AMORC | The Rosicrucian Order

Foreword

Everything in nature is structured through the forces of relationship and of aggregation, of individual parts coming together to interact with one another. This can be observed everywhere in the natural world, from the constellating forces of stardust becoming the planets and stars of a galaxy to the cellular level of life in which atoms form molecules. Wherever we observe the impulse to coexist in a relationship there is also the possibility to sense that Universal Soul is at work in reordering, redefining and refining a new and greater complexity, enabling a new form of life to exist that is impelled to become the fullest expression of life that it can be—reflecting the divinity at work in the universe.

To reach full expression requires the right conditions, so organisms must work together in cooperative, orderly and creative ways for an optimal ecosystem and maximum wellness. People, driven perhaps by a similar principle, aggregate to cultivate themselves and test out different ways of living life together. At some point in the ancient world, the idea of moral codes emerged in humanity as a way of expressing a natural sense for ordering complexity and unifying the inspirations of their people. Codifying ethical interaction could be an expression of their God’s voice in the life of the group.

The ancient philosophers further defined ethical concepts, attempting to establish a universal standard of beneficent interaction, such as the humanistic ideals of respect, equality and goodwill. To some, the highest expression of those universal standards could be found in the act of ‘universal brotherhood’: men and women striving to share in a common understanding of the good and learning to use, through responsibilities, the moral sense and innate conscience, the voice of one’s soul.

In the Rosicrucian Order, ‘fraternity’ or ‘Rosicrucian Community’ are terms commonly used to exemplify the aims of a mystically orientated community:

‘Fraternity is a utopia which we journey towards, and every step must be protected and cared for. To speak of fraternity, therefore, is to speak of responsibility, or desire to build, to strive towards a utopia. To build fraternity, we must be inspired by nature and its laws, because all the aggregations that we find in the natural world comply with laws … relationships are not random, they are the result of well-defined processes. Laws or rules are needed to regulate the associations of and relationships between the different components of a system. In the case of human communities, the process that regulates relationships is called ‘ethics’.

In our specific case as Rosicrucians, we form an initiate community and, as such, we have specific ethics that are necessary for the survival of the group … Many of our rules are unwritten because they correspond to a common feeling among our members … We feel deeply not that this is something we cannot do but rather that we should not do it, that a voice within us forbids us … However, other rules must be written to avoid misunderstandings.

Ethics is the protection of values and the primacy of coexistence over personal interests.’

These reflective words spoken by Fr Claudio Mazzucco, the Imperator of our Order, remind us of the spiritual principles at work between one another and also relate to the wellbeing of our Rosicrucian Community. How do we protect and care for those spaces in which we come together as an act of mystical fraternity? What ideals are we seeking to exemplify as a Rosicrucian Community? As mystics, one of our most joyful and meaningful experiences is to experience our divine nature being reflected in one another.

Furthermore, it is called upon us to remember that there are specific ethics relating to upholding the unique identity of the Rosicrucian Order. These values compel us to further reflect upon how we can best assist in caring for, protecting and perpetuating the unique structure and stream of life that define the authentic identity of our Order— the very reasons for its existence. Every member who cherishes the purpose and values of AMORC deeply wishes to be confident of there being the best possibilities for our Order to do good in the world, and perhaps even to be able to trace its authentic traditions in another lifetime.

Our Order is not just an educational establishment in the mundane sense but is a mystical Order in which choices are made through its unique criteria of education that have spiritual values, traditions and structures representing constructive universal principles. Yet it is also not a closed system but is open and constantly changing its codes of conduct to adopt the highest, most beneficent expectations of behaviour in the society and times in which it is operating. As technology proliferates, so is our Order increasingly a global community, requiring new ethical principles to be defined amongst us for those new spaces of interactions.

We live in a time in which words such as courtesy, chivalry, decorum, reverence, constancy and integrity are as if drawn from an island lost in the mists of time, or somehow only fitting in our world when on a theatre stage. Yet, in the metaphysical sphere of our Order’s existence, nothing is lost but is united in the ancient art of mystical communication that naturally brings about a desire to express one’s soul life as if on the stage of life. We gain confidence in the validity of the ethical qualities of our soul in the well-protected spaces of our temples, traditions, hierarchies and egregore.

