Publication Ethic and Malpractice Statement

THECRED: Proceedings of the Theology and Religious Education Dialogue is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. This statement is guided by the best practice guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) at https://publicationethics.org.

Responsibilities of the Editor
The Editor-in-Chief and editorial board are responsible for deciding which manuscripts are accepted for publication based on scholarly merit, originality, and relevance to the scope of THECRED. Editorial decisions are made without regard to the author's race, gender, religious affiliation, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political orientation. The editorial board ensures that all submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Information about a submitted manuscript is not disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and relevant editorial staff. Unpublished materials from submitted manuscripts may not be used by editors or editorial board members for their own research without the written consent of the author(s). In cases where ethical concerns or complaints arise, the editorial board will investigate promptly and take appropriate action, which may include issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers assist the editorial board in evaluating the quality of submitted manuscripts and help authors improve their work through constructive and objective feedback. All manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential. Reviewers must not share, discuss, or use information from the manuscript without authorization from the editor. Reviewers are required to declare any conflicts of interest, whether financial, institutional, personal, or intellectual, and must recuse themselves from the review process when such conflicts exist. Reviews must be conducted objectively, with arguments clearly stated and supported. Personal criticism directed at the author is not acceptable. Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate a particular manuscript, or who are unable to complete the review within the agreed timeframe, should notify the editor promptly.

Responsibilities of Authors
Authors must guarantee that their submitted manuscript is entirely original work. Where the work or ideas of others are used, they must be properly cited and acknowledged. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one publication simultaneously is not permitted. Authors must disclose any financial support, grants, or other forms of funding that may have influenced the research or its interpretation. Authorship must be limited to individuals who have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the conception, design, execution, data analysis, or interpretation of the study. All persons who qualify as authors must be listed, and all listed authors must have approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission. Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged in a separate section. Authors are required to disclose any use of AI-assisted tools (such as ChatGPT, Grammarly AI, or automated paraphrasing tools), specifying the tool used, the purpose of its use, and the extent of its contribution. AI tools may not be listed as authors. If a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered in a published article, the author(s) must promptly notify the editor and cooperate in issuing a correction or retraction.

Handling of Ethical Violations
If unethical behavior is suspected or reported regarding a submitted or published manuscript, the following procedure applies. The editor will initiate an investigation in consultation with the editorial board. The author(s) or other parties involved will be given an opportunity to respond to the allegation. If the investigation confirms misconduct, the editor may take one or more of the following actions: rejection of the manuscript under consideration; issuance of a formal correction or retraction for a published article; notification to the author's institution or employer; and a ban on future submissions from the author(s) for a defined period. In serious cases, the matter may be reported to relevant professional or institutional bodies.

Conflicts of Interest
All parties involved in the publication process (editors, reviewers, and authors) are expected to disclose any relationships or activities that could be perceived as potential conflicts of interest. The editorial board will manage disclosed conflicts on a case-by-case basis to protect the integrity of the review and publication process.