Integrity-A 21st Century Imperative

A decade ago our campus community engaged in a process to define how we would translate the lofty words of our mission statement into the reality of daily living. First, we placed Christ as central to all our activities. We affirmed that:

· He is our Model as the Master Teacher, the Great Physician, and the Servant Leader.

· He is the Motivation for our daily work.

· He is our Means to accomplish all He calls us to be and do.

· He is the Foundation of our Faith, Hope and Love.

Next we selected seven virtues to guide personal and professional behavior and institutional decisions, policies and systems. Integrity was one of the seven we embraced. From this framework has flowed our commitment to wholeness and whole person care.

Similarly, in 1998 integrity was listed, along with honesty and courage, as a valued foundation for all actions of the General Conference and its employees[1].

The word integrity comes from the same Latin root as integer. Like a whole number, integrity defines a state of "being" and "living" characterized by unity, completeness and wholeness[2]. Integrity is being "one person." Many of the words we use to indicate a lack of integrity have the sense of being "split in two"--words such as "duplicity" or expressions such as "being two-faced," and being "double-tongued."

Integrity is the wholeness of our character. Integrity is the foundation of our conscience[3]. Integrity calls us, personally and corporately, to discern right from wrong; to thoughtfully identify the pathway of upright living; and to choose to consistently walk that pathway even if it requires great personal sacrifice or institutional cost[4].

Integrity manifests:

· As authenticity - "being who I claim to be and doing what I promise to do"[5].

· As honesty, sincerity, forthrightness and consistent truthfulness.

· As promise keeping and the avoidance of all forms of deception.[6]

Integrity is a universal and timeless principle for living. It is the soil out of which grows trust - such an essential ingredient of all human relationships. Research confirms that integrity is considered to be an essential principle of living for leaders. A survey of 54,000 people placed integrity as the number one quality needed in a leader[7]. Further, 100 top executives of Fortune 500 Companies listed honesty, character and integrity as essential for corporate success[8].

Dwight David Eisenhower, a significant leader in the Second World War, considered integrity to be the "supreme quality for leadership" without which no success would be possible[9].

What does integrity look like in the lives of individuals and leaders, and in institutions?

We see integrity in the lives of Biblical heroes.

We are inspired by the timeless stories of Noah, Moses, Elisha, Nehemiah and Paul. All of these persons courageously lived lives founded on the principle of integrity. They were unmoved by circumstances and even the threat of personal danger or death. Similarly, Joseph remained morally pure in the face of the attempted seduction by Potiphar's wife. He was trustworthy both as a prisoner receiving unjust punishment and as the second in command of the nation of Egypt.

From my youth I have been awed by the life of Daniel - a leader with an unblemished record of integrity.

· He lived with integrity in adverse circumstances. As a youthful captive he was transported a thousand miles from his family and country, yet he neither lost his identifying values nor succumbed to despair.

· He lived with integrity when he was an academic superstar. As the most successful graduate of the world's finest university, he was given preeminence; yet he maintained humility and compassion towards his peers.

· He lived with integrity despite the turbulence of national conquest. As a sage, he stood apart from a world in pursuit of power, prestige, possession, passion and pleasure; yet his counsel was equally valued by the world leaders of succeeding nations-Babylon and Medo-Persia.

He was the trusted and trustworthy counselor of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. The King dreamed about a tree that had been cut down. It was God's solemn warning of impending punishment to be inflicted because of kingly pride and arrogance. This was a message of doom from the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe to the Ruler of the then known World. Although "greatly perplexed," with thoughts that "terrified him"[10] and at great personal risk, Daniel authentically and forthrightly delivered God's message, framing it in gracious words of respect and advice.

The final and supreme test of Daniel's character of integrity came when, as an aged leader, he fell victim to the schemes of jealous colleagues. Their duplicity entrapped King Darius. They could find no flaws in Daniel's character. They, who wished his annihilation, could only attack his faithfulness to God. Daniel's worship of God continued with unwavering consistency. The plot appeared successful. The lion's den received him. But God's protection saved him. Once again he stood as God's witness, this time to Daruis and to the Medo-Persian Empire.

In recent history there are shining examples of leaders who lived integrity in spite of great real or potential personal cost.

Mahatma Gandhi - modeled non-violent resistance to achieve self-government for the citizens of India; Abraham Lincoln - endured civil war for the emancipation of the American slaves; Martin Luther King Jr. - followed his dream, as the champion of non-discrimination, knowing his life was threatened; and Mother Teresa - shunned fanfare and notoriety as she continued her ministry to the untouchables.

