This Church

This church confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; our Creator, Redeemer, and Advocate.

This church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.

This church believes in the Word of God, and receives God’s Word in Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate; in proclamation of God’s message to us as both Law and Gospel; and in the canonical Scriptures, the inspired and written Word of God, which provides the authoritative source and norm for proclamation, faith and life.

This church accepts the historic creeds (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian) as true declarations of the faith, and the Lutheran Confessions as faithful witnesses and interpretations of the faith.

This church is gathered around God’s Word and Sacraments, and its worship flows into witness and service that proclaims God’s love to this broken world.

This church, awash in God’s baptismal grace, creates a safe place for all of God’s children.

This church, knowing its unity in Christ and uniquely gifted for ecumenism by its confessions, works in God’s kingdom as a bridge-church for diverse traditions that share this faith.

This church maintains a deep and abiding commitment to ministry with children and youth.

This church engages in global mission with deep respect for the rich gifts of our brothers and sisters in other lands and so understands this mission engagement as primarily focused in accompaniment.

This church believes that the risen Christ is encountered daily in God’s world, and so we commit ourselves to be a public church, working for justice and peace for all.

This church continues a rich heritage of theological reflection and discernment and is dedicated to strong theological education in preparing leaders.

This church believes in the vocation of the baptized to ministry in daily life, translating Sunday’s faith into Monday’s world.

This church is committed to interdependence in its three expressions and as the vision for networks of mission agencies in the United States and throughout the world, including Lutheran Services in America, Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Lutheran Disaster Response, and the Lutheran World Federation.

This church is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

OUR LIFE TOGETHER

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Agreeing and Disagreeing in Love

Commitments for Christians in Times of Disagreement

 Making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace... But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. (Ephesians 4:3, 15) As individual members of the body of Christ, we pledge that we shall:

In Thought

Accept Conflict — Acknowledge together that conflict is a normal part of our life in the church. (Romans 14:1-8, 10-12, 17-19; 15:1-7)

Affirm hope — Affirm that as God walks with us in conflict we can work through to growth. (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Commit to prayer — Admit our needs and commit ourselves to pray for a mutually satisfactory solution (no prayers for my success or for the other to change but to find a joint way). (James 5:16)

In Action

Go to the other — Go directly to those with whom we disagree; avoid behind-the-back criticism. (Matthew 5:23-24; 18:15-20)

In the spirit of humility — Go in gentleness, patience and humility. Place the problem between us at neither doorstep and own our part in the conflict instead of pointing out the others. (Galatians 6:1-5)

Be quick to listen — Listen carefully, summarize and check out what is heard before responding. Seek as much to understand as to be understood. (James 1:l9; Proverbs 18:13)

Be slow to judge — Suspend judgments, avoid labeling, end name calling, discard threats, and act in a non-defensive, non-reactive way. (Romans 2:1-4; Galatians 5:22-26)

Be willing to negotiate — Work through the disagreements constructively. (Acts 15; Philippians 2:1-11)

• Identify issues, interests, and needs of both (rather than take positions).
• Generate a variety of options for meeting both parties' needs (rather than defending one's own way).
• Evaluate options by how they meet the needs and satisfy the interests of all sides (not one side's values).
• Collaborate in working out a joint solution (so both sides gain, both grow and win).
• Cooperate with the emerging Disagreement (accept the Possible, not demand your ideal).
• Reward each other for each step forward; toward agreement (celebrate mutuality).

In Life

Be steadfast in love — Be firm in our commitment to seek a mutual solution; be stubborn in holding to our common foundation in Christ; be steadfast in love. (Colossians 3:12-15)

Be open to mediation — Be open to accept skilled help. If we cannot reach agreement among ourselves, we will use those with gifts and training in mediation in the larger church. (Philippians 4.1-3)

Trust the community — We will trust the community and if we cannot reach agreement or experience reconciliation, we will turn the decision over to others in the congregation or from the broader church. (Acts 15)

• In one-to-one or small group disputes, this may mean allowing others to arbitrate.
• In congregational, conference, or denominational disputes, this may mean allowing others to arbitrate or implement constitutional decision-making processes, insuring that they are done in the spirit of these guidelines, and abiding by whatever decision is made.

Be the Body of Christ — Believe in and rely on the solidarity of the Body of Christ and its commitment to peace and justice, rather than resort to the courts of law. (1 Corinthians 6:1-6)

From the web site of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Interim-Ministry-Association/
Resources/Agreeing-Disagreeing.aspx

Dealing with Anonymous Criticism, Concerns, or Opinions

 In order for the congregation, pastor, and the congregation council to be able to deal directly and effectively with criticism, concerns, or opinions in the congregation, the following guidelines are adopted:

 

1. That all members affirm their right to express their criticism, concerns or opinions about life and ministry in the congregation.

2. The congregation operates with an “open” form of government, which allows members to share their criticism, concerns or opinions directly with the pastor, congregation council, and appropriate committees and / or at congregational meetings.

3. When members of the congregation express a criticism, concern, or opinion to a member of the congregation council or another member, the congregation council member shall ask, “What would you like me to do with this information?”

4. If the member desires to have the information transmitted to the pastor, congregation council,
etc., the member shall be invited to personally share the information, criticism, concern, or opinion directly as a point of information.

5. The member may, in lieu of presenting in person, submit the criticism, concern, or opinion in writing with member’s signature.

6. If needed, the criticism, concern or opinion shall be shared openly with the mutual ministry committee and / or congregation council. Action may include referring the matter to committee and / or pastor with a planned response such as visiting member.

7. If the member does not wish to share the information directly, the congregational council member or committee member shall suggest accompanying the member to meet and discuss the concern or issue. If member declines then the congregation council member shall say, “I'm sorry, but I will not be able to report this to congregation council, appropriate committees and / or at congregational meetings since we do not deal with anonymous or non-direct criticism, concern, or comment."

From the web site of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Interim-Ministry-Association/
Resources/Dealing-with-Anonymous-Criticism.aspx

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