movements. The seminary seeks to nurture its ties with the whole Body of Christ, including those Christian individuals and groups who presently hold alternative views on the role and ministries of women. While the seminary encourages discussion and study of this issue, under no conditions may the authority of the classroom be used to challenge the calling of any student on the basis of gender. The seminary expects all who teach in its programs to honor its commitment to this point.
Nondiscriminatory LanguageThe Joint Faculty of Fuller Theological Seminary has adopted the following statement recommending the use of nondiscriminatory language by all members of the seminary community. Fuller has adopted the statement to be consistent with the seminary's clear commitment to the full equality of women and men and to the training of women as equal partners with men for all areas of Christian ministry. "As members of the Joint Faculty of Fuller Theological Seminary, we are committed to the use of nondiscriminatory language in all areas of the community's life. We recognize that many women and men no longer find "man," "men," and "mankind" acceptable as generic terms. We understand that such exclusive language, though once normative in our speaking and writing, now tends increasingly to alienate a substantial group of people. We wish to challenge patterns of language that may be doing harm even when harm is inflicted unconsciously and without intention. As Christians desiring to support human equality, we intend to avoid exclusive language which might express or encourage discrimination within the church or society. We pledge ourselves as faculty and encourage students, staff members, and administrators to use language which includes women and men in all our teaching, writing, witness, and worship."
Racial Justice and Intercultural LifeFuller is committed to the love that embraces cultural diversity and counters racial injustice. We recognize the equality of people of all races and nations, and we seek to learn from the diverse heritages, cultures, and histories of all who make up the community at Fuller. We commit ourselves in classrooms and elsewhere to initiatives to root out visible and invisible forms of racism in seminary, church, and society. Abolishing racism is the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, through the church, and in the world. We commit ourselves to be participants in this transforming work. Racism is a complex phenomenon that is not accurately understood as only individual prejudice: we all participate in racism because we are part of power structures, cultures, and habituall practices, insensitivites, and ignorance of others that intentionally and unintentionally perpetuate racist attitudes and behavior. Racism does great damage to the souls of both minorities and majorities, and to our faithfulness to Jesus Christ. It causes resentment and despair on the one hand; arrogance and insensitivity on the other. It causes the breakdown of community; results in alienation, disunity and segregation; and undermines witness to Jesus Christ. Overcoming racism can be conceptualized as a four-stage process: commitment to overcoming racism, confession of sorrow for participation in individual and structural racism, concrete action initiatives, and celebration of new discipleship in Christ. It is not simply remorse; it is the joy of becoming participants in Christ who overcomes divisions (Ephesians 2). Overcoming racism is an essential part of God's mission for individuals who follow Jesus Christ and for Christian congregations. Our Christian faith requires all of us to commit ourselves to respect the equal dignity of all human beings and to seek racial justice. Our belief in God's creation of humankind in God's own image (Gen 1:27) and of our essential unity (Acts 17:24-26) does not allow any racial discrimination. The doctrine of general revelation and common grace should lead us to appreciate the elements of truth, goodness and beauty in other cultures as much as in our own, although they appear distorted through human sin in theirs as well as in our own. The great affirmation of salvation by God's grace alone and through faith alone negates any boasting or any sense of superiority of any racial group as well as that of any individual (Rom 3:21-30; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11). The love command of the Lord Jesus (Mk 12:30-31) even for our enemies (Mt 5:44) or members of an enemy nation (Lk 10:25-37) and his particular stress on helping the weak and the oppressed must constantly remind us that a test of our discipleship lies in our conscious efforts to come to the aid of the victims of racial discrimination. Many exhortations in the New Testament epistles concerning forces that divide us (Gal 3:26-28, Eph 2:14) are relevant to the need for congregations and other Christian organizations to specifically model the diversity and mutuality of the reign of God. We must uphold the eschatological vision of the church composed of the ransomed from "every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Rev 5:10) and celebrate its proleptic realization in our Fuller community today. For this we must "hunger