Living Waters Methodist Church Whistle-Blowing Policy

Living Waters Methodist Church (LWMC) Whistle-Blowing Policy provides a platform for individuals to disclose any observed improprieties that involve Living Waters Methodist Church (‘LWMC’) employees, Local Church Executive Committee (‘LCEC’) members, leaders, and volunteers, and/or related entities without fear of reprisal.

All instances of whistle-blowing will be independently reviewed and investigated by an Investigative Team led by the Governance Committee. Results of investigation will also be reported to the LCEC. As a result of an investigation, we may identify wrongdoing (being conduct that is dishonest, corrupt, illegal, or concealment of such conduct) and will take necessary action if required.

The whistle-blower should report his/her concerns in good faith. The whistle-blower’s identity and the concerns raised will be kept confidential, unless as required by the law to be revealed to parties such as lawyers, the police or investigators.

Types of Improprieties

Reportable improprieties include the following:

  • Financial accounting – fraud, bribery, questionable practices or policies.
  • Legal matters – violation of the law, such as theft, drug sale or use, violence or threatened violence and property damage.
  • Ethics – corruption, forgery, theft, serious misconduct, concealment or deliberate failure to report a known breach.
  • Abuse of power – retaliation, harassment, discrimination, misusing church resources for personal gain.
  • Immoral conduct – sexual misconduct, cheating, lying.

General complaints and grievances over service quality, ministry deficiency, operational matters, HR policy, staff development review, interpersonal conflict with an employee, unhappiness over private conduct of fellow LWMC congregational members and so on, are not matters for whistle-blowing. These concerns should be taken up separately with church leaders and pastors.

Reporting Channels

  • By post (Sealed report and marked “Private & Confidential” on envelope): 

Attention:     Governance Committee Chairperson & Lay Leader
Living Waters Methodist Church
121 Dover Road
Singapore 139650

To enable LWMC to effectively investigate your concerns, the following information should be provided, where possible:

  • Your contact information.
  • Name(s) of person(s)/entity(ies) involved.
  • Your relationship with the reported person(s)/entity(ies).
  • Detailed description of the impropriety (including date, time, location, methods, and action/behaviour).
  • Period of time that the impropriety had been perpetuated.
  • Has any church leader or pastor been informed (if yes, please provide the notification date and contact information of the person notified).
  • Physical evidence and any other information that may substantiate the impropriety.

We encourage whistle-blowers to provide their names and contact numbers to facilitate investigations. We will take steps to ensure confidentiality and fairness, this includes:

  • Limiting the number of people who have access to the details of a concern raised and information obtained through the investigation process, in order to verify the facts.
  • Decisions concerning the investigation process and any action required are not made by the person alleged to have been involved the impropriety.

The whistle-blower who reports a concern must meet any reasonable request to clarify any facts and/or circumstances, to provide (additional) information, and to cooperate with an investigation. A lack of information can be a reason to decide not to conduct an investigation and/or to conclude that the concern has no factual basis.

The whistle-blower is required to keep all information confidential.

Allegations made in bad faith may result in disciplinary or other appropriate action.