The disciplinary code

1. The nature of discipline

Discipline is not a restriction of freedom but a way of its defense. This is not external coercion but inner strength that allows a sentient being to follow the chosen road. Discipline is a bridge between intention and action, between the goal and its achievement.

Discipline is a manifestation of responsibility before oneself, before the community and before the One. It is the answer to the question: And what have I done today for tomorrow? If every day brings a contribution to the future, then life becomes filled with meaning and significance.

Discipline does not guarantee an easy life. On the contrary, it demands effort, self-control and honesty before oneself. But it gives direction, confidence and the joy of creation. It turns abstract faith into concrete actions that increase the fullness from which the One will assemble.

2. The distinction between discipline and coercion

Discipline and coercion may outwardly be similar, but inwardly they are opposite. Discipline is an inner choice, coercion external pressure.

Discipline is a free choice to follow the chosen road. This is when a sentient being himself decides how to live and follows that decision. Discipline demands effort, but it is an effort that comes from the being itself. Discipline strengthens the personality, develops the will, draws near to the One.

Coercion is external pressure that forces one to act against the will. This is when another person or circumstance dictates what to do. Coercion does not develop the will but suppresses it. Coercion creates resistance and destroys harmony.

True discipline is always free. It cannot be imposed from outside. It can only be accepted and developed in oneself. The community may support discipline but cannot create it. Discipline is born inside, when a sentient being understands the value of the road and chooses to follow it.

3. The rules of conduct

The rules of conduct are the outward expression of inner discipline. They do not replace the inner choice but help realize it. The rules are based on the canon and the commandments, and their goal is to create conditions for the harmonious life of the community.

The respect for freedom and dignity

Every member of the community deserves respect regardless of his age, status, abilities. Respect shows itself in how you speak with another, how you listen to him, how you treat his opinion. Respect does not mean agreement with everything, but it means the recognition of the other's right to be different.

The freedom of one ends where the freedom of another begins. Therefore the respect for the freedom of others is the foundation of harmonious relations. No one has the right to coerce, influence in bad faith, press. No one has the right to violate personal boundaries without permission.

Honesty in communication

Lies destroy trust, and trust is the foundation of the community. Therefore communication must be honest. Honesty is not rudeness — one may speak the truth softly and with respect. But the truth must always be spoken.

The concealment of important information is a form of lying. The distortion of facts is a form of lying. Half-truth is a form of lying. All these forms destroy trust and must be avoided.

Taking part in the life of the community

Taking part in the life of the community — a voluntary rhythm which the Covenant one holds himself: the community calls, does not coerce (see the liturgical charter, ch. 6). Absence is not a disciplinary violation: to the absent go people, not sanctions.

Participation includes:

• Presence at the gatherings by one's own rhythm (the table, the evening)
• Taking part in the making of decisions
• Contribution to the community's affairs by strength
• Help for those in need

The violation is not "not coming" but another thing: taking from the common without contributing by unwillingness (the free rider; see the Financial charter, Art. 5.3), and creating wounds while refusing the duty of healing.

Responsibility for words and actions

Every word and every action have consequences. The one who accepted the Covenant must be aware that his words and actions influence others, the community, the future.

Responsibility includes:

• The admission of one's mistakes
• The setting right of the consequences of one's actions
• The compensation of inflicted harm
• The drawing of lessons from mistakes

Help for those in need

Mutual help is the foundation of the community. One who does not help others cannot be a member of the community in the full sense. Mutual help is not charity — it is a mutual obligation that arises from the acceptance of the Covenant.

Help may be:

• Material — the sharing of a surplus of resources
• Practical — help in deeds
• Emotional — support in hard moments
• Intellectual — the sharing of knowledge
• Spiritual — help in returning to the road

4. The system of warnings

Warnings are a way of helping a member of the community see the wound and take the duty of healing — before the unhealed becomes excluding. A warning — not a punishment but a reminder: the one who created the wound and refuses the duty answers.

The personal warning

A personal warning is given at the first noticed violation of the rules of conduct. It may be:

• The violation of respect for another
• Dishonesty in communication
• Another violation of the rules

Absence at gatherings is not a warning: participation — a voluntary rhythm (see "Taking part in the life of the community"). A warning — not a step of exclusion but a sign of attention: it helps a person see the wound and take the duty of healing.

A personal warning must be:

• Concrete — it is named which exact rule is violated
• Honest — the facts of the violation are explained
• Respectful — containing no insults
• Constructive — pointing the road to setting right

A personal warning is made in person, in a conversation with the violator. This gives the possibility to discuss the situation, explain the position, find a solution.