and thirst for justice" (Mt 5:6), be willing to sacrifice our privileges for the racially disadvantaged, and work for reconciliation and peace. Thus our communal life of racial justice and harmony should be an authentication of the gospel that we preach to the world suffering from racial strife. The commitment of Christians and churches to avoid conformity with the world (Rom 12:1-2) and to admonish and encourage each other (Col 3:15-17) implies mutual correction of the sin of racism in our cultures, and gratitude for the gifts of the God the Father in each other's cultures. Fuller's urban, multicultural settings, and our diverse student body, provide a unique opportunity. We are surrounded by churches of nearly every national and ethnic heritage. There is no majority ethnic group among the students we serve. Together with these churches, students, and our own increasingly diverse faculty, we need to become a learning community, receptive to and embracing that diversity. We are called as an institution and as a faculty to provide academic and professional programs appropriate for the increasingly diverse world of the 21st century where our future ministries will unfold. Fuller has a seminary-wide commitment to the authority of the Bible for all of our daily living, for our whole life. We have a commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord over all the powers and authorities and over all our lives. We have the gift of gratitude for the presence of the Holy Spirit, who calls all to repentance and overcomes the dividedness of humankind into many languages by giving us the ability to engage in dialogue with one another (Acts 2). These are precious gifts from God. We treasure them, and are committed to using them that God's will may be done here. We pray we will not be found wanting. We all need a critical theology of racial justice. Many of us come from heritages formed in relatively homogeneous racial communities. Therefore we often interpret differences in terms of the narratives of our own experiences rather than the narratives of other communities with their own struggles, their own joys and ways of celebrating, their sources of defeat and despair, their experiences of oppression, their victories over obstacles, and their ways of forgiving. The depth of racism in our societies and its insidious effects on all of us is not easy to understand: all of us are sinners, and part of sin is hiding the truth even from ourselves. Our evangelical heritage has often focused on individual sins and overlooked the powers and authorities, the customs and ideologies that function in sinful, racist ways. This same heritage, however, gives us a powerful message of the gospel of forgiveness, confession, repentance, and new life in Christ. Many who come to Fuller have diverse family narratives that include pride of overcoming and accomplishment; and that may include repressed guilt or shame. Our own diverse ethnic heritages can sensitize us, or blind us, to the systemic, debilitating destruction of the soul that is the heritage of segregation, of discrimination in jobs and pay, and of policies that have taught the victims of racism to abandon hope. We confess that we do not see how many persevere against odds, persist in struggle, drive for education, and sacrifice so others can experience something better. We give thanks that Christian commitment, warmth, friendliness, a sense of community, and a forgiving spirit have empowered many to survive spiritually and to support cross-cultural community in spite of discrimination. The worldwide church is increasingly diverse. Fuller cherishes its intercultural life and its mission to the worldwide church. Let us commit ourselves to our mission to and with those around us. Let the gospel be unhindered by our theology, our ethics, and our practices. As a seminary community we will endeavor to:
As a faculty we will endeavor to:
As staff members we will endeavor to:
As students we will endeavor to:
FORMAL STATEMENTS OF COMMUNITY STANDARDSPreambleMen and women of God are suited for Christian service by moral character as well as by academic achievement and spiritual gifts. Among their qualifications should be compassion for individual persons, sensitivity to the needs of the communities of which they are a part, a commitment to justice, a burden that the whole of God's will be obeyed on earth, personal integrity, a desire for moral growth, and mutual accountability. Candidates for a degree from Fuller Theological Seminary are expected to exhibit these moral characteristics. The ethical standards of Fuller Theological Seminary are guided by an understanding of Scripture and a commitment to its authority regarding all matters of Christian faith and living. The seminary community also desires to honor and respect the moral tradition of the churches who entrust students to us for education. These moral standards encompass every area of life, but prevailing confusion about specific areas leads the community to speak clearly about them. Students receiving training in a discipline for which there are professional ethical standards are subject to those as well. Enrollment in or employment by Fuller Theological Seminary includes a commitment by each individual to adhere to all of the seminary's published policies and ethical standards. Seven statements of community standards are affirmed by all trustees, faculty, managers/administrators, staff, and students of the seminary. These are:
