Why the code exists
The church holds that its core ethical teaching has always lived within the hinários themselves, the hymns received by Mestre Irineu and later generations of elders. As the doctrine spread into new countries, languages, and cultures beyond its Amazonian origin, the church judged it necessary to set out some of those same principles explicitly, in a form that could travel with the tradition into settings where the older, informal understanding among members could not be assumed.
Participation, consent, and confidentiality
The code frames participation in the church's works as voluntary throughout, resting on each participant's own informed consent, and it commits the church to protecting the autonomy and dignity of everyone who takes part. It also commits members to confidentiality about what happens in works and in community life, discouraging gossip and unverified rumor as corrosive to trust between members.
Money, tolerance, and conduct
On financial matters, the code calls for honesty and transparency in handling money and asks that no one be turned away from participation for inability to contribute financially, while still expecting members to take on some form of responsibility, financial or otherwise, toward sustaining the community. It commits the church to tolerance of other beliefs and prohibits proselytizing, prohibits illegal substances on church grounds, and commits members to an environment free of harassment or discrimination on the basis of age, sex, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
Resolving disagreement
Where conflicts arise, the code asks members to first try to resolve the matter directly with the person involved, and only then to seek guidance from a community leader, a padrinho or madrinha, or the council of churches, while maintaining the confidentiality the code asks of members throughout.