Values That Guide Us
Mission & Friendship
Because God sent his Son to lay down his life to call us friends,
we value the friendship with God we have in Jesus Christ. Because
we too have been far off, we joyously share with others God’s
invitation to come near by the blood of Christ. We seek to be
an organic and missional community, part of God's ever-widening
circle of friends, and reign upon the earth.
Community & Hospitality
Because God's life (as Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is the source
and inspiration of all relationality, we seek to live in relational
community, offering ourselves to God as living members of the
body of Christ. Because God has prepared a place for us and welcomes
all prodigals home, we honor God's welcome to people from any
culture, ethnicity, orientation, economic situation or social
position.
Authenticity & Economy
Because Jesus Christ came not to condemn the world, but to save
and reconcile it, we value authentic relationships with God, with
others, and with all creation. We seek to walk lightly upon the
earth, and to participate in God's creating, redeeming and sustaining
dream for the world.
Service & Mercy
Because God sent Jesus into the world, not to be served, but to
serve, and because no servant is above the master, we seek to
follow in the way of the cross in obedience to the reign of God.
Ever deepening our awareness of the costs of discipleship, we
seek to practice (as best we are able) forms of true religion,
by aiding orphans and widows in distress and by keeping our hearts
unstained by the world.
Tradition & Innovation
We believe that the wisdom of past ages, without a vision of the
future, is irrelevant; but that a vision of the future ignorant
of the lessons of the past, is irresponsible. The practices of
those who have come before us in the Christian faith are deep
roots that support us as we grow together towards God's future.
We value the traditions handed on to us that are of the Gospel.
We hold them as treasure, entrusted to us for future generations.
We will use them creatively to illumine the path we are walking
within the emerging culture, and towards the kingdom of God.
Beauty & Wisdom
Because the fear of God is the start of wisdom, we drink deeply
from the well of scripture, the story of salvation and written
testimony to Jesus Christ passed on to us by our ancestors in
the faith. The scriptures norm and guide our walk of faith and
bear witness to the Word of God who is Jesus Christ.
Because God is beautiful, and has made a beautiful world, we value
creative and artistic expression in our individual and communal
lives. Art, poetry, dance, music... when directed towards God,
reflect the beauty and wisdom of God's incarnate Word in the person
of Jesus Christ.
Truth & Becoming
Because God's truth became flesh in Jesus, we seek to be an authentic
community in the presence of truth. We do not possess truth, nor
seek to correct the truths of others, but seek to live faithfully
in light of the truth of God in Jesus Christ. We also will attend
to the emergence of God's kingdom in our world and in our personal
and communal becoming.
"This life is therefore not righteousness, but growth in
righteousness;
not health, but healing; not being, but becoming; not rest, but
exercise.
We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it.
The process is not yet finished, but is going on.
This is not the end, but it is the road.
All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified."
(Martin Luther, Defense of All the Articles; 1521)
Joy & Serendipity
Because Christ calls us to abundant life, we seek to live joyously
in the light of God's presence and to celebrate the release and
freedom that life in the Spirit brings. Ever aware that the movements
of the Spirit are both uncontrollable and unpredictable, we seek
only to surf the holy wind, breathe deep God's holy presence and
enjoy the holy ride.