These standards, along with their respective procedures, are presented in the Faculty Handbook in the Human Resources Policy Manual, and in this Student Handbook. In the application of these community standards, the seminary urges the practice of loving verbal confrontation when any member of a Christian community feels that another member is living in violation of what the Bible teaches about Christian conduct. The seminary, therefore, encourages individuals to follow, where feasible, the steps of verbal confrontation and dialogue described in Matthew 18:15-22. The seminary encourages any of its community who are in special need to seek education and counsel. The seminary is committed to extending Christian love to those involved in strife, marital conflict, or the struggle for sexual identity; and to demonstrating the personal forgiveness available through Christ for all human failure. The use of seminary disciplinary procedures should always be viewed as a last resort. In no way do they exempt the seminary from making every possible effort to guide the honest pursuit of truth, to encourage wholesome approaches to sexuality, to support stable family life, or to model community relationships that convey respect for people and property.
Academic IntegrityThis Academic Integrity Policy is an expression of the desire of the Fuller community to make clear the shared expectations that enable us to operate as a community embodying mutual trust in pursuing our academic tasks. It is rooted, first of all, in the conviction that the God whom we serve, the God who is Truth, calls us to truthfulness in the presence of the One from whom nothing can be hidden; and second, in the conviction that as brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called both to treat one another with integrity and to expect integrity from one another. We consider it crucial to our life together to establish a common understanding of the shape academic integrity should have among us. Fuller Theological Seminary seeks to promote both intellectual and moral growth. Thus, our commitment to seek to be beyond reproach in our academic work, as well as in the rest of our behavior, goes beyond adherence to institutional rules or even maintenance of interpersonal relationships and becomes a matter of the formation of Christian character. Keeping that commitment expresses our endeavor to be who we say we are not only as people of faith, but also as those called to moral leadership. Genuine spirituality takes on concrete shape in godly behavior. Failure to represent oneself and one's work truthfully undermines one's character and trustworthiness, and it eventually destroys trusting relationships in the community. Therefore, we as faculty and students alike commit to honesty in all aspects of our work. We seek to establish a community which values serious intellectual engagement ("loving God with the mind") and personal faithfulness more highly than various measures of "success" such as grades, degrees, or publications. We bear a joint obligation to one another both in and outside of the classroom. Faculty are responsible for modeling in their lectures and publications the same standards for use of oral and written sources that they expect of students in students' oral and written work, just as they are responsible for manifesting the attitudes of openness that they ask for from students. We further count it vital not only to seek to maintain the highest standards of integrity ourselves, but also to protect the integrity of the whole community by actively refusing to tolerate or ignore dishonesty on the part of others. It is, then, in the interest of promoting common understanding, mutual confidence, fairness, and clear expectations that we set down the following commitments and procedures, in the context of the larger purpose of helping to shape a more faithful Christian community. Commitments. The following commitments are to be understood as constituting essential guidelines, but not an exhaustive list of the forms academic integrity must take among us. These commitments underlie but do not supersede professional standards to which one may also be subject. In every instance where professional standards are more specific or rigorous than those specified here, the standards demanded by one's professional calling or degree program shall apply. >/p Academic integrity requires that as faculty,
Academic integrity requires that as students,
Commitment to supporting and developing a community ethos of honesty requires of the whole Fuller community that,
Procedures. For additional information about the Academic Integrity Community Standard or about the procedures for processing academic integrity complaints, contact a member of the Academic Integrity Group. The Provost appoints the members of the Academic Integrity Group. You may request a list of Academic Integrity Group members by contacting the Provost's Office at 626-584-5205.
