Behavioral Covenant Workshop Trinity Covenant Church Salem Oregon
“Behavioral Covenant” Workshop Trinity Covenant Church Salem, Oregon January 9, 2011
Agenda 2 hours PURPOSE: To invite and involve the church in the “Congregational Vitality Pathway”, a journey that will help define identity and lead us through a pastoral search. PROCESS: Brunch & Table conversation around 3 questions Contribute ideas for “Behavioral Covenant” Have fun learning and sharing together in a process that is “civil, compassionate and Christ-honoring. ”
Table Talk (During Brunch) Take some time, reflect and write an answer to these questions: 1. “What are the most important things Trinity Covenant has contributed to your life? 2. Who or what made a difference? 3. How did it affect you? ” Share your answers with someone at your table that is new to you or that you don’t know well.
Vitality Pathway – Not a Roadway A process to help Trinity Covenant discover. . Whose we are. . . What we are to do. . . Why we are to do it. . .
“I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ” –Ezekiel 37: 6 As part of a long range vision process, the congregation will participate in a six month journey of preparation and planning that will include the forming of a “Pastoral Search Committee. ” Behavioral Covenant Workshop January 9, 2011 “Sharing Our Past Shaping our Future” Workshop February 16, 2011 Vision Workshop March, 2011 Confession Prayer Repentance March 2011 VERITAS Workshop May 2011 PULSE Survey June 2011 Discovery “What gives life to our church? ” (Appreciating the best of Trinity) Dream “What might be? ” (What does our community and world need from Trinity? ) Design “What should Trinity be at its best? ” (Helping shape and build Trinity’s future) Destiny “How do we grow? ” (What should we do to nurture, equip, and sustain Trinity? ) 6 months “Congregational Vitality Pathway” Trinity Covenant Salem, Oregon 2011
Discovery “What gives life to our church? ” (Appreciating the best of Trinity) Dream “What might be? ” (What does our community and world need from Trinity? ) Design “What should Trinity be at its best? ” (Helping shape and build Trinity’s future) Destiny “How do we grow? ” (What should we do to nurture, equip, and sustain Trinity? ) January 2011 To February 2011 March 2011 May 2011 June 2011 The task is to appreciate the best of “what is” by focusing on peak times of congregational excellence--when members have experienced the congregation as the most alive and effective. • “Behavioral Covenant” putting in place expectations for governing their conversations, behavior and honoring their differences • “Shaping Our Past – Shaping the our Future” What from our church’s past will shape our future? The images of the future emerge out of grounded examples from the congregation’s positive past. They are compelling possibilities precisely because they are based on extraordinary moments from the congregation’s history. • The “Vision Intersection Profile” helps the congregation identify where their passion and mission connects with the community. • “WORSHIP SERVICE OF CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE” The intent is both personal and corporate renewal. This involves the crafting of a congregation in which the positive change core is boldly alive in all the various aspects of a congregation’s life: its strategic directions, its decisions, systems, and collaborations. This involves the delivery of the new images of the future. It answers, “how will we sustain and nurture our movement toward this desired future? ” The purpose of the “Veritas” workshop is to promote healthy missional churches. Veritas gives the congregation a common language. It creates awareness, acceptance and a desire to move forward. “PULSE” Is a vitality assessment tool written around the “ 10 Missional Markers” for Covenant Churches. The survey can be taken by every attender of the church online or a paper form.
Behavioral Covenants
Behavioral Covenants —Holy Manners for a Faith Community A behavioral covenant is a written document developed by leaders, agreed to and owned by its creators and practiced on a daily basis as a spiritual discipline. The Covenant answers the question, “How will we behave (how will we live together? ) when we don’t understand each other and when we don’t agree? ” Gil Rendle Behavioral Covenants in Congregations
Colossians 3: 12 -17 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 Thessalonians 5: 12 -26 12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good 22 reject whatever is harmful. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.