We know that, in its highest and most noble sense, ethics is not a set of rules to be imposed upon individuals but rather an action of learning to know, in our innermost self, that freedom of thought, word and action comes with responsibility. Nevertheless, in practical terms we also know that when our interactions with others are clarified by rational, ethical rules about acceptable behaviour, ethics in its truest sense can live freely in our hearts.

This Code of Ethical Conduct aims to lay out our Order’s pledge, ethical mission and aims. It provides clear guidelines on our standards for conduct, our traditional principles, and the actions that will be taken to protect, preserve and care for our Rosicrucian environments and our community.

Code of Ethical Conduct (Short Form)

This Code of Ethical Conduct (Short Form) sets out the pledge, standards and enforcement of ethical conduct for The Rosicrucian Order AMORC, Grand Lodge for Australia, Asia and New Zealand, and the Traditional Martinist Order, Grand Heptad.

Scope

This Code applies to all Student Members of the Rosicrucian Order AMORC, Grand Lodge for Australia, Asia and New Zealand, and its Affiliated Bodies. It applies within all Rosicrucian Community spaces and Rosicrucian workspaces and also applies when an individual is officially representing the community in public spaces. Examples of representing our community include using an official e-mail address, posting via an official social media account, or acting as an appointed representative at an online or offline event, to name a few.

By becoming a Student Member, the Student Member agrees to be bound by the terms of this Code of Ethical Conduct (Short Form). The Student Member also agrees and understands that should they wish to enter into a dispute resolution process they must sign a copy of the Code of Ethical Conduct (Long Form) and agree to be bound by it.

Other Codes of Ethical Conduct

The Code of Ethical Conduct (Long Form) sets out the pledge, standards and enforcement of ethical conduct for The Rosicrucian Order AMORC, English Grand Lodge for Australia, Asia and New Zealand, and the Traditional Martinist Order, Grand Heptad for all Grand Lodge Directors, Grand Lodge Committee Members, Grand Lodge Officers and Affiliated Body Administration Officers.

The Grand Lodge Workspaces Code of Ethical Conduct (for Staff, Employees and Grand Lodge Volunteers) sets out the pledge, standards and enforcement of ethical conduct for The Rosicrucian Order AMORC, English Grand Lodge for Australia, Asia and New Zealand, and the Traditional Martinist Order, Grand Heptad for all Staff, Employees and Grand Lodge Volunteers (unless acting as a Volunteer in a role covered by the scope of this Code of Ethical Conduct (Long Form)), in which case this Code of Conduct (Long Form) will apply to the volunteer.

Each Code of Ethical Conduct applies within all Rosicrucian Community spaces and Rosicrucian workspaces, and also applies when an individual is officially representing the community in public spaces. Examples of representing our community include using an official e-mail address, posting via an official social media account, or acting as an appointed representative at an online or offline event to name a few.

Our Pledge

We, as Student Members, pledge to make participation in our Rosicrucian Community a positive experience. The aims of our pledge are:

To protect our community spaces and workplaces from unwelcome, abusive, malicious and divisive or derogatory behaviour.
To act and interact in ways that contribute to open, welcoming, diverse, inclusive and healthy community and workplace environments.
To carry out the aims and mission of The Rosicrucian Order AMORC ethically, serving our membership and the public through ethical governance of the organisation.
To protect the organisation from corruption.
To uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to act ethically with respect to ecological considerations for all life on earth.

Our Ethical Mission

The Supreme Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, and the Grand Lodge Non-profit are constituents of the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (the 'Order'), a non-profit network whose common charitable mission has been to:

Teach, foster and perpetuate the traditional principles, laws and initiatory system of the Ancient Rosicrucians as they may be applied to present day conditions and needs;
Enhance the understanding and spiritual development of students of Rosicrucian principles;
Foster the spirit of the Rosicrucian Community and amicability;
Foster international goodwill, understanding, and cooperation by maintaining fraternal, intellectual and spiritual contacts with duly constituted affiliates of the Order throughout the world;
Cooperate with all other organisations whose objects are in accord with the foregoing aims of the Order, or for the benefit of humanity generally;
Establish and maintain educational and cultural institutions and other facilities in pursuit of the foregoing objects; and
Enhance the happiness and welfare of humanity through the understanding of Rosicrucian principles.

In addition, we aim to protect nature for future generations, and we therefore incorporate environmental sustainability into our community spaces.

The Vision Statement of the Supreme Grand Lodge of the Rosicrucian Order AMORC is: To contribute to the elevation of consciousness and to perpetuate Rosicrucian tradition.