Marriage and DivorceOut of its commitment to the stability and strength of marriages and families and out of concern about the prevailing breakdown of both in our time, Fuller Theological Seminary wishes, in the following statement, to affirm its commitments and policies with respect to God's will for the permanence of marriage and the tragic realities of divorce.
Procedures. A concern that any member of the community has failed to abide by this Community Standard on Marriage and Divorce should be reported promptly. Time limits for reporting are noted in the applicable procedures. Procedures for alleged violations of this community standard are available upon request from the Office of the Dean of Students. For information about complaint resolution or to obtain a copy of the procedures, contact the Office of the Dean of Students, 130 N. Oakland Avenue, Pasadena CA 91182 (Kreyssler Hall, second floor), email sls-office@dept.fuller.edu, or call 626-584-5435.
Respect for People and PropertyAs a community of Christians with special commitment to acting out love to one another, the seminary expects community behavior that demonstrates the highest standard of respect for people and property. Scripture is replete with exhortations to look out for the welfare of others and build up each other, to be good protectors and stewards of the possessions God has given us, and to be honest and keep one's word. The seminary is committed to fostering respectful interpersonal relationships regardless of gender, race, age, handicap, or national origin. Basic standards for respectful conduct at Fuller are similar to those of other institutions of higher education in societies with the legal foundation of respect for people and property. The following are examples of behaviors that are not acceptable according to the standard on Respect for People and Property. These examples are not intented to identify all unacceptable behaviors, but to indicate the types of behavior which are clearly inconsistent with the behaviorial expectations of the seminary. When willfully engaged in, serious, or repeated, they may be cause for disciplinary action. When appropriate, these may be reported to civil authorities for legal or other action. Dishonesty: The seminary regards as unacceptable any lying, misrepresentation, or deception in representations an individual makes about one's self or others in any phase of seminary life. Injurious or offensive action: Physical assault, infliction of psychological injury, and the spreading of malicious rumors are unacceptable. Prejudicial treatment based on gender, race, age, physical challenge, or national origin is both offensive and injurious. Persistent profane or obscene language is subject to disciplinary action. Disruption: Acts by individuals or groups which substantially interfere with the rights of others or interfere with the normal activities of the seminary are unacceptable. Disruptive activities in classrooms, libraries, offices, other campus meeting or assembly areas, or in student residences are included. Stealing or destruction of property: Theft of or damage to the property of another person or of the seminary is unacceptable. Defacing or rendering library material unusable shows little respect for people or property. Unauthorized possession or use of seminary materials or equipment is a form of stealing. Purposeful violation of institutional policies: Purposeful violations include, but are not limited to, refusal to comply with contractual arrangements with seminary offices or services, refusal to follow seminary parking policies and/or pay parking violation fines, and unwillingness to abide by established policies in Fuller Housing. Procedures. A concern that any member of the community has failed to abide by this Community Standard on Respect for People and Property should be reported promptly. Time limits for reporting are noted in the applicable procedures. Procedures for alleged violations of this community standard are available upon request from the Office of the Dean of Students. For information about complaint resolution or to obtain a copy of the procedures, contact the Office of the Dean of Students, 130 N. Oakland Avenue, Pasadena CA 91182 (Kreyssler Hall, second floor), email sls-office@dept.fuller.edu, or call 626-584-5435.
Sexual StandardsFuller Theological Seminary believes that heterosexual union must be reserved for marriage and insists on sexual abstinence for the unmarried. The seminary believes premarital, extramarital, and homosexual forms of explicit sexual conduct to be inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture. Consequently, the seminary expects all members of its community-trustees, faculty members, students, administrators, and staff members-to abstain from what it holds to be unbiblical sexual practices. Procedures. A concern that any member of the community has failed to abide by this Community Standard on Sexual Standards should be reported promptly. Time limits for reporting are noted in the applicable procedures. Procedures for alleged violations of this community standard are available upon request from the Office of the Dean of Students. For information about complaint resolution or to obtain a copy of the procedures, contact the Office of the Dean of Students, 130 N. Oakland Avenue, Pasadena CA 91182 (Kreyssler Hall, second floor), email sls-office@dept.fuller.edu, or call 626-584-5435.
