ST. MARTIN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
St. Martin's Episcopal Church Norms
How We Live and Work Together
At St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
As Episcopalians at St. Martin’s, we believe our life together must be shaped by and reflect the values revealed in our baptismal promises: to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ; to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself; and to strive for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being. The Baptismal Covenant—Book of Common Prayer, p. 305
Norms
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 in the Diocese, making them a pattern of living in prayer, word, and action, with individuals being consistently invited and challenged to live into the larger vision of our congregation rooted in the Baptismal Covenant. You are encouraged to post the norms in your meeting rooms, to refer to them as you go about the Church’s business, and to offer feedback on your experiences.
What YOU can do as one individual…
Group Meetings - Vestry meetings, church committees and groups, Convocations, , Diocesan Councils etc.
Effective outcomes and the use of our time in determining appropriate courses of action are promoted when we:
At St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
As Episcopalians at St. Martin’s, we believe our life together must be shaped by and reflect the values revealed in our baptismal promises: to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ; to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself; and to strive for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being. The Baptismal Covenant—Book of Common Prayer, p. 305
Norms
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 in the Diocese, making them a pattern of living in prayer, word, and action, with individuals being consistently invited and challenged to live into the larger vision of our congregation rooted in the Baptismal Covenant. You are encouraged to post the norms in your meeting rooms, to refer to them as you go about the Church’s business, and to offer feedback on your experiences.
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.
- Listening thoughtfully to other’ concerns and ideas and then asking “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?”
- Allowing someone to complain to you only when you can do something about the matter or redirecting complaints to appropriate decision-makers when you can do nothing to change the situation.
Group Meetings - Vestry meetings, church committees and groups, Convocations, , Diocesan Councils etc.
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.
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.
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.