Reflections on Ethical Ideals

We are now living in a world of global communications that have greatly impacted on the way we interact with one another and how we as an organisation are perceived by others. Given this fact, it is incumbent upon AMORC, as an educational and mystical organisation with the mission to contribute to the elevation of consciousness, and its members to strive to exemplify the most refined means of interaction with others.

Members of The Rosicrucian Order AMORC are encouraged to reflect upon their interactions with others with discernment, guided by their conscience, and to think rationally for themselves. All members are free to leave the Order at any time, for any reason.

Furthermore, we acknowledge that perceptions about ethical conduct are relative to current times and may vary according to different cultural outlooks, but we hope that members of The Rosicrucian Order AMORC strive to exemplify principles that may one day lead humanity towards a universal ethical consciousness, knowing that this will bring greater peace, harmony and understanding for all living beings.

We recognise the sacred that dwells in each individual and acknowledge the mystical dimension of all life, regardless of physical characteristics, age, education, religion, gender or gender expression, sexual identity, ethnicity, nationality and socio-economic status or any other unlawful grounds of discrimination.

Since each person is at a different level of spiritual awareness and their spiritual journey is personal, we acknowledge that ethical behaviour may have different viewpoints.

We hope that every individual, regardless of any individual differences, can reach their full potential on all levels of their being, provided that doing so does not cause harm to others.

We know that social inclusion is a human right and encourages individuals to play an active, fulfilling and satisfying role in society. An inclusive society is based on the fundamental values of tolerance and the embracing of diversity. Protecting inclusivity and providing spiritually uplifting environments requires environments to be places of positive interaction, free of damaging behaviours, and protected from the promotion and elevation of self-interest.

Ethical leadership both demonstrates accountability and creates trust, honesty and integrity and protects the credibility of the organisation in the public sphere. Respectful Membership and good leadership require acting with discernment in regard to confidentiality and/or transparency and knowing the limitations of one’s authority, and therefore seeking advice and referring a matter to others with appropriate authority.

The Mundane and Traditional Structure

The Rosicrucian Order AMORC, English Grand Lodge for Australia, Asia and New Zealand is comprised of two structures of personnel and activities with respect to effectiveness, protocols and decision-making when using this Code of Ethical Conduct.

The first is the mundane business legal entity, having a charitable status, constitution and various functional procedures and policies, including the By-laws of Affiliated Bodies. This structure has as its leadership personnel the Grand Lodge Board of Directors, who are responsible for the good governance of the organisation and the wellbeing of the community of Student Members, Directors, Officers, Staff and Volunteers. Ethical conduct in this sense aims to create positive learning experiences, constructive interactions and uplifting environments.

The second is the traditional hierarchical structure, which has as its leadership personnel the Grand Master, followed by Grand Councillors and then Regional Monitors. The traditional structure protects and cares for the unique ancient, mystical, traditional and spiritual values of the Order. This includes upholding the traditional protocols for the decorum, oaths, respectfulness, integrity, loyalty and altruism that are expected of Officers and, more generally, of all Student Members. The hierarchy of Officers includes all Officers installed under oaths, including the Officers of Affiliated Bodies. More broadly, the hierarchy of the Order also includes the spiritual and physical egregore of the Rosicrucian Order, including all Student Members.

Ethical conduct, in this sense, aims to protect, preserve and perpetuate the Rosicrucian Order’s authentic identity, its unique ritualistic and inclusive fraternal environments. The traditional and spiritual values make the Order more than a secular educational institution.

The Grand Master may be assisted by the Groups Director in the practical application of the traditional hierarchical structure with respect to Affiliated Bodies. An Administrator may also assist the Grand Master as a part of the traditional hierarchical structure in the case of the overseeing of a remote Grand Lodge administration. The Imperator of the Rosicrucian Order heads the traditional hierarchy worldwide.

