Spring 2011

Bishop’s District Retreat

We are all in this We are all in this together because together because

Christ has called us Christ has called us to be together.to be together.

Civility

““We belong to one another only We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ. through and in Jesus Christ. What does this mean? It means:What does this mean? It means:

 1) That a Christian needs others because 1) That a Christian needs others because of Jesus Christ.of Jesus Christ.

2) That a Christian comes to others only 2) That a Christian comes to others only through Jesus through Jesus ChristChrist

3) That in Jesus Christ we have been 3) That in Jesus Christ we have been chosen from eternity, chosen from eternity, accepted in time, accepted in time, and united for eternity.and united for eternity.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Life Together““Therefore, the Christian needs Therefore, the Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s another Christian who speaks God’s Word to him. He needs him again and Word to him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself , . . . He needs his brother help himself , . . . He needs his brother solely because of Jesus Christ.”solely because of Jesus Christ.”

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The “Drivers” for our Life The “Drivers” for our Life TogetherTogether“’“’You shall love the Lord your God with all You shall love the Lord your God with all

your heart, and with all your soul, and with your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-38 (NRSV)

““Go therefore and make disciples of all Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (NRSV)

Filling the 21st Century Gap

• Civil behavior driven by a Commandment and a Commission.•Politeness on Railroads•Civility

The Gifts of Civility• It calls on us to sacrifice for It calls on us to sacrifice for others as we travel through others as we travel through life.life.• It makes the ride tolerableIt makes the ride tolerable

- Stephen L. Carter- Stephen L. Carter

The Deterioration of Civility• Our comfort is more important Our comfort is more important than the comfort of others.than the comfort of others.• Caring less and less about our Caring less and less about our fellow citizens.fellow citizens.• Seeing others as obstacles or Seeing others as obstacles or competitorscompetitors• Saying anything we want, any time Saying anything we want, any time we want, in any way we want.we want, in any way we want.

Civility

““Civility is the set of sacrifices Civility is the set of sacrifices we make for the sake of our we make for the sake of our common journey with others, and common journey with others, and out of love and respect for the out of love and respect for the very idea that there ARE others.”very idea that there ARE others.”

- Stephen L. Carter- Stephen L. Carter

Civility““When we are civil, we are not When we are civil, we are not pretending to like those we actually pretending to like those we actually despise; we are not pretending to despise; we are not pretending to hold any attitude toward them, hold any attitude toward them, except that we accept and value except that we accept and value them as every bit our equals before them as every bit our equals before God.”God.”

- Stephen L. Carter- Stephen L. Carter

Civility““We need to learn anew a simple inequality: the question We need to learn anew a simple inequality: the question of how we SHOULD treat our fellow citizens is independent of how we SHOULD treat our fellow citizens is independent of the question of how we FEEL LIKE treating them.”of the question of how we FEEL LIKE treating them.”

-Stephen L. Carter-Stephen L. Carter

Civility

““Our duty to be civil toward Our duty to be civil toward others does not depend on others does not depend on whether we like them or not.” - whether we like them or not.” - Stephen L. CarterStephen L. Carter

Civility

““Civility requires that we Civility requires that we sacrifice for others, not just for sacrifice for others, not just for people we happen to know.” - people we happen to know.” - Stephen L. CarterStephen L. Carter

Civility

““Civility has two parts: Civility has two parts: generosity, even when it is costly, generosity, even when it is costly, and trust, even when there is and trust, even when there is risk.”risk.”

Civility

““Civility creates not merely a Civility creates not merely a negative duty not to do harm, negative duty not to do harm, but an affirmative duty to do but an affirmative duty to do good.”good.”

Table Discussion• How do you respond to these How do you respond to these quotes?quotes?

• What are the SMART GOALS What are the SMART GOALS (Specific, Measureable, (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Relevant, Time Bound) that you and Bound) that you and your your congregation can set in order to congregation can set in order to

“set the pace” for a new “set the pace” for a new civility in your civility in your community?community?

Civility““Every encounter with another Every encounter with another human being should inspire in human being should inspire in us a powerful sense of AWE. us a powerful sense of AWE. Why? Because that other Why? Because that other human being, . . . is also a part human being, . . . is also a part of God’s creation.”of God’s creation.”

-Stephen L. Carter-Stephen L. Carter

Civility

““We should also encounter We should also encounter others with a sense of others with a sense of GRATITUDE; for here is a fresh GRATITUDE; for here is a fresh and different corner of God’s and different corner of God’s creation.”creation.”

Civility““Civility requires a sense of Civility requires a sense of HUMILITY about our place. We HUMILITY about our place. We are no better than anyone else. are no better than anyone else. We are a part of one another We are a part of one another rather than a part from one rather than a part from one another.”another.”

Civility

““Civility requires a sense Civility requires a sense of NURTURE for the sake of NURTURE for the sake of community.”of community.”

Personal Reflection Time• Have you entered into this Have you entered into this day and this day and this retreat with a retreat with a sense of AWE, sense of AWE, GRATITUDE, GRATITUDE, HUMILITY, & HUMILITY, & NURTURE?NURTURE?• How can this understanding How can this understanding of Civility of Civility inform your inform your preaching? Your preaching? Your approach approach to ministry? Your to ministry? Your leadership? Your role?leadership? Your role?