A pattern for living:

Our baptismal values provide the foundation for norms that govern the ways we will strive to live and work together as Christians.  Our goal is to live out these principles in our work together, making them a pattern of living in prayer, word, and action, with individuals being consistently invited and challenged to live into the larger vision rooted in the Baptismal Covenant.

What YOU can do as one individual…

You can contribute to responsible and assertive problem solving in your individual relationships by:

• Discussing what is bothering you only with those who can do something about it.
• Allowing someone to complain to you only when you can do something about the matter. Not permitting complaints when you can do nothing to change the situation.
• Asking others “How might I/we help you think of ways to do something about your concern?” or “What do you propose to do about this matter?”

Group Meetings Vestry meetings, committees, commissions

Effective outcomes and the use of our time in determining appropriate courses of action are promoted when we:

• Develop and distribute an agenda/time table in advance.
• Start and end on time
• Come prepared
• Attend regularly
• Notify the chair when we are unable to attend
• Participate actively and are sensitive to others by not monopolizing time
• Work together to agree on actions
• Distribute minutes and to-do lists in a timely fashion.

Norms

How we live and work together

• Listen attentively
• Honor the ideas and concerns of others by listening with care.
• Practice courtesy
• Observe relaxed courtesy in every gathering.
• Respect all opinions
• Respectfully include all opinions, even when there is disagreement.
• Speak for self only Listen and speak from an “I” position (but do not speak for anyone else).
• Model transparency
• Act with honesty, openness, directness.
• Honor confidentiality
• Respect private or personal confidences when appropriate
• Share decision-making
• Share the power by including all persons affected by the process of decision-making.
• Refrain from judging
• Resist speculation or censure about the motives or spiritual maturity of others.
• Communicate consistently
• Make careful, consistent communication a priority.
• Challenge in love
• Challenge the times when we are not living up to our norms, speaking the truth in love.
• Forgive generously.
• Forbear and forgive each other’s failings, with God’s help.
• Admit responsibility
• Be publicly accountable for errors, seeking to learn from mistakes.
• Be open to the new Be receptive to exploring new ideas and possibilities.