{"id":24510,"date":"2024-07-24T17:56:09","date_gmt":"2024-07-24T17:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/?p=24510"},"modified":"2024-08-20T15:23:40","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T15:23:40","slug":"answering-your-questions-on-expressing-faith-in-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/article\/answering-your-questions-on-expressing-faith-in-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Answering Your Questions on Expressing Faith in Your Business"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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As a Christian, you want your life to reflect your love for God in all that you do. As a business leader, \u201call that you do\u201d includes expressing your faith in your business. As we say in C12, \u201cGod has an eternal plan for each believer’s life, and that plan includes their business.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

However, employers are often confused about what is and is not permissible regarding faith expression in business. Some Christian employers operate with reckless boldness, expressing their faith in ways that may not be allowable under the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)<\/b><\/a> regulations. Other Christian employers operate in fear and ignorance, overestimating the risks associated with proclaiming allegiance to Christ and choosing to remain silent. Ironically, excessive concealment, covert agendas, and inconsistent expressions of faith also create risks for your business (James 2:14\u201326<\/b><\/a>). There are ditches on both sides of the narrow path (Matthew 7:13\u201314<\/b><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Here is the truth: you have great freedom<\/a><\/strong> to express your faith in your business.<\/strong> However, there are guidelines for faith in business integration that should be followed. With an informed and biblical perspective, you can resist fear and passivity, integrate your faith and work confidently, and experience the joy of eternal impact in and through your business.<\/span><\/p>

This article was created to answer questions about expressing your faith in your business. Our hope is that this resource equips you to <\/span>build a business in a way that honors God and advances the gospel in the marketplace<\/b>. As a leader, implementing faith in your business begins with <\/span>you<\/span><\/i>. Taking the first steps toward faith and work integration can be daunting. To help you move forward with clarity, we have addressed some common questions regarding the guidelines for faith in business:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What Is \u201cBusiness as a Ministry\u201d?<\/b><\/h2>

You may have heard the phrase \u201cBusiness as a Ministry,\u201d but what exactly is it? <\/span>Business as a Ministry (BaaM) refers to C12\u2019s Christian leadership paradigm in which a CEO or business owner integrates a mission to love God and love others with the company\u2019s operations for an eternally balanced scorecard. <\/b>Embracing the reality that God cares about what you do (in business), why you do it, how you do it, and who you become in the process is part of an integrated life in Christ.<\/span><\/p>

Your business belongs to God\u2014He is the true Owner. He entrusts it to you to be used for His glory and as a platform for His message. It is common to think about business and ministry in different worlds, with your business funding ministry. At C12, we approach things with a powerful integration model of <\/span>Business <\/b>as<\/i><\/b> a Ministry<\/b><\/a>, believing the gospel changes <\/span>why<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>how<\/i><\/b><\/a> we do everything. It also realigns our formulas for success.<\/span><\/p>

Like many others, <\/span>Will Grindle<\/b><\/a>, Chief Stewardship Officer of <\/span>Ascend Wireless Networks<\/b><\/a>, wanted to be more explicit about his faith expression in the business but was uncertain how to proceed. He decided to step out in faith, trusting God with where it would lead.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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You may feel like Will, unsure of how to incorporate faith in your business but feeling convicted to do so. <\/span>You are not alone in this journey.<\/b> Many Christian business leaders share this desire, and C12 offers a <\/span>community of like-minded peers and mentors<\/b><\/a> who have taken this journey and are ready to support you.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Is It Okay to Have a Faith-Based Mission Statement and Core Values?<\/b><\/h2>

Yes, including your company\u2019s faith-based commitment in your mission statement and your core values is absolutely okay. In fact, it is encouraged if you are operating your business with Christian values. For example, in the <\/span>2014 Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores case<\/b><\/a>, the Supreme Court cited Hobby Lobby\u2019s faith-based mission statement as a reason for ruling in their favor. Here are a handful of other for-profit businesses with faith-based mission statements:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Interstate Batteries<\/b><\/a><\/p>

\u201cTo glorify God and enrich lives as we deliver the most trustworthy source of power to the world.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Hobby Lobby<\/b><\/a><\/p>

“We are committed to honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles, offering our customers exceptional selection and value, serving our employees and their families by establishing a work environment and company policies that build character, strengthen individuals, and nurture families, and providing a return on the family\u2019s investment, sharing the Lord\u2019s blessings with our employees, and investing in our community.”<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Chick-fil-A<\/b><\/a><\/p>

“To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Your <\/span>mission statement<\/b><\/a> is a succinct statement that expresses what the business does and why the business exists. <\/span>It provides internal clarity to the organization and should be crafted as a genuine and unique expression of your business’s values and purpose.<\/b><\/p>

Some C12 members have created onboarding videos explaining their faith-based mission statement and core values. This is permissible if they expressly affirm that all perspectives are welcome in the company. Additionally, C12 members have shared faith stories through emails or during company meetings. This is also acceptable, provided they explain the purpose and emphasize that reading or listening is voluntary.<\/span><\/p>

How Do Faith-Based Mission Statements and Core Values Affect Personnel Decisions?<\/b><\/h2>