Corporate leaders also demonstrate integrity. In 1982 seven people died in the Chicago area of the United States. The cause of their deaths was a medication called Tylenol. No, this was not a drug reaction. They died because someone, not related to the manufacturer, had intentionally poisoned the medication with cyanide. This incident is most remembered today because of the actions taken by the company president. He attempted no cover-up. Immediately he alerted the public to the danger and removed all Tylenol from sale throughout the nation. Only after he was sure that the product was safe was it redistributed[11]. That day, the President of the Johnson and Johnson Company demonstrated personal and corporate integrity. He knew and acted on the company's mission to "alleviate pain and disease" and to provide safe quality products[12]. That incident cost the Johnson & Johnson Company $100 million. That incident gained the Johnson & Johnson Company priceless public trust.

We can identify integrity in business, our institutions, and our Church entities by a variety of behaviors:

· We see integrity in corporate governance when Boards of Trustees ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are approved and implemented; when leadership and management are held accountable for fulfilling the institution's mission, implementing strategic action plans, achieving quality in programs and products, ensuring healthy employee relations and prudently handling all resources; and when real or potential conflicts of interest are fully disclosed.

· We see integrity when everyone is treated with fairness and equality without favoritism or discrimination. Members of our academic communities consistently implement policies of academic integrity and require all students to complete assignments and take examinations honestly even if they are the child of a Board member, a major donor or the President's son or daughter. Quality health care is provided to all patients regardless of their social status or ability to pay. All persons are treated fairly with dignity and respect. The environment is free from discrimination, hostility or any form of harassment. All persons are held to a single standard of accountability for their behavior and performance.

· We see integrity in business practices when commitments and contracts are honored even if it is unfavorable to the person making the commitment; and when there is regulatory compliance and financial integrity in all dealings.

· We see integrity in our institutions and churches when rumors and gossip are confronted and investigated. A pillar in the community was accused of embezzling funds. The rumor circulated like all rumors do - faster than a forest fire! An independent investigation was conducted. Yes, the embezzlement had occurred but the perpetrator was another individual who was then appropriately charged by the civil authorities. The results of the investigation were shared. The falsely accused was cleared of wrong-doing. Gossip ceased and his reputation was restored.

Integrity is not the same thing as perfection. In fact, it is even possible to find integrity when an error has been committed. For example, a child received ten times the dose of medication required for her age and size. The caregiver realized the error as soon as the injection was finished. She was tempted to keep it to herself and to pray that there would be no side effects. But the Board-approved hospital policy was clear - such errors must be reported as soon as recognized. Acting with integrity, the caregiver informed the supervisor and the treating physician immediately. An antidote was administered. Complications were avoided, and the child survived without any permanent side effects. The parents were also informed about the incident - specifically about what had happened, how it was managed and the actions implemented to prevent it from happening again to their child or to anyone else. Forthright acknowledgement that an error has occurred is always challenging. This is especially so for those whose task it is to prevent disease and to bring healing to those who are ill. However, forthrightness is an imperative. In this case it saved a life.

"To err is human." Corporate integrity is displayed when the governing body approves policies and procedures about how to handle errors; when leadership create pathways for reporting errors so they can be promptly mitigated and prevented in the future; and when employees are educated about, and rewarded for, following protocol if a mistake occurs.

In what ways can integrity be breached and what are the consequences?

Pictures are etched in our minds of the morning of September 11, 2001: pictures of two jumbo jets, loaded with unsuspecting passengers and filled to capacity with flammable fuel torpedoing into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City; pictures of persons trapped high above the engulfing flames jumping to their deaths hundreds of feet below; the picture of the gigantic mushroom cloud of dust and debris as those indestructible structures of steel, glass and concrete collapsed into a pile of rubble. Those towers had been built to withstand such an impact. Why then did they collapse? The investigation proved that the inferno buckled the steel girders that ringed the building and supported each floor. One by one each floor stacked like a pancake onto the floor below and the building fell in upon itself.

Integrity is the steel infrastructure that supports our characters, our families, our institutions, our communities, and our Church. Just so, broken integrity fractures personal and professional relationships. And trust within a family, a community, an institution and a church collapses. There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity.

Breaches of integrity always hurt people, institutions, churches and the reputation of our God. Unfortunately, this 21 Century is already marred by evidence of, and damage from, blatant breaches in integrity.

Instances of perjury, duplicity, fraud, immoral and illegal conduct are all too familiar.

· Some corporate leaders have put their own self-interests ahead of organizational responsibilities. The public has been put at risk by the collapse of large corporations through fiscal irresponsibility and blatant dishonesty. Shareholders have been robbed of their rightful returns. The employment of staff and their longer-term financial stability has been jeopardized.