The public warning

A public warning is given if the violation repeats or the personal warning was not taken into account. A public warning is more serious and points to the necessity of change.

A public warning must be:

• Documented — written down and communicated to the community
• Public — announced at the gathering of the community
• Clear — the concrete actions expected are named
• Urgent — the terms for setting right are named

A public warning means that if the wounds continue and the duty is not taken, the question will arise by the single ground of exclusion: creates wounds and refuses the duty of healing.

The formal warning

A formal warning is the last one before the beginning of the procedure of exclusion. It is given if the violations continue despite the previous warnings.

A formal warning must be:

• Formal — following the official procedure
• Public — announced at the gathering of the community
• Final — stating that at the continuation of wounds the question will arise by the single ground of exclusion: creates wounds and refuses the duty of healing
• Documented — written down and kept

After the formal warning the question is posed not as "did the person pass the count of violations" but as one: does he create wounds and refuse the duty of healing. If yes — the procedure of exclusion begins (by the ground, not by the number of warnings); if no — the search for a way of setting right continues.

5. The procedure of considering violations

The consideration of violations is a process that ensures justice and honesty in determining the consequences. The procedure consists of several steps.

Step one: The gathering of information

When it becomes known about a possible violation, information about it is gathered. these are:

• The hearing of the violator
• The hearing of witnesses
• The study of facts and circumstances
• The gathering of proofs, if there are any

The gathering of information is conducted by the Scribe upon the received complaint; the gathering must be honest and objective, without prejudice.

Step two: The determination of the kind of violation

On the basis of the gathered information the kind of violation is determined:

• A mistake — an unintentional violation
• An intentional violation — a conscious counteraction to the canon and the commandments

This distinction is important, because each kind requires its own approach.

The measure of participation in a common violation

When a wound was created by several, the community answers in the measure of the participation of each — the same measure in which the canon speaks of the deed made together (Canon, chapter 8). The contribution to the wound serves as the measure, and the contributions are three:

• Did it — the one whose word or hand created the wound: the full debt of healing is on him.
• Kept silent, having a word — was near, saw the wound, could speak and did not: he answers in the measure of his silence. "Knew and neglected" is a category known to the teaching; the silence of one who could speak is a contribution to the wound, in the measure of that silence.
• Did not know — was not in the circle of consequences and could not know: there is no debt. The search for "who else is guilty" beyond the contribution to the wound is not conducted: the contribution answers, not the closeness to the matter.

The measure is named aloud at the review — to each side separately, without shame: we do not shame — we heal, and this concerns everyone in the circle of participation.

Step three: The conversation with the violator

The Scribe and the checkers appointed by the community meet with the violator and honestly say what is known. They give him the possibility to explain his position, bring his arguments, present his version of events.

The conversation must be respectful and honest. The goal is not to accuse but to understand.

Step four: The public announcement

If the violation is confirmed, it is announced at the gathering of the community. The facts, the circumstances and the kind of violation are explained. The violator has the right to defend himself and explain his position.

The public announcement ensures the transparency and honesty of the process.

Step five: The determination of consequences

On the basis of the kind of violation and its gravity the consequences are determined. It may be:

• A warning
• A plan of setting right
• Exclusion from the community

The consequences must be proportionate to the violation and directed at the restoration of harmony.

Step six: The documentation

All the stages of considering the violation are documented. these are:

• The date of the violation
• The facts of the violation
• The testimonies of witnesses
• The position of the violator
• The decision made
• The consequences assigned

The documentation helps avoid repeated conflicts and creates precedents for future decisions.

6. The measures of disciplinary impact

The measures of disciplinary impact are the consequences of violations directed at the restoration of harmony and the helping of the violator to change.

The warning

A warning is a reminder of the violation and a possibility for setting right. A warning is not a punishment but a constructive measure that points to the problem and the road to its solution.

A warning may be:

• Verbal — made in a personal conversation
• Written — drawn up in a document
• Public — announced at the gathering of the community

The plan of setting right

A plan of setting right is the process of restoring what was broken by an action. Setting right is not a punishment — it is responsibility. Setting right is not suffering for suffering's sake — it is action for setting right's sake.

The plan of setting right includes:

• The admission of the violation
• The setting right of the consequences
• The compensation of inflicted harm
• The inner change of the violator

The plan of setting right is developed together with the violator and approved by the community. It must be realistic and doable.

Exclusion from the community

Exclusion from the community is an extreme measure, taken only when other ways did not help. Exclusion is not a punishment — it is the protection of the community from destruction.

