"AS TO HOW WE WILL TREAT EACH OTHER IN
OUR MINISTRIES TOGETHER AT GREENFIELD PARK UNITED CHURCH"
1. "OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD"
We will invite Jesus Christ to be a member of every aspect of our ministry, committees gatherings, and we
will remember His presence among us at all times. We will remember that we are doing the Lord’s business, and each one
of us is a Minister for Jesus Christ. We will treat each other as God would treat us and remember that every person we meet
is God’s child. We love God, and we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We will follow the Golden Rule: (Luke
6: 31) "Do unto others as you would have them do to you"
2. AS A UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA FAMILY, WE AT GREENFIELD
PARK UNITED CHURCH PROMISE TO:
-Extend a warm welcome and Christian Fellowship to all who choose
to worship with us.
-Demonstrate our leadership and commitment to our Church by example.
-Strive for what is best for our Church as a whole.
-Support our Church Minister and Staff, by respecting their time of worship; recognizing that
they have private lives; and by respectfully bringing our concerns to their attention, thus providing them with time and opportunity
to address them.
3.TO EACH OTHER ON GOVERNING
MINISTRIES, COMMITTEES, OFFICIAL BOARDS, AND DURING CHURCH GATHERINGS, WE PROMISE TO:
-Present ideas honestly and openly, listen to each other with open minds, and allow disagreement
without personal resentment.
-Publicly support meeting or vote results, even if they don’t reflect our personal views.
We will use the time during meetings to present our views.
-Speak from first hand knowledge, and focus on issues.
-Be positive and keep our sense of humour while being mindful of each person’s uniqueness
and vulnerabilities.
-Stand up and protect those who are being treated unfairly.
4. RECOGNIZING THAT CONFLICT IS
INEVITABLE IN ANY COMMUNITY OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN CREATING MEANING FOR THEIR LIVES, WE PROMISE T0:
-Affirm the reconciliation presence of Christ, who is
our peace (Matthew 18:20)
-Love our brothers and sisters in Christ, as being the true evidence that we truly follow Jesus
(John 13: 24-35)
-Listen to one another (James 1:19-20), Share with each other in truth (Ephesians
4: 25) and recognize and admit our own weaknesses and failures (Matthew 7: 3-5)
-In situations of conflict with one another, speak with the person rather than about the person
(Matthew 18:15)
-To take responsibility to resolve conflict (Matthew 5: 23-24) and to take responsibility
for that which is within our ability to do so (Romans 12: 18-19)
-To offer forgiveness, whether or not the other person acknowledges his or her responsibility
in the conflict.
5. TO OUR NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY AND THE
REST OF THE WORLD, WE PROMISE TO:
-Enter the 21st century in faith, hope, and love, seeking even wider diversity and a deeper understanding of God’s
purpose.
-Accept our role as wise stewards of our earth and the
rest of God’s gifts to us.
-Open our doors and hearts to God’s children, sharing the love of Christ with
everyone we meet.
-Live by the United Church of Canada Creed as follows and this "Covenant of Understanding"
Approved by Session September 11, 2005 for use
within the Congregation.
