Our Covenant for Community: Hospitality, Health and Wholeness
(Adopted December 4, 2011)
Trinity, a diverse community of faith, welcomes, reaches out and cares, so that all
people may experience God’s love and celebrate God in Christ with us. In reaching out, we welcome people of all walks of life, ages, races, nationalities,
languages, sexual orientations, as well as physical and mental capab
ilities. Jesus establishes this open door policy. We are blessed to respond by offering a
church home to many who may not be celebrated elsewhere. In community, we build trust with one another by agreeing to learn and practice speaking up, sharing the truth with generosity and love to our brothers and sisters in Christ; to clarify and verify information we receive before responding to it or passing it on; to question and check out our assumptions about the motivations, intentions and thoughts of others, knowing that the way we experience them is always filtered through the lens of our own thoughts and feelings; and, to listen carefully and respectfully to the beliefs and concerns our brothers and sisters in Christ express, even when we don’t agree with them. With God’s help, we pledge to love one another as Christ loves us by serving one another, forgiving one another and holding one another accountable for following Christ’s example, especially in the ways we relate to one another as a worshipping community. In the healing language of recovery programs, we commit to being a “safe, sober and sane” community of faithful worshippers and workers, and expect of one another behaviors that affirm this commitment. When a member in our worshipping and gathered community is not safe, sane and/or sober, potentially placing community hospitality, health and wholeness at risk, we covenant to respond to that member (and the member’s family, if desired) by providing personalized attention from a specialized pastoral intervention team led by the Rector. This team is dedicated to healing and restoration. Whether acting as the Church within the building or the Church outside its doors, team members will work with worshippers to cultivate behaviors that consistently put neither the worshipper nor the Church at risk. The ministry and work of this pastoral team is confidential. Our ultimate aim is that all may participate in and benefit from the open, supportive and safe setting we provide for worship, spiritual growth, social connection and community service. We invite all to join us in embracing this covenant and then striving to live out our baptismal call to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to Christ wherever we may be; and, according to the gifts given us, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world; and to take our place in the life, worship and governance of the Church (BCP, p. 855). Who to Contact:
Trinity’s Pastoral Interventional Team Leader is Darlene Sellars. To reach the Intervention Team, contact the church office and ask to speak to the Rector, the Sr. Warden or Ms.