Substance AbuseFuller Seminary is committed to maintaining an alcohol and drug-free environment, one conducive to the promotion of wellness and positive self-development of all members of its community. In keeping with this objective, the seminary will ensure that all of its campuses and workplaces are safe and free from the problems and risks associated with the unauthorized use and abuse of alcohol and the illegal use and abuse of drugs. Standards of conduct. Out of respect for our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, as good stewards of our relationships with one another, and in relation to our individual and communal fitness for ministry, the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of alcohol or illicit drugs by any member of the Fuller community on Fuller property is prohibited. While the use of alcohol by adults is lawful, alcohol use by adults is prohibited on the Fuller campuses, outside of the privacy of an individual's Fuller provided housing. Facts about drug and alcohol abuse. Drug abuse has spread to every level of society in the United States. All drugs are toxic or poisonous if abused. Health risks of drug abuse include, but are not limited to, sleep disorders, confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, depression, impotence, liver damage, cardiac irregularities, hepatitis, and neurological damage. Abuse of either alcohol or drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of birth defects, spontaneous abortion, and stillbirths. Alcohol is a depressant. It depresses the central nervous system and can cause serious, irreversible physical damage. Excessive drinking damages the liver, resulting in cirrhosis. Chronic alcohol abuse also causes hypertension, cardiac irregularities, ulcers, pancreatitis, kidney disease, and cancer of the esophagus, liver, bladder, and lungs. Available assistance. The good news is that alcoholism and drug abuse and addiction are treatable. Generally, a recovering alcoholic or drug abuser may never safely drink or use drugs again, but can lead a normal, productive life as long as he or she maintains total abstinence. Confidential counseling and treatment programs in the Fuller Psychological Center may be available to Fuller students and employees. The costs of these programs are dependent upon the treatment necessary, with the individual's economic situation a recognized factor on a sliding payment scale. Students and employees should consult with their insurance carriers with individual questions regarding coverage of treatment. Legal sanction. Local, state, and federal laws establish a variety of penalties for the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance, which includes alcohol as well as illicit drugs. These legal sanctions, upon conviction, may range from the payment of a small fine and probation to imprisonment for up to one year or a $5,000 fine, or both. Federal laws have increased the penalties for the illegal distribution of drugs to include life imprisonment and fines in excess of $1,000,000. Incidents on the Fuller campus or incidents involving members of the Fuller community may be reported to civil authorities for legal action. Procedures. A concern that any member of the community has failed to abide by this Community Standard on Substance Abuse should be reported promptly. Time limits for reporting are noted in the applicable procedures. Procedures for alleged violations of this community standard are available upon request from the Office of the Dean of Students. For information about complaint resolution or to obtain a copy of the procedures, contact the Office of the Dean of Students, 130 N. Oakland Avenue, Pasadena CA 91182 (Kreyssler Hall, second floor), email sls-office@dept.fuller.edu, or call 626-584-5435.
