Principles of Civil Discourse

St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church,
endorsed by Cabinet, 12-12-06.

Because we are freed from sin, death, and the power of the devil through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are the people of God. We are called by the Holy Spirit to faith in Jesus Christ through the Gospel. Through baptism, we all are made children of God. In baptism, we receive forgiveness of sins and God's promise of eternal life. Through holy communion, we receive forgiveness of sins, salvation, and the presence of
Jesus Christ among us. We belong to God in Jesus Christ.

As the people of God, as children of God made righteous by God's grace and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, let us bear in mind and soul who we are and whose we are as we conduct our life together in the church and in the world.

We acknowledge the gift of human reason and knowledge, as well as their limits. In I Corinthians, Paul writes, "The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom." Matthew and Luke record words from Jesus forbidding judging of one another: "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged" (Matthew 7.1-5, also Luke 6.37-42). In Romans 14.19, Paul writes, "Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding." In Romans 12, Paul gives us detailed expectations for life together: "I bid every one among you not to think of yourselves more highly than you ought to think," "Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If
possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all," etc. In the explanation of the 8th Commandment in his Small Catechism, Luther writes, "We are to fear and love God so that we do not betray, slander, or lie about our neighbor, but defend our neighbor, speak well of our neighbor, and explain our neighbor's actions in the kindest way."

In light of who we are in Christ Jesus, let these points guide our discourse as we conduct our life together:

    1. Begin and end all of our meetings with prayer; asking for God's presence, guidance, patience, and forgiveness;
    2. Encourage all to participate and to communicate openly;
    3. Listen to each other with openness and respect for the purpose of 'mutual
    upbuilding;'*
    4. Listen to things which are contrary to our own thinking;
    5. Ask questions to clarify what has been said and heard;
    6. Respond to questions lovingly; "outdo one another in showing honor" (Romans 12.10b);
    7. Be as courteous to those with whom you speak as you would have them be to you;
    8. Follow agreed upon rules of order, where they apply;
    9. Practice forgiveness and reconciliation;
    10. Realize that when discussing issues over which we may disagree as people of Christ, discourse may or may not lead to decision or change in policy, but that it always has an "outcome," namely that the Holy Spirit is at work in all dialogue, strengthening our faith in Christ and our love toward one another.

*Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in Life Together: "The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them....he who can no longer listen to his brother will soon be no longer listening to God either; he will be doing nothing but prattle in the presence of God too. This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life. "