Behavioral Covenant Example 2
Preamble:
We recognize that we are a diverse group of believers holding differing viewpoints. We are, however, united in our belief that God wants us to love God, one another, and ourselves:
To that end, we hereby covenant both individually and as a Sunday School Teachers, Youth Group Leaders, Elders, Christian Education Committee members to embrace the following peacemaking behaviours both in our church life and in our everyday life: .
WE WILL:
- Make positive statements and say what we want to do
- Be focused towards our goals
- Recognize that all voices are equal, because god is personal but never private
- Keep our communications and interactions sacred, and as a body, keep Christ as the center
- Listen to what Jesus is telling us to do
- Not accept intimidation as a behavior in any form
- Exercise patience, gracefully
- Express impatience and agree to stay together in community for the good of the body of Christ
- Be open to suggestion from all people
- Encourage open, honest, graceful, and face-to-face discussion, where all ideas are valued and respected
- Encourage aIl voices, particularly the quiet among the body
- Provide a safe, non-judgmental and sacred space
- Embrace and appreciate silence
- Forgive and be forgiven
- Recognize the humanity and error in all of us
- Lead by example.
COVENANT:
We hereby covenant to follow these behaviors and hold each other accountable for them.
As members of the Christian community at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Brampton we, being sinners and falling short, agree, with the help of God, to relate to each other through Christ, and thus hold ourselves and each other to:
- Listen to each other. “Let everyone be quick to hear and slow to speak …” James 1:19. Dietrich Bonhoeffer has stated: “The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them.” Life Together p. 97
- Respect the privacy of those who confide. “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” Proverbs 11:13
- Challenge each other with the truth. Be willing to confront when it is important.
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16
- Deal with people directly; don’t complain to others. “If one of my followers sins against you, go and point out what was wrong. But do it in private, just between the two of you.” Matthew 18:15. If someone complains to you about another member, help that person follow this principle.
- Strengthen each other. “[Speak] only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29) Likewise, the test of true fellowship is to “make the individual free, strong and mature,” not “weak and dependent.” Bonhoeffer, p.88
- Be gentle with one another. “My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don’t be tempted yourself.” Galatians: 6:1
- Do not speak ill of others in the fellowship. “Do not grumble about each other or you will be judged, and the judge is right outside the door.” James 5:9
- Do not judge each other. “Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things.” Romans 2:1
- Pray for one another. James 5:16
- Confess one’s wrongs to another. James 5:9
- Forgive one another. “Give and it will be given to you.” Luke 6:38
- Freely participate in the body of Christ according to our gifts and talents. “Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8