Just as secular employers screen for mission and cultural fit, faith-based employers can also seek to hire employees who can align with and affirm their core values.<\/strong> However, faith-based employers cannot make hiring decisions based on an applicant\u2019s religious beliefs. <\/span>Religious discrimination in the workplace<\/b><\/a> is defined as treating a person (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of their religious beliefs in any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, fringe benefits, and other terms or conditions of employment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Your company\u2019s values\u2014not religion\u2014should guide your personnel decisions. If your mission statement and core values align with biblical principles, it is best to be up-front about them in the interview process and ask candidates questions such as, \u201cWould you be comfortable working in a culture like this one?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Can You Host Bible Studies in Your Business?<\/b><\/h2>

Yes, employers can offer voluntary prayer meetings or Bible studies as long as employees of other faiths can start similar groups on the same terms.<\/strong> It is recommended that the employer provide written notice of the prayer meeting or Bible study, stating that it is voluntary and that participation or non-participation will not be used as a factor in employment decisions. Hosting the studies outside of working hours reinforces their voluntary nature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Bible studies are a great way to foster community among your employees and provide a safe space for fellowship. This type of gathering may even open the hearts of your non-Christian employees. For more ideas on cultivating a BaaM culture within your business, download our free resource, <\/span>105 BaaM (Business as a Ministry) Ideas<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>

Can You Donate Company Money and Employees\u2019 Time to Faith-Based Non-Profits?<\/b><\/h2>

Donations: <\/strong>Yes, employers are free to choose which, if any, charities to fund and may match employee donations to these charities.<\/strong> However, faith-based employers would be wise to choose faith-based charities with broad appeal that contribute to the positive values-based culture they are working to build. Employees must never feel coerced to donate personally or to conform to a particular sect in the workplace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Employee Volunteer Time: Yes, companies may also donate their employees\u2019 time to faith-based charities or service projects, including volunteering several hours each month to enhance public relations with the community.<\/b>\u00a0As with donations, employers would be wise to choose charities with broad appeal. Additionally, employees must be allowed to decline volunteer opportunities without fear of negative repercussions.<\/span><\/p>

Can You Share Your Faith in Your Business by Displaying Bible Verses, Playing Christian Music, Hiring a Chaplain, Giving Out Christian Materials, etc.?<\/b><\/h2>

Yes, Christian business leaders have great freedom to overtly express and share their faith with people who interact with their business. <\/strong>Data<\/b><\/a> suggests that <\/span>the workplace<\/b><\/a> may be your greatest opportunity to have spiritual conversations with non-believers.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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As a leader, you have been given <\/span>a unique platform<\/b><\/a> to interact with and influence a wide array of people: your employees, their families, your customers, suppliers, vendors, communities, and beyond. <\/span>You can <\/b>share your faith<\/b><\/a> in your business, but it must be done thoughtfully and respectfully to be effective.<\/b> Employees must feel safe and know that you are not trying to coerce them or that refusing your invitation would negatively impact their standing at work. There must be a genuine relationship of<\/span> trust. <\/b>If an employee disagrees with or protests with their employer\u2019s religious beliefs, an employer cannot take any adverse action for their disagreement.<\/span><\/p>

Public Displays of Faith in Decor, Music, and on the Company Website:<\/b> If you own the business, you can decide what religious materials are displayed at work (e.g., Bibles, copies of <\/span>The Purpose Driven Life<\/span><\/i>, Christian music, Christian pictures\/posters, etc.). Chick-fil-A and Interstate Batteries boldly proclaim their purposes on their websites as \u201cto glorify God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Christian Materials:<\/b> Including Bible verses on printed company materials and giving out evangelistic material is also permissible. The California-based chain In-N-Out Burger (27,000+ employees) has printed Bible verses on its cups and wrappers since the early 1990s. Additionally, <\/span>The Pocket Testament League<\/b><\/a>, a <\/span>BaaM Resource Organization<\/b><\/a>, enables you to create custom pocket-sized Gospels of John that can be given to business associates or included with orders to help you <\/span>share God\u2019s Word<\/b><\/a> with others.<\/span><\/p>

Chaplaincy:<\/b> Many Christian employers enlist the services of corporate chaplains to extend faith-based care for their employees in a non-threatening manner. As long as using chaplain services is voluntary, employers are free to make chaplains available to employees. Ensure that all conversations between employees and chaplains remain confidential.<\/span><\/p>

C12 has a list of <\/span>BaaM Resource Organizations<\/b><\/a>\u2014trusted, vetted, and mission-aligned companies and ministries that help you share your faith with employers and customers. These include but are not limited to:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Corporate Chaplains of America<\/b><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Marketplace Chaplains<\/b><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Pocket Testament League<\/b><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Remember, as a Christian leader, your job is to plant the seeds, trusting God to do the rest (<\/span>1 Corinthians 3:6\u20137<\/b><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Can You Lead Group Prayers before Meetings and Company Meals?<\/b><\/h2>

Yes, you can lead group prayers during business hours as long as it is known that participation is voluntary.<\/strong> Group prayers before meetings or company meals can set a positive tone, especially if there is a clear connection to the company\u2019s mission, vision, and values. Here are a few tips to ensure inclusivity and respect for prayer gatherings:<\/span><\/p>