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CORE VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1) We are the body of Christ who live to discern and act upon God's purposes for creation.
2) Spirit-driven worship grounds us. We gather together in ways respectful to our heritage as Lutheran Christians yet reflective of and responsive to people's life settings today.
3) Authority for our ministry resides in Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church.
4) Prayer is an essential characteristic of our life with God. Through it, we seek to discern God's will for us.
5) Our past informs how we live. We respect where we come from; however, it is God's mission and vision which direct us now and in the future.
6) We believe that life experience is a great teacher. Therefore, we value the presence and participation of the older among us.
7) Any ministry based upon our mission and values is valid and may at any time reproduce, evolve, or end.
8) In all we do, we strive for quality and excellence which honor God.
9) We value persons according to the unconditional high regard God has for all people.
10) We believe God has a unique purpose or calling for each of us. We believe God uniquely gifts each of us. Therefore, in gratitude and graciousness we will encourage and equip one another to identify, develop, and use the gifts of God in serving human need, wherever it is expressed.
11) When we say, "We preach Christ", we mean that: Jesus died and was raised for us all; his grace is free to all; and in his name, all are welcome here.
12) We are all here to do God's work, each according to his or her calling, abilities and gifts. Therefore, our ministry is a partnership in which all of us are to be responsive to and responsible for God's mission and vision.
13) Growth is the evidence of spiritual life and vitality. We value life-long learning, with no age-range exceptions, from the cradle on.
14) We place high value on our children, whatever their special gifts and/or needs may be. Therefore, providing them with spiritual guidance, reassurance, developmental assets, and support is essential to all that we do.
15) Young people are not the future of the church but an intimate part of it now. Generations yet to be born are the church's future.
16) We believe that the building block steps of faith development reside in the home in partnership with the church. We expect our church to matter in our homes and to our children and their children's children.
17) Martin Luther said: "He (she) who sings, prays twice." We agree and place high value on worship and on vocal and instrumental music which give glory to God and all God's creation. 18) We desire for each person among us, whatever his or her age, to grow in the knowledge that he or she is precious in God's sight and will be cared for and supported by God's people.
19) We exist to be a nurturing community and place of rest stop respite in which body, mind, and spirit are refreshed and renewed by the healing and holiness Jesus himself provides.
20) We exist to be an outreaching community, extending welcome and hospitality here and extending our ministry beyond our walls by sharing an inviting word to those where we live, work, and play.
21) In our mission and ministry, we value the support small groups provide, each of them according to its needs. We recognize, however, that small group ministry is as yet a developmental work in progress among us.
22) We value being a bridge of learning and service to neighborhood, metropolitan, national, and global communities and institutions with whom we explore ever-expansive partnership and opportunities for education and servanthood.
23) We believe that creativity and the ability to think outside the box are virtues. We do not fear the Spirit's moving us where it will nor any transformational by-product of its movement.
24) In accord with Jesus' model, we affirm that leadership is the spiritual process of discernment, which is characterized by clarity of belief, decisiveness of action, and courage.
25) Intentionally , we seek out as leaders those gifted for leadership. We expect leaders to keep learning and to train and equip others for leadership.
26) As saints and sinners simultaneously, we expect to make mistakes but treat them as opportunities for discovering how better to follow Jesus.
27) As God is directing us, we see increasing value in permission-giving and delegating structures of congregational ministry.
28) While we value and encourage brainstorming, debate and dialogue, we also hold each other accountable for words and actions which build up the body of Christ, nurture respect for each member, and serve to move us forward in mission and ministry.
29) Being a member of the body of Christ is both a gift from God and a privilege of participation, which is the responsibility and right to contribute to the congregation's work and its mission.
30) Recognizing that all of life is an entrustment from God, we seek to order ourselves, our time, and our gifts, both financial and spiritual, in a manner graciously responsive to our Lord's call. |
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