Policy Against Sexual HarassmentPreamble. The two great commandments are these: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . soul . . . and mind" and, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:37,39). As man and woman are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), so in Christ there is neither male nor female (Gal. 3:28). Followers of Jesus are not to lord it over one another (Matt. 20:25-27), but are to be in mutual submission (Eph. 5:21). Christians manifest these truths by their mutual service and love in the Body of Christ. Sexual harassment is a violation of Christ's commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. It denies the image of God in the other, and it negates our oneness in Christ. Sexual harassment often involves an abuse of power. It invariably interferes with shared ministry and rends the Body of Christ. With these things in mind, together with the realization that when one member suffers, all suffer together (1 Cor. 12:26), Fuller Theological Seminary establishes the following policy with regard to sexual harassment. Policy. Fuller Theological Seminary expects that the dignity of all people, female and male, will be revered and celebrated in behavior, attitude, and the use of language by each member of the seminary community. This expectation is grounded in the belief that Scripture affirms mutuality and care for the other, explicitly forbids behavior which arises from the abuse of power, and teaches that men and women together are created in God's image and for God's glory. The seminary is therefore committed to creating and maintaining a community in which students, faculty, administrators/managers, and staff can study and work together in an atmosphere free of all forms of harassment, exploitation, or intimidation, including sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is a barrier to learning in the classroom and to productivity in the workplace. Faculty, administrators/managers, supervisors, staff, students, and trustees have the responsibility for participation in the creation of a campus environment free from sexual harssment, an environment that bears joyful witness to the God-given worth of all persons. Every member of the Fuller community should be aware that the seminary is strongly opposed to sexual harassment and that such behavior is prohibited both by seminary policy and by federal and state laws. This policy against sexual harassment applies to all members of the seminary community, including students, faculty, administrators/managers, staff-level employees, and trustees. It also extends to the seminary's agents, as well as to vendors, independent contractors, and others doing business with the seminary. This policy is also one of the seven Statements of Community Standards applicable to all members of the Fuller community, and as such, adherence to it is a continuing condition of enrollment and employment. DEFINITION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct based on sex or of a sexual nature, up to and including sexual assault, constitute sexual harassment when one or more of the following apply:
Sexual harassment is conduct based on sex or of a sexual nature, whether directed toward a person of the opposite or same sex, and may include explicit sexual propositions, sexual innuendos, suggestive comments, sexually oriented "kidding" or "teasing," "practical jokes," displaying sexually explicit printed or visual material in the absence of a valid educational purpose, and physical contact such as patting, pinching, hugging, or brushing against another person's body. Both men and women may be victims of sexual harassment. One person may be sexually harassing another person and not be aware of it. For example, it is possible that joking and/or other related behavior based on sex or of a sexual nature may be unwelcome to another person and constitute sexual harassment, but the person who initiates the joking may not be aware of its impact on the other person. See also the headings Policy Against Retaliation (below) and Procedures for Students (below).
Policy Against Unlawful DiscriminationFuller Theological Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, military service status, veteran status, medical condition (Cancer/Genetic Characteristics), disability, pregnancy, or age, in any of its policies, procedures, practices, benefit programs, or job performance and conduct expectations. Among the laws with which the seminary complies are Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (pertaining to race, color, and national origin), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (pertaining to sex), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (pertaining to disability), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (pertaining to age), and the Older Worker's Benefit Protection Act (pertaining to age). This policy against unlawful discrimination covers admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, Fuller Seminary's programs and activities. This policy against unlawful discrimination applies to all members of the seminary community, including students, faculty, administrators/managers, staff-level employees, and trustees. This policy is also one of the seven Statements of Community Standards applicable to all members of the Fuller community, and as such, adherence to it is a continuing condition of enrollment and employment. As a religious institution and employer, the seminary does exercise its constitutional and statutory rights to restrict all teaching and administrative/management positions to persons who affirm the Statement of Faith of Fuller Theological Seminary. The seminary also reserves the right to seek, hire, retain, and promote individuals who support the mission and goals of the institution and whose conduct is consistent with its understanding of Scripture. See also the headings Policy Against Retaliation (below) and Procedures for Students (below).
Policy Against RetaliationFear of retaliation should not hinder the reporting of an incident of sexual harassment, unlawful discrimination, or unlawful harassment. The seminary strictly prohibits retaliation against a member of the Fuller community who opposes the practices prohibited by these policies against sexual harassment, unlawful discrimination, and unlawful harassment, who brings forth a complaint, against whom a complaint is brought, or who otherwise is a participant in a complaint resolution process. Such prohibited retaliatory conduct includes, but is not limited to, reducing a student's grade, decreasing an employee's pay, or downgrading a person's performance evaluation. Retaliatory conduct will be considered a violation of seminary policy, and anyone who violates this policy against retaliation will be independently disciplined by the seminary, up to and including possible termination of student status (expulsion) and/or termination from employment. This policy against retaliation applies to all members of the seminary community, including students, faculty, administrators/managers, staff-level employees, and trustees.
