What qualities do you value most? What values do we share as a congregation? And what values do we hope to see more of in our life together? Identifying our values as individuals and as an organization helps us know who we are and where we are headed. Values shape our decisions and define how others see us.
Earlier this fall, I asked the Church Council to participate in an exercise to identify our core values as a church. Although only eleven persons were present at the meeting that night, these were people that knew the congregation well.
When asked, “What are the core values that Calvary UMC has right now? These were the top four answers:
Meaningful relationships
Service to others
Stability
And a four-way tied between Hospitality and welcome, community and fellowship, care of members, and care for children/youth.
When asked, “What core values do you hope to see Calvary show more of?” there was a tie between five different answers:
Diversity
Community and fellowship
Inspiring
Leadership
Recognition in the community
I will invite different groups and individuals to do this same exercise over the next few months and share what we find. By drilling down and discerning what values we hold most dear, we will learn more about the unique way God has formed this congregation and how we can hope and light others in the community around us.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Steve