Saint Benedict Episcopal Church

In our work, as a major part of our lives, we wish to live according to the gospel. Therefore, we commit ourselves to:

1. Love one another consistently (Luke 6:27; Matthew 5:39; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

2. Solve problems with others directly (Matthew 18:15; Ephesians 4:25-32; James 1:19).

3. Forgive immediately and constantly (Colossians 3:8-13).

4. Eliminate criticism, slander and malicious gossip (Matthew 7:1; James 4:11).

5. Treat others as we wish to be treated (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31; 1 Peter 3:8-12).

6. Work together without competition or  selfishness (Philippians 2:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18).

7. Communicate openly and make decisions collaboratively (Luke 12:2; Matthew 10:26).

8. Serve one another in humility and charity (Mark 9:35; Mark 10:43-44; James 2:1; 1 Peter 5:5).

The first challenge of community life is to accept wholeheartedly the authority of Christ to call whom he will. Our community is not formed by the natural attraction of likeminded people. We are given to one another by Christ and he calls us to accept one another as we are. By abiding in him we can unite in a mutual love, which goes deeper than personal attraction. Mutual acceptance and love call us to value our differenced of background, temperament, gifts, personality and style. Only when we recognize them as sources of vitality with compassion and humility the particular fragility, complexity and incompleteness of each brother. Our diversity and our brokenness mean that tensions and friction are inevitably woven into the fabric of everyday life. They are not to be regarded as signs of failure. Christ uses them for our conversation as we grow in mutual forbearance and learn to let go of the pride that drives us to control and reform our brothers on our own terms.