Procedures for StudentsAny student who believes he or she has been sexually harassed or unlawfully discriminated against by a student, faculty member, administrator/manager, staff level employee, trustee, agent, vendor, independent contractor, or other person doing business with the seminary, should immediately report the facts of the incident or incidents and the name(s) of the individual(s) involved to the Dean of Students or her/his designee. The Dean of Students or her/his designee will determine the appropriate next steps for investigation and resolution for all sexual harassment and unlawful discrimination allegations on a case-by-case basis. If it appears that the personal safety, including physical and/or emotional health or well being, of an individual student, employee, or the seminary community as a whole may be threatened, then the Dean of Students or her/his designee will promptly consult with the Provost or his/her designee. Immediate action(s) as apparently warranted by the circumstances will be taken. In the event any student believes that he or she has been sexually harassed or unlawfully discriminated against by an employee, trustee, agent, vendor, independent contractor, or other person doing business with the seminary, the Dean of Students or her/his designee and the Director of Human Resources will jointly investigate the allegation. (In the event any Fuller employee believes he or she has been sexually harassed or unlawfully discriminated against by a student, the Dean of Students or her/his designee and the Director of Human Resources will also jointly investigate the allegation.) The Dean of Students or her/his designee also may constitute a committee to assist in the investigation, seek the assistance of outside/off-campus professionals, and/or do whatever he/she deems appropriate to ensure that a complete and fair investigation is conducted. The totality of the circumstances, including the context in which the alleged conduct occurred, will be considered. Upon completion of an investigation, the Dean or Students or her/his designee will provide a copy of the findings of the investigation and recommendation(s) for action or non-action by the seminary to the individual making the allegation(s) and to the individual about whose behavior the complaint was made. Each individual will then have an opportunity to timely respond to the Dean of Students or her/his designee in writing as to whether or not he/she accepts the findings and recommendation(s) and why or why not. Any individual responses, along with the findings of the investigation and recommendations(s) of the investigator(s), will be submitted to the individual's academic dean or the vice president for finance, depending on the charged individual's relationship to the seminary. The individual's academic dean or the vice president for finance, will take appropriate action, after reviewing the findings of the investigation and the recommendation(s) of the investigator(s), after reviewing the individual responses, if any, and after consulting with the Dean of Students and, if appropriate, the Director of Human Resources. Upon a determination that a violation of seminary policy has been shown by clear and convincing evidence/facts, disciplinary action will be imposed. The academic dean, or the vice president for finance, may impose disciplinary action, or may refer discipline to an appropriate administrator or administrative body, if deemed warranted. Corrective actions for students may include disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination of student status (expulsion), when it is warranted. Corrective actions for employees may include disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination from employment, when it is warranted. Appeal of the decision(s) of the individual's academic dean or the vice president for finance may be made only to the Provost, whose decision is final. The appeal must be made within ten days of the mailing of a decision. Except as required to explain the basis of new evidence, an appeal is limited to review of the findings of the investigation and recommendation(s) for action by the seminary prepared by the investigator(s) and any individual responses timely submitted, as stated above, for one or more of the following purposes:
Confidentiality. The seminary values responsible speech and seeks to create and maintain a redemptive environment. Therefore, the seminary strives to protect the privacy of all involved parties. However, disclosure will be made to those who need to know in order to carry out assigned seminary responsibilities. All records of complaints by students will be maintained by the Office of the Dean of Students in conformity with state and federal privacy and disclosure requirements and seminary policies and procedures. (If an employee is involved, records will also be maintained by the Office of Human Resources.) Such records will be made available to seminary administrators/managers who have a need to know, and otherwise, only in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. Other Matters
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