Our Aims for the Code of Ethical Conduct

We aim:

To set standards of ethical interaction with others that contribute to a positive and safe environment for the Rosicrucian Community and workplaces, clearly defining what is welcome and unwelcome behaviour.
To clarify our position regarding ‘service’ as an act of volunteers giving freely of their time and effort, and therefore not to be taken advantage of and to be protected from misuse or abuse of service.
To give guidance to our Members' and leaders' presentation of themselves to others, especially aiming to avoid the imposing of personal political, business, conspiracy and religious views, or the agendas of other organisations, or inciting guru-type status.
To ensure fair and ethical treatment of Members, Student Members, participants, leaders and employees.
To protect potentially vulnerable people in our community, including the elderly, from unethical interaction, and ensuring that children are protected from abuse through a Child Protection Policy.
To utilise donations and bequests ethically, through the principles of good governance.
To have clear reference points for determining how the implementation of this Code of Ethical Conduct (Short Form) leads to restorative action, and having policies that clarify restorative action for breaches of this Code of Ethical Conduct.
To identify the means of reporting breaches in this Code of Ethical Conduct and to provide clear levels of restorative action in terms of community impact or for corruption and criminal offences.
To uphold the protection and preservation of the traditional hierarchical structure of the Rosicrucian Order, including good conduct, generally shown through politeness, respectfulness and decorum shown by Student Members towards Officers, or Officers towards superior Officers.
To protect and preserve the important spiritual value given to roles and titles of office. These values are detached from the personality of the person fulfilling that role and are instead values resting in the traditional functions of the role.
To uphold the traditional structure of Oaths of Office, including duty, loyalty and allegiance towards upholding the good name and repute of the Rosicrucian Order and its Officers, Members and Student Members.
To protect the sacred dimension of the traditions of our Order, including appropriate behaviour and decorum in the Rosicrucian Temple and ritualistic environments.
To uphold the traditional benchmarks of decorum, including traditional formalities in communication and boundaries, when stipulated.
To provide training in the Code of Ethical Conduct to responsible persons, Officers, Employees, Grand Lodge Volunteers, Affiliated Body Members, and any Student Member seeking training.

Terminology

Responsible Persons, Officer Hierarchy, Community Leadership

These are Responsible Persons at varying levels of authority/activity who represent leadership within the Rosicrucian Community. They include Officers installed under an Oath of Office into various traditional roles; Directors voted into office under legal constitutions and by-laws (including company or trust directors); Responsible Persons listed under a Not-for-profit Commission or other governance authority; and any Responsible Persons of committees formed by any resolution of the abovementioned leadership.

The Supreme Grand Lodge (SGL) is responsible for the overarching worldwide legal, constitutional and operational governance of the organisation at the highest level (Level 1). The Imperator is the highest-level Officer responsible for the overarching spiritual and ethical aims and mission of the Order and is also the president of the Board of Directors of the SGL.

The Grand Lodge (GL) Board of Directors is responsible for the overarching jurisdiction-wide legal, constitutional and operational governance of the organisation (Level 2). The Grand Master is the highest level Officer responsible for implementing the spiritual and ethical aims and mission of the Order in the jurisdiction that they are responsible for. The Grand Master may also act as President of the Board of Directors.

Administrators are the Officers that assist and represent the Grand Master in the operations of Administrations that are remote operations of the Grand Lodge headquarters of a jurisdiction. (Level 2b).

The Grand Master is sometimes, though not always, assisted by a Groups Director (Level 2c) who is member of the Board of Directors and responsible for managing and reporting on the overarching matters of Affiliated Bodies (Rosicrucian Groups), such as localised lodges, chapters, pronaoi, and atrium groups.

The Grand Councillors (Level 3) and Regional Monitors (Level 4) are the Officers responsible for local regions and local Affiliated Bodies respectively.

The Affiliated Body Officers (Level 5) are the administrative Officers of Affiliated Bodies. In the jurisdiction of the English Grand Lodge for Australia, Asia and New Zealand, an Affiliated Body (AB) is also informally known as an (Affiliated) Rosicrucian Group. The Affiliated Body Administrative Officers (AB Officers) for a lodge and a chapter comprise the Master, Deputy Master, Treasurer, Secretary, and Administration Officer. The Affiliated Body Administrative Officers (AB Officers) for a pronaos comprise the Master, Archivist and Guardian. The Affiliated Body Administrative Officers (AB Officers) for an atrium group comprise the Group Leader, although a Guardian may also assist.

The Supreme Grand Lodge and/or the Grand Lodge may form an Ethics Committee to provide independent advice on matters of ethical conduct for activities at all levels and for independently assessing the ethical conduct of its leadership and/or Employees.

