I promise to seek God’s heart, listen thoughtfully, and speak collaboratively.

In June 2014, the Session adopted the following Behavioral Covenant to guide our conduct at FPC.

I Promise to seek God’s Heart

Joining God in what he is doing is our common goal, individually and as a church. I will seek God’s heart through ongoing prayer, listening deeply to Scripture, and looking for the Lord’s hand at work in unfolding circumstances. At the minimum, I believe God’s heart will always lead me to love God more and more and to love my neighbor as I desire to be loved.

Questions for Keeping this Promise:

  • Where is God in this situation?

  • Where is God in our differences?

  • How might God want me to bless this group, including those with whom I disagree?

  • Is it possible God is after something different than I am right now?

I Promise to listen thoughtfully

I will seek to understand before I strive to be understood, and I will give others the benefit of the doubt when I hear them. I will be curious, respectful, and willing to learn something new from everyone. I will seek out the stories of those who hold different opinions, looking for our similarities rather than our differences. I will ask my leaders for information about the issues that matter to me. Most of all, I will listen for what God might be saying to me in the words of others.

Questions for Keeping this Promise:

  • What is my agenda in this conversation?

  • Can I set it aside and just listen?

  • Where do I hear God’s heart in what s/he is saying?

  • ASK: Can you tell me more about why you feel so strongly?

  • ASK: Where do you see God in this situation?

I Promise to speak collaboratively

Every word I say can either destroy or create. I promise to use my words to collaborate with what Christ is doing among us. I will always try to seek God’s heart before I share what’s on my mind. I will humbly confess that I don’t have all the answers, but I will confidently share the wisdom and truth I believe God has given me right now. Then I will leave the outcome of my words to the Holy Spirit and invite others into the conversation.

Questions for Keeping this Promise:

  • Is God prompting me to say anything right now?

  • Are the words I want to say true? Kind? Necessary?

  • Will my words build up or tear down our community?

  • Will my silence create or destroy community? (Silence is a form of speech, too!)

The only way this Behavioral Covenant becomes anything more than a brief splash on our history is that we use it in every conceivable public and discipleship setting for years to come:

  • New Members Classes

  • Questions to new members and the congregation when new members are recognized

  • Sermons

  • Written literature

  • Discipleship classes and spiritual formation settings

  • Mission trips

  • Preamble at all Session meetings

  • Preamble at all Team meetings