Guidelines for Loving Relationships and Values to Guide Our Interaction Colossians 3: 12 -17, 1 Thessalonians 5: 12 -26 At the Evangelical Covenant Church… �We seek to build each other up and not tear down. �We respect and honor the office of pastor and other lay leaders. �We seek to communicate clearly, completely, and directly. �We offer our opinions with charity and humility. �We make positive investments in each others lives. �We believe the best in each other and give each other the benefit of the doubt. �We seek to discover what is best for our church as a whole, not what may be best for us or for some small group in the church. �We accept disagreement, conflict and evaluation as normal and natural. �We are committed to being inconvenienced for the sake of the gospel.
Sample Behavioral Covenants Mobius Strip --- this is not a list of “to do” statements but an “on-going process” we are considering. In Jesus’ name. . . I will Make myself familiar with and continually remind myself of the scriptures I will make every effort to do the good I know I ought to do (James 4: 17) I will make mistakes. I will fail. I will even sin, but
In Jesus’ name. . . I will �I will not judge. Instead by God’s grace. . . �I will intentionally and continually engage in God’s ministry of reconciliation. In Jesus’ name we will. . . �Make ourselves familiar with and continually remind ourselves of the scriptures. �We will make every effort to do the good we know we ought to do.
In Jesus’ name we will. . . We will make mistakes. We will fail. We will even sin, but. . . We will not judge. Instead, by God’s grace. . . We will intentionally and continually engage in God’s ministry of reconciliation In Jesus’ name, I will. . . (The mobius strip brings you back to where you began. )
The “One Another” Promises ! Y � � ! Conviction We take God’s Word seriously “I will rely on Scripture, prayer and godly counsel for the foundation of all my attitudes and actions. ” Y Care We love God by loving each other “I will bring you practical care when you are in need, and when there is hurt between us, I will take the initiative to make things right. ” Community We value friendship over pride “I will gratefully embrace you as family, without insisting on having my way” � Character We listen humbly and speak plainly “I will listen to you carefully, being slow to take offense, and will respond with honesty and gentleness. ”
The answers are not in the data, the answers are in the conversations you have about the data as the Holy Spirit leads and guides.
Video – Midwest Conference “Behavioral Covenants”
Appreciative Inquiry “AI” Trinity Covenant’s “Behavioral Covenant”
Ap-pre’ci-ate 1. valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems. 2. to increase in value.
In-quire 1. 2. The act of exploration and discovery To ask questions; to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY, SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC, EXPLORATION, STUDY
Appreciative Inquiry Assumptions 1. In every congregation, some things work well. 2. What we focus on becomes our reality. 3. Asking questions influences the group 4. People have more confidence in the journey to the future when they carry forward parts of the past. 5. If we carry parts of the past into the future, they should be what is best about the past.
Appreciative Inquiry Assumptions 6. It is important to value differences 7. The language we use creates our reality. 8. Organizations, like plants, lean toward the source of energy. (Whether energy is healthy or not. ) 9. Outcomes should be useful. 10. All steps are collaborative. Mark Lau Branson, “Memories, Hopes and Conversations, Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change. ”
Philippians 4: 8 -9 “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ” (NSRV) “ 8 -9 Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. ” (The Message)
Table Talk – Question # 1 (Values) Take some time, reflect and write several answers to this question: “What do you think are the most important, life-giving characteristics of Trinity Covenant Church? When we are at our best, what are the single, most important values that makes Trinity Covenant unique? ” Using a “Sharpie” pen write each idea or answer on a separate “Post-It-Note. ”
Table Talk – Question # 2 (Behaviors) Take some time, reflect and write several answers to this question: “Concerning our relationships with each other, our fellowship, what characterizes Trinity Covenant at our best? How would you describe those times when you have seen Christian behaviors and qualities that have increased our congregation’s social health, faithfulness, love and unity? ” Using a “Sharpie” pen write each idea or answer on a separate “Post-It-Note. ”
Next Steps Tabulate and print all comments. Give to the “TCC Vitality Committee” to organize around a “Draft” “Behavioral Covenant to presented at a congregational business meeting _______. The Behavioral Covenant will identify: 1. Trinity Covenant Values 2. Trinity Covenant Behaviors 3. Our promises to God and to Each Other Wednesday, February 16, 2011 6: 30 – 8: 30 PM “Sharing our Past – Shaping Our Future”
Isaiah 43: 19 (New International Version, © 2010) See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 19
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