How to Handle Concerns
When Something Goes Wrong
What happens next…
Code of Conduct
Violations of the Pastors’ Code will activate corrective conversations with the Leadership Team. Repeated, severe, or unrepentant violations of this code may be grounds for dismissal by the Leadership Team.
Community Agreements
To help protect the well-being of our beloved community, Forefront Church does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, targeting, or abuse of members of our community.
How to Report Incidents
If you have experienced or witnessed an incident that violates these Community Agreements, you can report any incident confidentially (and anonymously if you prefer) via the Forefront Church Incident Reporting Form.
Please feel free to contact the Executive Council of co-pastors (ec@forefrontnyc.com) or the Leadership Team (ffbklt@forefrontnyc.com) if you have any questions or needs.
Every report is taken seriously by LT and investigated without retaliation, respecting the privacy of all involved.
Additionally, we have a directory of counseling resources to support and assist community wellbeing.
What Happens Next
When a concern is reported, LT will receive it, ensure the impacted person feels heard and informed, and assess next steps with leadership.
Investigations or formal processes are reserved for instances of harm or violations of safety; not every conflict requires one. Where formal steps are needed, they are carried out by a small trusted circle, with confidentiality and care for all involved. We may engage an outside advisor, mediator, or trained facilitator as needed to care for and protect those harmed.
For people in formally appointed positions of authority, violations of the Code of Conduct may result in HR consequences, including termination of the position.
LT and EC will, though prayerful discernment, consider the balance of maintaining Forefront as an inclusive church while maintaining boundaries to protect the safety and well-being of the congregants.
If appropriate after incidents that have wider community impacts, we may offer Restorative Justice Healing Circles, which are optional, structured, trauma-informed processes that bring together those affected — in a safe space, with skilled support — to listen, acknowledge, and work toward healing together. We will coordinate these with our Care Deacon. Participation is voluntary.
Together, participants may identify what repair and accountability look like — which may include apology, counseling, changed access or role, reparations, acts of service, training, support, or other steps to change behavior — and document these in a shared action plan.
Restorative Justice Circle — How It Works
A Restorative Justice Circle is an optional, structured, voluntary, trauma-informed process that brings together those affected by harm — in a safe space, with skilled support — to listen, acknowledge, and work toward healing together. It is guided by four questions:
Who has been hurt, and how?
What do they need?
Who shares responsibility for repair?
What does wholeness look like for our community?
Before the Circle
A trained facilitator meets individually with everyone involved — the person hurt, the person who caused hurt, and any relevant community members — to explain the process, gather input, and ensure everyone is entering voluntarily and with informed consent.
A Circle is only appropriate when the person who caused hurt is genuinely willing to take accountability. It is never used to minimize harm or pressure the person hurt. A Circle is not a courtroom, a mediation of "both sides," or a path to forced reconciliation. It may be used alongside a HR formal investigation. Mandatory reporting obligations are never bypassed.
In the Circle
The Circle opens with a grounding ritual — prayer, silence, or a shared practice — and a review of shared agreements: no interruptions, respectful language, confidentiality. Then:
The person(s) impacted shares their experience, feelings, and what they need.
The person(s) who caused harm takes responsibility, acknowledges impact, and offers amends.
Community members share how they've been affected and what they're committed to.
Together, participants identify what repair and accountability look like — which may include apology, counseling, changed access or role, financial support, acts of service, training, or other concrete steps to change behavior — and document these in a shared action plan.
The Circle closes with a symbolic ritual and space for final reflections and prayers.
After the Circle
The agreed action steps are followed through and monitored, with ongoing support and check ins. The process may take as much time and space as it needs. Forgiveness is never forced. Restored relationship may or may not be the outcome — and that is up to the person impacted. We don't consider the process complete until those most affected feel genuinely cared for.
If someone discloses to you, what do you do next? What are the guiding questions you need to ask?
If someone discloses to you
Listen attentively and actively. Let them speak until they are finished, without interrupting or rushing to a solution.
Thank them for trusting you with something hard.
Believe them. Validate their experience without judging or questioning the details.
Make clear what you can and cannot keep private. For example, you are not a confidential resource if the disclosure involves a minor, a risk of harm to self or others, or any other risk that activates mandatory reporting.
Ask consent before taking any action on their behalf, including asking further questions about their experience. See example questions in the next section.
Do not investigate, confront the other person, or promise a specific outcome.
If appropriate, ask if you have their permission to pull in a more senior member of the Forefront structure. If so, guide them to the right channel: the EC (ec@forefrontnyc.com) or LT (ffbklt@forefrontnyc.com), or the Incident Reporting Form if they prefer anonymity.
Write down what was shared as soon as you can, using their words, and store it securely.
Ask if they are open to a check-in after a predetermined amount of time. If they are, check in with them as promised so they know they have not been dropped.
Guiding questions to ask
Are you safe right now? Is anyone in immediate danger?
How can I support you best right now? Do you have a specific need or did you mainly need to be heard today?
Is it okay if I share this with a designated EC or LT member so you can get help? Who would you feel comfortable with?
Would you prefer to report through a person, or through the anonymous form?
Who else, if anyone, do you want involved or told? (Do not assume the discloser's relationship structure, partners, or family configuration. Let them define who their people are and who is affected.)
Is there anything you do not want to happen right now?
Would counseling or other support resources be helpful to you?
Is there anything I have misunderstood or that you want to add?
Are there any questions I haven’t asked that you hoped I would?
What course of action would ‘make this right’ for you? (do they want a mediated conversation? Or a formal apology?, etc)
Do you know if anyone else in the congregation has had a similar experience to you?
If applicable, do you have any suggestions for how we can prevent this harm in the future?