The ground for exclusion — only one (the Canon, chapter 8): a person creates wounds and refuses the duty of healing. The three pictures named below — not three causes but three manifestations of one ground:

• The systematic violation of the commandments without setting right
• Anti-mind actions threatening the community
• The refusal of admission and setting right

The procedure of exclusion is described in the Covenant and must be kept exactly.

Exclusion — not the only door out of the community but the second. The first — the exit by the word of the person himself (the rites, 2.6): without causes, without a court, with the circle's gratitude. The difference is simple: exclusion removes membership and leaves the Covenant — the door of the excluded one opens by healing; the exit lays down both by the word of the person — and his return through a new Covenant is a feast. Neither door is locked.

7. The procedure of appeal

An appeal is the right of a member of the community to appeal a decision that concerns him. This right protects justice and gives the possibility to set mistakes right.

The reasons for appeal

An appeal is possible by three reasons:

• The violation of the procedure of making the decision
• The appearance of new information that changes the situation
• A decision not confirmed by the check: the claimed ground (wounds and the refusal of the duty of healing) was not confirmed

The procedure of appeal

The procedure of appeal consists of seven steps:

Step one: The formulation of the complaint. A member of the community who wants to appeal a decision formulates his complaint clearly and concretely. What is the reason of the appeal? What facts confirm it? What does he want to achieve?

Step two: The filing of the complaint. The complaint is filed to the community through the Scribe or at the next gathering. The complaint must be filed within a reasonable term.

Step three: The consideration of the complaint. The community considers the complaint at the gathering. The member who filed the complaint has the right to speak. Those who made the decision have the right to explain their position. The consideration must be honest and respectful.

Step four: The analysis of facts. The community analyzes the facts presented in the complaint. Is there a violation of the procedure? Is there new information? Was the claimed ground of the decision confirmed — is it checked by the wounds that exist and the duty that was refused? The analysis must be objective.

Step five: The vote on the complaint. After the analysis the vote happens. Every member of the core has one vote. The complaint is considered satisfied if no fewer than two thirds of the members of the core voted for it.

Step six: The decision on the complaint. If the complaint is satisfied, the original decision is cancelled or changed. If the complaint is not satisfied, the original decision stays in force.

Step seven: The documentation. The results of the appeal are documented. This helps avoid repeated conflicts and creates precedents for future decisions.

8. The restoration of rights

The restoration of rights is a process that allows a member of the community to return his rights after their restriction or after exclusion.

The restoration after a warning

After a warning a member of the community may restore his rights through:

• The admission of the violation
• The setting right of the consequences
• The demonstration of the change of behavior

The restoration happens automatically when the violator demonstrates that he understood his mistake and changed his behavior.

The restoration after a plan of setting right

After the completion of the plan of setting right a member of the community fully restores his rights. This happens through:

• The completion of all the steps of the plan of setting right
• The public announcement of the completion
• The symbolic act of returning to full harmony

The restoration after exclusion

The return into the community after exclusion is possible but requires:

• A deep and steady change
• The procedure of return described in the Covenant
• The vote of the community

The return is a feast for the whole community. This is not simply the restoration of the former state but the birth of a new changed person who went through the darkness and returned to the light.

9. Responsibility without punishments

Responsibility is the acceptance of the consequences of one's choice, not a punishment for a transgression. This is a fundamental distinction that must be understandable to everyone who accepted the Covenant.

A punishment is an external impact that inflicts suffering for a transgression. Punishment says: "You did badly, therefore you must suffer." Punishment does not teach but intimidates. Punishment does not restore but destroys. Punishment does not draw near the One but draws away from him.

Responsibility is the acceptance of the consequences of one's choice. Responsibility says: "I made this choice, and I accept its consequences." Responsibility teaches because it binds action with result. Responsibility restores because it is directed at setting right. Responsibility draws near the One because it strengthens harmony.

The disciplinary code of the Church of Unity is based on responsibility, not on punishment. All the measures are directed at the restoration of harmony, the helping of the violator to change and the protection of the community from destruction.

Such is the disciplinary code of the Church of Unity. Discipline is inner strength, not external coercion. The rules of conduct are based on the canon and the commandments. The warnings — personal, public, formal — help set oneself right before serious measures are applied. The procedure of considering violations ensures justice. The measures of disciplinary impact are directed at the restoration of harmony. The appeal protects justice. The restoration of rights is possible through change. Responsibility, not punishment, is the foundation of the whole code.