Rosicrucian Community Spaces and Workspaces

These are places where Student Members gather to hold activities, such as at Affiliated Body venues, the Grand Lodge, cultural and retreat centres, and at events in other venues, on tours, and in any online spaces created for Student Members or Officers to hold meetings, discussions and attunements or to carry out learning activities together.

Student Member

A Student Member is a person who has applied for and has been approved to receive the teachings of the Rosicrucian Order, Grand Lodge for Australia, Asia and New Zealand and has a membership key number. Officers and Grand Lodge Volunteers are also Student Members. Grand Lodge Staff and Employees may or may not be Student Members. The term ‘Member’ is an abbreviation of ‘Student Member’.

Policy Context

This comprises the domestic political policy settings and laws that are applicable in a particular state or country.

Code of Ethical Conduct Advisory Service

This is an advisory service for providing clarification about the Code of Ethical Conduct and pathways for dispute resolution.

Our Standards of Conduct

We aim to provide environments for our Student Members, Volunteers, Staff and the public that are peaceful, uplifting, non-political and free from unacceptable behaviour.

Our Standards of Conduct when interacting with others are outlined in the following examples of acceptable and welcomed behaviour, and unacceptable and unwelcome behaviour, when interacting with others:

Behaviours contributing to a positive and safe environment for the Rosicrucian Community include:

Demonstrating empathy and kindness towards other people. Showing genuine care and respect for differing opinions, viewpoints, and experiences. Giving and gracefully accepting constructive feedback. Focusing on what is best, not just for us as individuals but for the overall community.
Uplifting, polite, refined behaviour in harmony with the spiritual aims of the Order. Speaking and behaving in a way that creates goodwill and promotes the good name of the organisation.
Gracefully accepting the role and decisions of higher-level Responsible Persons, knowing they may be in possession of undisclosed, confidential information.
Constructive and amicable discussions are encouraged when resolving and settling a dispute.
Safe and confidential reporting of serious abuse, such as damaging interactions with vulnerable people in our community, so that appropriate action can be taken promptly and effectively.
Showing respect for the traditional values and the hierarchy of the Order. Showing duty, loyalty, and allegiance towards Home Sanctum and Temple Initiation Oaths and, in the case of Officers, their Oaths of Office during their term of office. Showing genuine care and goodwill towards the good name and repute of the Rosicrucian Order.
Showing decorum and respectfulness in Rosicrucian Temple and ritualistic spaces.
Communicating with higher-position officers with politeness, patience and respectfulness in support the traditional role and title of Office, regardless of any personal differences of opinion.

Unacceptable and unwelcome behaviour may include but is not limited to:

Abusive and bullying behaviours, including cyber bullying, which may include but are not limited to undermining, demeaning, derogatory and aggressive behaviours, the abuse of power and so on.
Harassment of any kind. This refers to one-off or, in some limited cases, repeated incidents of any kind of abuse, bullying, intimidation, violation, sexual harassment or sexual inappropriateness.
Continuous acts of a socially manipulative, troublemaking nature; the spreading of false information; public shaming; divisiveness and the like, especially towards Responsible Persons, Employees and Volunteers. This may also include unhealthy gossip, undermining and false or vexatious accusations.
Publishing details of ritualistic activities and private ceremonies of the Rosicrucian Order without the consent of the Grand Master and Imperator.
Providing to another person, or publishing, personal historical accounts of the activities of Rosicrucian groups and individuals that have not been verified or approved by the group and or the Grand Lodge, especially if the accounts are misleading and biased.
Failing to maintain the privacy, confidentiality and proper use of documents, letters, emails and signatures shared with you (even if not marked ‘private and confidential’, or the like) by another member or responsible persons without their express permission, or otherwise only as is strictly necessary for the appropriate and genuinely constructive conduct of an official role within the organisation.
Undermining and dismissive actions or communication towards the traditional values of the Order and its hierarchy of Officers, or displaying attitudes that cause the intended sacred dimensions of the traditions of the Order to become overly mundane.
Breaches in Oaths of Office during the term of office or showing a wilful, malicious dismissiveness and irreverence towards oaths in general. Student Members can freely choose to take oaths or not; there is no obligation. Officers must take Oaths of Office, but any Officer can freely resign from their role if they cannot uphold their oath. However, they are asked to do so without any maliciousness and nastiness.
Deliberate, inappropriate indecorum in a Rosicrucian Temple, the Officer’s room, ante/threshold chambers or any environment where a Rosicrucian ritual is being held. This includes a breach of the Affiliated Body dress code, casual chitchat, consuming food, expressions of grievances and impatience, and any deliberate acts of irreverence towards the sacred nature of the environment.
Communicating with rudeness, impatience and, in relation to higher-position Officers, a lack of respect for the traditional role and title of Office.
The borrowing or lending of money between a Responsible Person and a Student Member.
The provision or promise of free or ‘life’ membership in exchange for recognition of exceptional donations, or for voluntary service or the provision of goods or services.