· Immoral conduct has become widespread in the secular world. In fact, it is often the theme of entertainment. Unfortunately, it has even invaded our Church. Secular and spiritual leadership have not been immune to this temptation. The fallout from immorality is always devastating. Clearly, the lives of family members are severely disrupted and most times they are irreversibly damaged. Corporate communities and Church organizations also feel the impact. At a minimum, confusion occurs about the moral code for living. Church members become disillusioned. Trust, the social fabric of our families, communities and our Church entities, is ruptured. And God's name is always dishonored.

· Also egregious is the tolerance for, and perpetuation of, a hostile environment. Discrimination of any kind is never excusable. Regardless of whether discrimination is based on race, ethnicity, gender, or disabilities it should never occur. Likewise, sexual harassment is unacceptable. Both are illegal in many countries and should be cause for discipline up to and including dismissal. Nepotism also creates problems. Whether or not it is real, there is always a perception of favoritism towards the employed relative of a leader or manager - having access to special perks, receiving "insider" information, or being excused for unsatisfactory performance. Associates and supervisors often feel intimidated. Fear of retaliation often delays and/or blunts forthright confrontation of unacceptable behavior. By contrast, there can actually be reverse discrimination where the employed relative is held to a higher standard of performance than is expected of other colleagues.

Beware of the "end justifying the means" trap.

· It is not appropriate to engage in a cover-up even if it is ostensibly to protect the good name of the Church.
Transparency demands that financial difficulties be promptly disclosed to, and addressed by, the responsible governing bodies. Failure to fulfill regulatory requirements should be reported to the appropriate agency as soon as the failure is recognized.

· It is not appropriate to hide confirmed sexual misconduct of a teacher with students, pastor with parishioners, or supervisors with subordinates. Sex offenders are required to register with law enforcement in the USA. It is never appropriate to agree to hold that information as secret while allowing offenders to participate with children in church activities.

· The commitment to exhibit only "loving kindness" must never blunt honesty with others or lead to duplicity.
Colleagues and employees deserve authentic feedback in their evaluations. I, like all of us, thoroughly enjoy affirming colleagues and staff for appropriate performance. However difficult and unpleasant it is to address under-performance of our employees, it is still imperative that we communicate areas needing remediation. Eventually, unacceptable behavior will be addressed! Far better to lay out areas needing change and provide coaching about how to achieve a positive outcome while the situation is remediable than to delay until it is hopeless. Failure to be forthright on a timely basis robs our colleagues and employees of growth opportunities. It sets them up for major professional failure. Their God-given potential is thereby never maximized. If remediation is unsuccessful, individuals should not be moved from one place to another to avoid the crucial confrontation. This only damages the effectiveness of yet another work place, community or church. It always takes courage and it is the way of integrity to counsel about other career paths and then to facilitate their pursuit of these options.

It is never appropriate to hide confrontation of a negative outcome behind prayer. A senior pastor interviewed a couple for an open position on his team. The conversation was glowing about the match between their talents and the proposed tasks. A lengthy prayer concluded the meeting. The minister thanked God for a "perfect fit" and asked His blessing on their working together. Weeks elapsed and there was no call. Phone calls were not answered. Perplexed, the couple sought for answers. It was a bitter lesson. The senior pastor had himself informed the conference committee that he did not want to work with them. Little did he realize his duplicity would be discovered and the profound impact it would have on their journey of faith as Seventh-day Adventist Christians.

· We must protect the ethical line between advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ with integrity while coping with restrictive civil laws. These complex dilemmas require great wisdom, careful, prayerful thought and God's guidance to chart the appropriate course of action.

We are called to avoid less egregious, even socially acceptable, behavior that jeopardizes integrity.

· Facts should not be manipulated or exaggerated. We are to avoid deceit "in word, thought, or action"[13].

· Backbiting is never appropriate. Ellen White characterized backbiting as "cannibalism." We are called to be loyal to all members of our teams and especially to those who are not present in the gathering. "Praise in public and counsel in private" is sage advice for every leader and manager. Such trustworthy behavior builds organizational confidence and commitment[14].

Solomon observed: "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity."[15].

How can we live a life of integrity amidst the challenges and opportunities of the 21 Century?

Seven steps to safeguard personal and organizational integrity:

· Always practice transparency: beware of believing that the end justifies the means.

· Treat all employees fairly: create a nurturing work place that is free from discrimination and harassment. Avoid nepotism.

· Be courageous: speak truthfully, listen carefully, ask tough questions, give forthright responses.

· Establish and maintain appropriate boundaries. Avoid all appearances of impropriety.

· Declare conflicts of interest.

· Acknowledge errors promptly. Implement corrective actions.

· Investigate concerns fairly and impartially. Appropriately disclose the results.

How does one live a life of integrity in the 21 Century?

