Civility, or sometimes the lack of, is what clearly defines a society or a community. How do we treat other people, particularly when there is disagreement or tension? Do we center the basic humanity of the other person in our actions and in our public discourse? Or, do we dehumanize and demonize the person?

We work hard to carry out our mission and work through the lens of civility. We know it is imperative that civility remain squarely in the forefront of every project, every action, and every statement we make. We don’t always get it right, but we work hard to get better each day.

There are many different versions of civility pledges available from various organizations, municipalities, and efforts. We offer one version here for your consideration.

civility pledge

Every day I pledge to do my best to:

1. Appreciate each person’s humanity.
2. Respect every person’s right to their own opinion.
3. Look for things in common, including common language.
4. Build trust in every relationship.
5. Value dialogue. Honor the results.

We believe if every person makes an effort to focus on the humanity of each person and interacting with civility, the collective effort can only prove to make our society and our communities better for all of us.

Our staff is available to provide a training or presentation on civility for your congregation, community, workplace, or organization. You can find more information here.