Commitment to Ethical Conduct

All Student Members must comply with this Code of Ethical Conduct (Short Form) as a condition of membership or the holding of their office.

Authority of Officers

The authority of a Grand Lodge Officer in carrying out his or her duty in addressing policy and procedural matters is outlined in their Officer Role Description and Oath of Office. When an Officer requests alignment with policy and procedures or ‘practice to principle’ they should not be viewed as being overly authoritarian and should be respected and treated with dignity. Officers' directives should be firm, clear and fair and delivered with kindness, providing Members and Student Members with the opportunity to learn.

The Meaning of Service

Service is the action of helping or doing work for someone in a voluntary capacity for the benefit of the aims of the organisation and is commonly found in not-for-profit (charitable) organisations. In The Rosicrucian Order AMORC, service is understood to mean freely and humbly assisting in giving time, care, skills and dedication to work across a variety of areas in selflessly supporting the ideals, aims and charitable mission of the organisation. Under no circumstances does The Rosicrucian Order AMORC support the misuse or abuse of service.

Presentation to Others

Members, especially Responsible Persons and Officers considered to be ‘dignitaries’, should present themselves within Rosicrucian Community spaces and workspaces in a dignified, respectful and modest manner. They should avoid displaying political or personal business agendas. All representatives should avoid extravagance and self-aggrandisement or creating situations where they may be considered to have a guru-type status in Rosicrucian or any other community spaces, both online and at physical events.

Fair and Ethical Remuneration and Reimbursement

Directors and Officers should be fairly but moderately reimbursed for expenses incurred in their duties. Responsible Persons must disclose conflicts of interest when required to by the Supreme Grand Lodge or the Grand Lodge.

Ethical Interaction with the Elderly and Vulnerable in our Community

Special consideration should be given to interaction with older Members and Student Members to avoid any unethical acts of soliciting bequests, gifts or other items that might be scrutinised by family members or would commonly be considered to be unethical. The same consideration applies to anyone who may be considered to be vulnerable, such as those suffering mental illnesses.

It is ethically and, in some cases, legally incumbent in some countries for Student Members to:

Report situations of unsanitary or unsafe living conditions of older Members;
Report situations in which they reasonably consider an older Member needs medical or other assistance, or, in cases of emergencies, to call emergency services to obtain urgent medical assistance;
Refrain from removing any personal or other property of the older Member from their possession; and
Refrain from soliciting or accepting personal gifts, benefits or favours from older Members. Child Protection

The Rosicrucian Order AMORC takes child protection extremely seriously. All Rosicrucian Community spaces must be safe environments for children. Every AMORC Grand Lodge or Administration Centre should have a Child Protection Policy and ensure that the Members of Affiliated Bodies, or Members and Student Members holding or participating in any activity or event that includes children, are aware of and comply with the Child Protection Policy.

Although the law may differ regarding child protection in different countries or states, AMORC Rosicrucian Student Members must not stand by and ignore child abuse as it is commonly understood or as defined by law in the relevant place (whichever results in the highest standard of care for the child). If they seriously suspect child abuse, they should report it.

Ethical Use of Donations and Bequests

The Rosicrucian Order AMORC aims to utilise its donations and bequests ethically. When a Member has specifically named a bequest or a donation to be used only for a particular project, activity or purpose it must be used for that purpose, unless the project, activity or purpose has already been carried out or no longer exists, in which case:

If the bequest also provides for an alternative purpose(s) should the specific purpose fail, the bequest must be used for the alternative purpose(s); or
In any other case, the bequest must be used for a purpose deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction to be appropriate.

Ethical Use of Information Technology

The Rosicrucian Order AMORC acknowledges the many benefits of information technology, and we are committed to using this technology in positive, uplifting, refined ways to enhance the aims and purposes of the organisation and using it ethically and respectfully, avoiding discrimination on the basis of age, ability, perceived technical proficiency or any other unlawful ground.

