{"id":3983,"date":"2025-12-11T17:45:03","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T16:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.icf.church\/clearing-office\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T12:09:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T11:09:16","slug":"clearingoffice","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/icf.church\/en\/clearingoffice\/","title":{"rendered":"Clearing Office"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Clearing Office<\/h1> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n Independent complaint and conflict management<\/h3><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n We are a family held together by unconditional love, servant leadership, and true unity.<\/h3><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n Our striving for this ideal from our vision can be undermined by conflicts and abuse of authority. That is why we want to identify and address unhealthy developments at an early stage. For this reason, we at ICF have decided to mandate and appoint an independent, external, and non-directive Clearing Office (Ombudsperson).<\/p>\n\n

\n The Clearing Office helps us create a healthy environment in which we handle disputes well. This point of contact for difficult conflicts is part of a multi-level conflict- and crisis management concept which we are establishing. Complementing existing structures, the Clearing Office provides protection and safety for the people in our churches and a clear procedure on how to address serious conflicts and complaints.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>

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\n Our Standards<\/h2><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n The ICF Clearing Office (Ombudsman) was established as an independent complaint and conflict management service for ICF churches, their visitors, staff, pastors, and outsiders (including organizations). It meets the following standards:<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>

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CONFIDENTIALITY<\/h3>\n

As a registered mediator and in agreement with the guidelines of the Clearing Office, the Ombudsperson is committed to confidentiality.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/swiper-slide>\n

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NEUTRAL<\/h3>\n

The Ombudsperson is not a member of the Board, a staff of ICF, or any of its local churches.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/swiper-slide>\n

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SELF-DETERMINED<\/h3>\n

The Clearing Office will only take action against third parties in consultation with the applicant or affected person.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/swiper-slide>\n <\/swiper-container>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>

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\n Offers & procedures of clearing office<\/h2><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n The Clearing Office offers a complaint and conflict management service accessible to all ICFs and their environment. This includes:<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>

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Receipt of complaints<\/h3>\n

Requests and complaints can be sent in by pastors, staff, third parties \/ visitors \/ public entities etc on topics such as conflicts with leaders at ICF churches or the ICF Movement, manipulation, handling of finances and donations etc.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n\n\n

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Conflict counselling<\/h3>\n

After the free online analysis, there is the option to have a confidential talk about possible steps with the Ombudsperson. Further steps will only be taken in consultation with the applicant.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>

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Conflict coaching<\/h3>\n

If the applicant wants to resolve the conflict on his \/ her own after conflict counselling, there is the possibility of online conflict coaching by a mediator on request. The conflict coaching \/ mediation is charged by the Ombudsperson directly.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n\n\n

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Clearing conversation \/ Mediation<\/h3>\n

After consultation with the involved parties (ICF \/ ICF Movement), the Clearing Office will organize mediation meetings with all involved persons and facilitated by a neutral mediator with the goal of bringing about a sustainable clarification.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>

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\n \n Contact now<\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n This will take you to the form on a separate website from our partner, \u201cMedius<\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>

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\n Contact<\/h2><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
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\n Our Ombudsperson<\/h3><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n Gerhard F\u00fchrer<\/h2>\n\n\n

\n Registered mediator, MEDIUS

Married, two adult children, lecturer for mediation and conflict management at the University of Graz, inventor of the MEDIUS Conflict Navigator, and ombudsman of the \u201cFreikirchen\u201d in Austria.
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\n \n CONTACT<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n Frequently asked questions<\/h2><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
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