The Gospel of Pragmatism

I’ve long thought it was easy to fight, especially in church. Little is easier than starting a fight. A strategically placed word, a substitute motion, a perfectly timed sigh, in a very real sense the easiest thing we can do is start a fight. That’s why we probably do it so often, not because we’re good at it, but because it’s easy to do. We’re trained in it from the playground to the boardroom, and when we stop fighting, we not only lose, we can become uncertain of who we are. One of the most chilling docudramas I ever saw was about the men of the IRA who were terrified of the Irish peace process because not only would it put them out of work, but, since they were defined by their work, which was blowing things up and killing people, they would lose their identity.

I think the Apostle Paul understood this human propensity toward conflict, which is why so much of his writing is practical. No abstract theologian, the Apostle Paul, but extremely circumstantial and practical. To the Galatians he wrote, “For freedom Christ has set you free, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence. Instead, serve one another.” To the Romans, conflicted over the intersection of traditions, he wrote, “Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them….Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” The gospel of pragmatism.

Over the last four years our staff has made a serious effort to learn to work together, to appreciate the gifts in each other and to let our common convictions draw us together instead of our disagreements pulling us apart. A team set out to describe our commitments in terms of a community covenant. I share it with joy.

CPC Staff Declarations and Covenant

(Adopted February 1, 2010)

The history of God’s relationship to God’s people is one of covenant-making.  These covenants convey the gracious nature of God toward humanity and impact our life together.  This staff covenant seeks to remind us of God’s grace and our continuing need for it, and to help us live into faithful service together for the glory of God.

Declaration:  We are participating in the ministry of Jesus Christ.
“I am the vine and you are the branches.  Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5

• we have a shared vision and unity of purpose;
• we anticipate and seek out the gifts of each other;
• we work beyond the limited sphere of ourselves, our job descriptions, and our church community;
• we take wise risks and learn from excellent failures;
• we seek to discern God’s continuing and unfolding call as we participate in Christ’s ministry

Declaration:  Our culture as a staff is Christ-centered and God-honoring.
“For we are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”  Ephesians 2:10

• we honor the unique giftedness of each person;
• we respect differences with a commitment to cooperative resolutions;
• we utilize repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation as tools of God’s grace;
• we trust one another, anticipating and encouraging the best in each other;
• we communicate authentically and directly, giving and welcoming honest feedback (“speaking the truth in love” Eph 4:15);
• we collaborate in interdependent ways, and remain accountable to each other.

Declaration:  We are being transformed and led by new movements of the Spirit, following Jesus Christ into death and into new life.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Romans 12:2

• we rely on God’s grace and live in the present moment;
• we define success as faithfulness to our discernment of God’s calling;
• we anticipate challenges and approach these as opportunities;
• we celebrate all God’s people and recognize God’s grace within their lives;
• we cultivate an expectation of abundance in what is needed to do God’s work.

We recognize the need for God’s grace and the support of God’s people to make these declarations a reality within the staff of Covenant Presbyterian Church.