Remedial Action

Restorative action is the overarching principle for various remedial actions. The principle is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Rosicrucian Community, its Officers and leaders, and the public engaged with the organisation, as well as to protect the good name, harmony and repute of the organisation. Restorative action supports the aims and mission of The Rosicrucian Order AMORC by ensuring that effective, constructive measures are in place to safeguard the organisation from losses in credibility and to protect resources from costly legal action by promoting discussion, mediation and constructive conflict resolution processes. All Grand Lodges, Administration Centres and Affiliated Bodies should have a policy for restorative action.

Remedial Action Implementation Responsibilities

The implementation of restorative action incorporates a number of reference points:

The local legislation in the country of operation that sets out the policy context for the legal enforcement of this Code of Ethical Conduct. Each Grand Lodge, Administration Centre and Affiliated Body should have a local policy context schedule that lists the names of relevant local laws, and this should be made available to any Student Member requesting it.
The organisational, policy and procedures documents of the Supreme Grand Lodge, Grand Lodge or Administration Centre, or Affiliated Body. These should be provided to Student Members with respect to their roles or relevant obligations.
The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which sets out the organisation’s aims for human rights at all levels, locally and globally.
The authority of the traditional hierarchical leadership of the Rosicrucian Order in terms of the protection and preservation of the traditions of the Order and suitability for Student Membership.

Community Impact and Remedial Actions

Responsible Persons in the roles of Officers, Directors and Committee Members within the Rosicrucian Community have the right and responsibility to take restorative action for breaches of this Code of Ethical Conduct and to undertake remedial action. A breach of this code is serious and may have serious ramifications for your membership. For example, a single breach may result in membership being suspended or cancelled.

Before undertaking such action, the Responsible Person will, to the extent necessary, investigate the allegations against the Student Member, provide the Student Member with an opportunity to respond to any allegations against them and consider any responses given before undertaking any remedial action.

In general, there are three levels of remedial action, depending on the severity of the breach of this Code of Ethical Conduct. For the avoidance of doubt, the level of remedial action taken will be appropriate to the severity of the breach; therefore the Responsible Person may commence or undertake remedial action at any level or in any order, as appropriate for the circumstances.

Level 1 Remedial Action comprises a private conversation to amicably resolve the matter. If the resolution is not adhered to, it will be followed by Level 2 Remedial Action.

Level 2 Remedial Action comprises a private, written warning from Responsible Persons, providing clarity around the nature of the violation and an explanation of why the behaviour was inappropriate, including a temporary ban from the community space for a certain period of time.

Level 3 Remedial Action comprises a complete ban from all Rosicrucian Community spaces and an immediate removal of AMORC membership.

Level 4 Remedial Action comprises assessment by AMORC’s legal advisors, and, if the behaviour is considered to be potentially unlawful, immediate reporting to the civil force of the country or state responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public protection, or to any corporate or charities regulator, for investigation.

All Student Members must sign a copy of the Code of Ethical Conduct (Long Form) should they wish to enter into a dispute resolution process. The dispute resolution process will be conducted in accordance with the Complaints Resolution Policy.

Reporting

Each Grand Lodge, Administration Centre or Affiliated Body should have a set of clear procedures for reporting breaches of this Code of Ethical Conduct, including for whistleblowers and for conflict resolution. Confidentiality of reporting must be ensured. When reporting a breach of this Code of Ethical Conduct, the breach allegation should be able to be substantiated. The Supreme Grand Lodge and Grand Lodges have the right to seek independent advice from professionals in their field in assessing breaches or in resolving matters of conflict, which should not be viewed as being antagonistic. Promoting safe and positive discussion or mediation is the first step in resolving conflict.

Training in the Code of Ethical Conduct and in Reporting

Board of Directors members, Grand Lodge Committee members, Grand Lodge Officers and Affiliated Body Officers are required to take part in annual training provided by the Grand Lodge. Training is to be conducted online for Affiliated Body Officers and Affiliated Body Members. Relevant Grand Councillors and Regional Monitors are also required to carry out annual training at the Affiliated Body premises to discuss the Code of Ethical Conduct (Long Form) as well as this Code of Ethical Conduct (Short Form). Grand Lodge Staff, Employees and Volunteers are required to carry out annual training at the Grand Lodge (or administration) workspace, generally held by the highest-level manager or administrator, and this may also include the Grand Lodge HR consultant.

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