All employees of Southern Adventist University are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” Therefore, all employees are expected to willingly and conscientiously uphold the high moral and Christian standards that the church represents and live in harmony with the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Employees of Southern Adventist University represent the church, as well as the university; consequently, their appearances, words, and actions reflect care and judgment. By the grace of God, their lives are a reflection of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
- Southern employees choose to talk “that which is good to the use of edifying” (Eph. 4:29); thus, they refrain from lewd talk and profanity and avoid being demeaning or derogatory.
- Southern employees recognize that their bodies are “temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19) and thus refrain from the use of tobacco in any form, intoxicating beverages, and/or illegal drugs.
- As members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Southern employees recognize the importance of coming together with like-minded believers; therefore, they do not “forsake the assembling of themselves (Heb. 10:25) and attend church services on the seventh-day Sabbath and support their local churches with tithes and offerings (Lev. 27:30).
- Southern employees believe “the Holy Scriptures are the supreme, authoritative, and the infallible revelation of [God’s] will” (“28 Fundamental Beliefs”) and accept the view of marriage as divinely established in The Garden of Eden, and defined as an exclusive union between one man and one woman. Therefore, employees comport themselves consistent with a Biblical sexual ethic, one in which sexual relationships occur only in a Biblical marriage context, and refrain from sexual acts of any kind outside of the Biblical marriage. It is also noted that Southern recognizes only those marriages that have occurred in a church or civil ceremony and for which a recorded marriage license has been issued.
- Southern employees embrace the Biblical exhortation to mentor the next generation (Ps. 145:4); therefore, by both personal example and instruction, employees are to assist in the education of students regarding the application of Christian standards and conduct.
Special attention is to be given at all times to neatness, cleanliness, modesty, and courteous behavior. Webster defines modesty as “being free from coarseness, indelicacy, and indecency; a regard for propriety in dress, speech, and conduct.” Because we realize that God expects His commandment-keeping people to be distinct from the world, Southern Adventist University affirms statements made by Ellen G. White concerning simplicity and appropriateness of dress: “Our appearance in every respect should be characterized by neatness, modesty, and purity” (Counsels for the Church, p. 10).
In accordance with the teachings on Christian behavior espoused by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we uphold conservative Christian values in dress and appearance. We believe that adherence to these values creates a positive workplace environment.
- The employee’s attire and grooming are to be neat and appropriate for the work area. Extremes in fashion are to be avoided. Modesty is expected at all times.
- Employees are expected to follow guidelines articulated in the Church Manual and accordingly will not wear rings, earrings, necklaces, chokers and bracelets (except Medic Alert bracelets). The university and the Church respect the conscience of those who choose to wear a wedding band.