Here are 2 Ethnos statements you might like to look at. The first is relatively brief, but links into other documents The second is fuller as it is combined with a code of conduct:

Our Ethnos:

Agapé believes that our ethnos emerges from a desire and motivation to obey Christ's command to go into all the world and make disciples (Matt 28:19-20) and to love one another (Jn 15:17); both those we seek to reach outside the organisation, and to reflect this love internally in our relationships with one another.

The motivation for our mission comes from Christ's love compelling believers (2 Cor 5:14) and is therefore an expression of our faith in Christ. This faith produces a distinctive heart attitude of love, which is characterised by the following values and behaviours:

• Christ Likeness - seeing the image of God increasingly evidenced and developed within individuals (Rom 8:19-21) through the empowering of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18)
• Christ Directed Behaviour - Out of our love for Christ, we recognise the unique contribution of each person, helping them realise their full potential as individuals and maximising their effectiveness (Eph 4:15-16)
• Christ Centred Community - Our love for Christ has its focus and outworking in sacrificial love for one another (1 Jn 3:23). We recognise both our complete dependence on Christ as our head, and our interdependence on each other whom we seek to serve and submit to (Gal 5:13, Eph 5:21) as members of one body.

These values and behaviours are intrinsically linked to both the success and fulfilment of our mission and also the attitude and motivation of our staff. The way our mission is achieved is as important as the mission itself (Jn 13:34, Matt 22:36-39, 1 Cor 13:1-2).

As this attitude and motivation come only from a relationship with Christ, it becomes a genuine occupational requirement that all our core staff (as defined in Agapé's justifiability policy) have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and are committed to obeying all his commands (Jn 14:23). It is also essential that this relationship continues to grow and these attitudes and behaviours are evidenced in increasing measure. The success and furtherance of our mission require our staff to act in good faith and with loyalty to this relational ethos and to evangelical Christian standards of behaviour. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. (See Code of Conduct)

Notwithstanding this, the organisation is committed to diversity amongst its staff and volunteers and will not discriminate on grounds that are unrelated to our ethnos. (See Diversity Policy)

Attachments are not shown but may be available on request from info@christiandistinctiveness.org

EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE ETHNOS STATEMENT AND CODE OF CONDUCT

The ethos of the Evangelical Alliance not only stems from the Alliance's basis of faith, its commitment to prayer, its mission and purpose but also from a relational basis. This emerges from a desire and motivation to express Christ's love to those whom we serve outside the organisation and to reflect this love internally in our relationships with one another.

The motivation of most of those who work at the Alliance comes from and flows out of the context of Christian faith and is seen as an expression of that faith: See Basis of Faith attached and Appendix B The Alliance and the Bible. Also the Evangelical Relationships Commitment on our website www.eauk.org.

The Christian Faith

• States that God is the sole Creator
• Determines that each individual is uniquely made in the image of God although is also fallen.
• Declares that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to save humankind from sin
• Provides for a relationship with the living God in the person of Jesus Christ that defines what being a Christian means
• Equips the Christian to live life through the power of the Holy Spirit and grow in holiness
• Finds authoritative expression of its doctrine and moral character in the Bible

The Christian expression of Faith

• Honours, obeys and glorifies God, acknowledging God's sovereignty
• Nourishes the spiritual life and is fully committed to developing it
• Believes that the love of God in Jesus Christ reaches out to people of all nations, ethnicities and cultures.
• Knows God through the person of Jesus and seeks to follow His way of life, modelling love, peace, justice and forgiveness in attitude and behaviours
• Embraces the power of the Holy Spirit as the source of strength for living

Colossians Chapter 3, amongst many other biblical references, gives us a clear biblical outline of how we might express that Christian faith as a disciple of Jesus and how we relate to one another.

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these; anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word, or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will be come discouraged..

(Colossians Chapter 3)

The Christian's motivation to express the love of Christ in his/her life affects not just the nature of the work he/she chooses to do but also the way he/she behaves and relates to others. This should lead to a vocational and relational lifestyle characterised and driven by faith in God, touching the lives of others through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Identified below are key values which are fundamental to the relational ethos of the Evangelical Alliance

biblical - submitting all that we do and are to the authority of God's written word
Faithful - holding fast to the God-given perspectives we have inherited while working out our faith in today's world
Prayerful - depending on God to guide and empower us
Inclusive - recognising the diversity of convictions among evangelicals on secondary issues
Consultative - listening to the hopes and concerns of our members
Enabling - as the servant of our members, working through them wherever possible, and helping them to be more effective
Forward looking - constantly pressing forward to face the issues and challenges of tomorrow
Excellent - seeking the highest standards of integrity, financial accountability and stewardship
Focused - giving priority to the issues which maximise the impact of our available resources

The unitary ethos of the Evangelical Alliance is integral to it being effective as a Christian organisation. We recognise that this relational ethos essentially comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ and therefore it becomes a genuine occupational requirement that most of our staff are committed Christians.

Roles which have significant leadership or representative responsibilities, or that are central to fulfilling the aims and purposes of the Alliance both internally or externally or developing and maintaining our Christian ethos, will always be held by committed evangelical Christians. As an internal factor the Alliance will function more effectively and harmoniously as an organisation if all employees work with a common purpose. Externally, the Alliance is a high profile organisation and needs to model and promote to the Christian community and other sectors, its application of Christian faith within its own activities.

There are other roles which have key spiritual elements to them that can only be carried out by those who are committed to a living faith in Christ.

(Where there are posts which have been identified as not requiring someone to have an expressed Christian commitment, it is recognised that some areas of this policy will not be applicable e.g commitment and participation in the life of a local church. However, there is an expectation that every member of staff will respect and uphold all other areas expressed in this policy],

We recognise that it is essential that these attitudes and behaviours mark the work of Evangelical Alliance and we expect our staff to act in good faith and with loyalty to that relational Christian ethos as part of their evangelical Christian standards of behaviour.

In the next section we articulate what we consider to be the principal areas which define our relational ethos and in that context set out a framework for working together.

In the attached Appendix B we further indicate how our ethos is governed by an evangelical understanding of the Bible and its interpretation.

Attachments are not shown but may be available on request from info@christiandistinctiveness.org