IHOPKC Community
Standards & Safeguarding
About Our Community Standards
IHOPKC exists to contend for the fullness of God’s kingdom through unceasing prayer and faithful witness. As we seek the presence of God day and night, we also commit ourselves to reflecting His character in how we treat one another.
These Community Standards exist to cultivate a culture of love, truth, humility, visible care, and accountable conduct within our spiritual family. They are intended to support the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of those who participate in IHOPKC gatherings and ministries, and to provide a clear pathway for help if an unhealthy or unacceptable interaction occurs.
We believe that contending for the fullness of God’s promises must include walking in integrity. These standards help us grow into a community that increasingly resembles Christ in both devotion and conduct.
A Biblical Culture of the Kingdom
The church has both an invitation and an obligation to live differently from the surrounding culture. Scripture describes the people of God as children in one household (Ephesians 2:19), brothers and sisters in Christ (Romans 8:15–17), and members of one body who belong to one another (Romans 12:5).
In a world often shaped by self-protection, hiddenness, and the pursuit of personal advancement, the kingdom of God forms a people marked by humility, servanthood, mutual submission, and truth spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15; Philippians 2:3–4).
Living in this narrow way requires shared responsibility. Each of us must:
Take responsibility for our own conduct
Speak up when we or another is hurt or confused
Seek help when situations exceed our ability to resolve them
Adjust our behavior when needed to protect trust and connection
The Bible is clear that we are to protect the vulnerable and guard one another’s well-being (Matthew 18:1–6; James 1:27). At the same time, Scripture acknowledges that not everyone who participates in a church community is living in submission to Christ. For that reason, boundaries, accountability, and wise processes are necessary to protect both individuals and the wider body.
Rules alone cannot create the biblical culture of grace and truth we are reaching for. But clear standards can serve as guardrails while we grow into maturity.
The Ways We Relate to One Another
Because we are a house of prayer, the way we speak, mentor, correct, and influence one another matters deeply.
Within the IHOPKC Community, we:
Speak to others in a manner we ourselves would receive (Matthew 7:12)
Encourage one another and build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Speak truthfully and lovingly when concerns arise (Ephesians 4:15–16)
Disagree with grace while preserving honor and unity (Ephesians 4:1–3)
Receive correction with humility (Proverbs 12:1)
Steward prophetic impressions with care, humility, and biblical grounding (1 Thessalonians 5:19–22; 1 Corinthians 14:29)
Because pastoral, mentoring, discipleship, and spiritual authority relationships carry inherent power differences, those entrusted with influence are held to heightened standards of humility, transparency, and accountability. Spiritual language, relational influence, or ministry position must never be used to override consent, discourage reporting, or shield misconduct from review.
Within the IHOPKC Community, we do not:
Speak in ways that ridicule, dominate, degrade, or intimidate
Shame or pressure others through spiritual language or perceived authority
Spread slander, gossip, or discriminatory speech (James 4:11)
Create an environment that is hostile, sexually suggestive, or demeaning
Use influence to isolate someone from outside counsel
Retaliate against someone who raises a concern in good faith
Certain behaviors may constitute harassment, abuse, or criminal conduct. IHOPKC will comply with all mandatory reporting obligations and will report allegations involving minors or potentially criminal conduct to appropriate civil authorities as required by law. Internal pastoral review does not replace legal reporting obligations.
The Ways We Physically Interact
Scripture instructs us to treat one another as brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers (1 Timothy 5:1–2). Familial respect, safety, and honor are assumed in that instruction.
Within the IHOPKC Community, we:
Show socially appropriate forms of affection in context
Lay hands appropriately for prayer and ministry
Ask before initiating physical contact with someone we don’t know well
Within the IHOPKC Community, we do not:
Disregard another person’s request not to be touched
Touch someone in a private or personal area
Block or physically impede someone from leaving
Hit, shove, grab, or physically intimidate another person
Engage in inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact of any kind
Certain physical behaviors may constitute assault or abuse and will be treated as such.
We understand that raising a concern can feel difficult. It may involve confusion, fear, or uncertainty about what to do next. We want our community to know that bringing forward a concern in good faith is not disloyalty — it is an act of care for the body.
Scripture calls us to walk in the light (1 John 1:7) and to protect one another, especially the vulnerable (Matthew 18:6; Galatians 6:2). For that reason, we provide clear pathways for help when something feels unsafe, inappropriate, or beyond what can be resolved personally.
Reporting and Responding to Concerns
When to Seek Help
Some interpersonal concerns may be resolved through direct and respectful conversation. However, no one is expected to address serious concerns one-on-one when safety, coercion, abuse, harassment, retraumatization, or a meaningful power imbalance may be present. The safety, dignity, and well-being of those raising concerns are a primary priority throughout the review process. These may include:
Situations involving minors
Allegations of harassment, abuse, or coercion
Clear power imbalances
Situations that could retraumatize someone
Behavior that may be illegal
Patterns of behavior that affect the broader community
In such cases, we encourage you to seek help through the process outlined below.
How to Submit a Concern
Concerns may be raised through any of the following:
Human Resources
Executive leadership
Pastoral team
The confidential reporting channel administered through independent legal counsel
Reports may be submitted verbally or in writing. If you request confidentiality, IHOPKC will honor that request to the extent reasonably possible. However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where disclosure is necessary to protect safety, conduct a fair review, comply with mandatory reporting laws, or meet other legal obligations.
In any situation involving active violence, threats, abuse, or a minor in danger, immediately contact law enforcement.
Concerns involving minors will be handled in accordance with the IHOPKC Child Safeguarding Policy and all applicable laws.
What Happens After a Report Is Submitted
When a report is received:
It is reviewed promptly by designated individuals responsible for safeguarding oversight.
Immediate safety concerns are assessed.
Additional information may be gathered as needed.
Documentation is maintained securely and confidentially.
If an investigation is deemed appropriate, appropriate steps will be taken, which may include interviews, consultation with legal counsel, and, when necessary, engagement of qualified external investigators.
When a matter involves senior leadership, a Board member, or a material conflict of interest, the Board of Trustees will oversee the response, and IHOPKC will engage qualified independent external investigators or reviewers to ensure an impartial process.
All reviews are conducted with procedural fairness, objectivity, and discretion to the extent reasonably possible.
Possible Outcomes
If a violation of community standards is substantiated, corrective action may include:
Pastoral intervention
Required training or accountability measures
Removal from ministry roles or environments
Formal discipline
Reporting to or cooperating with civil authorities where required by law
Our first desire is that safety and clarity be restored for the community. When appropriate, we also desire healing, repentance, and restoration — but restoration is guided by accountability and wisdom, not urgency or pressure.
What This Process Does Not Cover
The safeguarding process is designed to address concerns related to harassment, abuse, coercion, misconduct, or significant boundary violations.
It is not intended to resolve:
Ordinary interpersonal disagreements
Family or roommate conflicts
Financial or legal disputes unrelated to ministry conduct
Political disagreements
We encourage members of our community to pursue reconciliation and pastoral support for these types of conflicts when needed.
Relationship to Other Policies
These Community Standards and Reporting Pathways apply to all participants in IHOPKC ministries and gatherings.
IHOPKC staff, pastoral leaders, and board members are subject to additional internal governance standards and accountability policies.
In matters involving minors, the IHOPKC Child Safeguarding Policy governs and takes precedence.
Formal definitions of sexual harassment and related misconduct are contained in the IHOPKC Sexual Harassment Policy.