Our Guiding Principle:

Belonging, Learning, Connecting in Grace

 Grace’s Core Values

As followers of Jesus Christ we believe we are called to live out His commandments; to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39), and to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). We believe that by adhering to our core values: Kindness, Fellowship, Spiritual Growth, Acts of Service, Leadership, and Inclusivity we will achieve whatever God calls us to do within our community of faith, our wider community and the world.

Grace’s Affirming Statement

Grace United Church is publicly committed to living out all of our core values affirming all of God’s children, embracing people of every age or stage of life, race or ethnicity, Indigeneity or settler ancestry, spiritual beliefs, culture, family configuration, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities or health, socioeconomic circumstances, and life experiences; and will be encouraged to participate fully in all aspects of the life, work, and ministry of Grace United Church.

 

Kindness is an overarching value of Christian love promoting friendship, consideration, respect and generosity.

We show Kindness when we:

• Engage others empathetically in a welcoming and non-judgemental way.
• Offer companionship willingly.
• Help and share our talents in specific ways with no expectation of reciprocity.

Ephesians 4:32

… be kind [and compassionate] to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. (NRSV)

Fellowship is a welcoming partnership fulfilled in a community of mutual support, and shared activities, challenges, goals, interests, and duties.

We practice Fellowship when we:

• Welcome all people journeying in faith to participate in worship as well as other faith activities, including setting goals and planning.
• Offer help, with compassion, to eliminate barriers hindering the full participation of any member of the faith community.
• Promote honest, supportive relationships as we participate in faith and community activities.
• Share activities, goals, interests and duties with an individual or groups of individuals.

1 John 1:7

… but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another… (NRSV)

Spiritual Growth is a lifelong process of knowing God and understanding our relationship with God, community, and society.

We commit to Spiritual Growth when we:

• Welcome challenging ideas about the nature and content of our faith.
• Offer and participate in meaningful worship and communion.
• Offer and participate in Bible Study
• Offer and participate in opportunities to meditate, pray, reflect and express gratitude.
• Make available resources for personal reflection, learning, and growth.

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. (NRSV)

Acts of Service are guided by Christ’s teachings which call us to humbly commit to the common good.

We engage in Acts of Service with our time, talent, and treasure by:

• Supporting grass-roots initiatives consistent with Christian teaching and relevant to our community and beyond.
• Using God-given talents to understand and serve the needs of those within our community of faith and beyond.
• Forming respectful and supportive internal and external partnerships, with integrity and without expectation of acknowledgement.

Matthew 25:35-36 and 40

‘… for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ (NRSV)

Leadership is participation at different levels of the community, and supporting people to reach their potential, taking the opportunity to guide responsibly with selfless duty and empathy.

We Lead by:

• Having open decision-making processes in which all are actively encouraged to participate.
• Being civic-minded and making decisions based on information from the community to help ourselves, and those with whom we engage, reach full potential.
• Encouraging and equipping all with the right tools and strategies to grow capabilities and maximize potential.
• Engaging in strategic thinking and action to stimulate innovation and growth.
• Paying attention to the needs of children and youth in developing and encouraging their leadership skills.

Proverbs 11:14

Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (NRSV)

Inclusivity is all-embracing, and celebrates and honours the full spectrum of humanity and creation by following Christ’s example of acceptance.

We aspire to be Inclusive by:

• Educating ourselves and others about our differences and similarities.
• Treating each person fairly and equitably, being alert to conscious and unconscious barriers which may hinder full and equal participation.
• Being aware of unequal distribution of privilege in society and endeavouring to minimise disadvantage.
• Learning to understand and extend Christian love to everyone in an open and healing way.

Galatians 3:28

[In Christ’s family] there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (NRSV)

As followers of Jesus Christ we believe we are called to live out His commandments; to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39), and to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8) We believe that by adhering to our core values: Kindness, Fellowship, Spiritual Growth, Acts of Service, Leadership, and Inclusivity we will achieve whatever God calls us to do within our community of faith, our wider community and the world.