It is proposed that ninety percent of all leadership failures are character failures[16]. Our characters are built from the accumulation of the day-by-day choices and actions of our lives. What we think, what we say and what we do in relationship to others and our God determines who we are in our inner being. We are counseled by Ellen White to "weave stern principles of integrity into our characters"[17].

We all have lapses in our integrity. These are times when we stray from the path of right living, times of brokenness. Conviction comes to us in many ways. It may come through confrontation by a colleague, through observation of another's brokenness that is a mirror to our own status, or through Scripture. But it is most often in prayer, as we reflect on the day's activities or wait in silence before God, that the searchlight of His Holiness shines into the nooks and crannies of our souls and brings conviction of our brokenness. With conviction comes a choice:

· The choice to make excuses until the conviction fades and there is a return of the feeling: "I'm really OK just as I am." Or

· The choice to accept the conviction and be changed. John tells us[18] that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict about sin [the brokenness of my integrity], to convict about righteousness [that Christ is my Messiah, forgiving my sinfulness and allowing me to forgive myself], and to convict about judgment [that I am freed from Satan's slavery; free to begin again, to acquire new knowledge and skill, to be transformed by His power and grace to wholeness and full integrity].

Mark's gospel[19] gives to us the hope of God's transforming grace in the midst of brokenness. He records the words of a father who brought his son to Christ for healing. The situation was hopeless. The disciples were impotent to provide a cure. Christ affirmed that if the father could believe the child would be healed. In desperate and courageous forthrightness the father admitted, "I believe, help me with my doubts." He was still of "two minds." Christ did bring healing to the son. And in that miracle, I believe, there was also healing for the father and assurance of healing for us - the assurance that His grace can bridge the brokenness in our lives; that His grace brings unity or integrity to our being.

Gordon MacDonald, a Christian author, who himself has known moral brokenness in the face of temptation, points us back to Daniel and asks a critical question: "How did Daniel survive and even thrive in that world of incredible brutality and disregard for human value?"[20]. The answer comes from Scripture: "When Daniel learned that the decree had been published he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."[21]. We, who live in the 21 Century, are invited to maintain a living connection with the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. He is the Source of all wisdom and power. We can know and be about His agenda. We can experience His transforming grace. Empowerment comes from a living connection with the God of the Universe.

Crucial questions for 21 Century living:

Do we, as persons, professionals and leaders, stop three times every day to refocus on God and seek His wisdom in dealing with the dilemmas we encounter in our various roles? If we did, what might be the transformation in our personal lives and in the institutions and entities entrusted to our leadership?
Do we, like Christ, rise early for unhurried time with our Creator and Messiah? Henry Nouwen, noted spiritual writer of the 20th Century, said: "Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and place for God, and Him alone"[22].
Is our mind informed and enriched by Scripture? Do we experience God's sustaining power and grace?

Ellen White reminds us that: "The power that is near to deliver from physical harm or distress is also near to save from the greater evil, making it possible for the servant of God to maintain his integrity under all circumstances, and to triump

[1] Statement of Ethical Foundations for the General Conference and its employees. September 1998

[2] Stephen L. Carter. Integrity, Harper Perennial, New York 1997, p. 7.

[3] Stephen R. Covey. The 8 Habit. From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press, New York 2004, p. 349.

[4] Stephen L. Carter. Integrity, Harper Perennial, New York 1997, p. 7.

[5] Richard Kriegbaum. Leadership Prayers, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 1998, p. 85.

[6] Stephen R. Covey. The 8 Habit. From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press, New York 2004, p. 150.

[7] Stephen R. Covey. The 8 Habit. From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press, New York 2004, p. 148.

[8] Eric Allenbaugh. Deliberate Success: Realize Your Vision with Purpose, Passion, and Performance, Carter Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ 2002, pp. 83.

[9] Stephen R. Covey. The 8 Habit. From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press, New York 2004, p. 146.

[10] Daniel 4:19.

[11] Eric Allenbaugh. Deliberate Success: Realize Your Vision with Purpose, Passion, and Performance, Carter Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ 2002, pp. 78-82.

[12] James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras. Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, Harper Business, New York 1994, pp. 58-61.

[13] Judith C. Lechman. The Spirituality of Gentleness: Growing toward Christian Wholeness, Harper and Rowe Publishers, San Francisco, CA 1987, p. 89.

[14] Stephen Covey. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, Fireside Simon and Schuster, New York 1989, p. 196.

[15] Proverbs 11:3

[16] Stephen R. Covey. The 8 Habit. From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press, New York 2004, p. 147.

[17] E. G. White. Messages to Young People. p. 45.

[18] John16: 8-11

[19] Mark 9:24

[20] Gordon MacDonald. Forging a Real World Faith, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN 1989, p. 121.

[21] Daniel 6:10

[22] Henry Nouwen. Making All Things New. Harper, San Francisco,CA 1981, p. 69.