St. David's Leadership: Behavioral Covenants and SAFE Church training
St. David of Wales Behavioral Covenant
In his book, Behavioral Covenants in Congregations, Gilbert R. Rendle defines behavioral covenants:
"A behavioral covenant is a written document developed by leaders, agreed to and owned by its creators, and practiced on a daily basis as a spiritual discipline. Practicing the discipline described by the behavioral covenant is an action of faith, since practicing such helpful and healthy behaviors is an acting out of one's stated beliefs and values. It is far deeper and more significant than the manners of politeness. It speaks instead of holy manners—the manners of a faith in community."
~ Gilbert R. Rendle, Behavioral Covenants in Congregations
In short: a behavioral covenant establishes basic rules that guide relations—through times of peace and plenty, and through times of change and chaos. Through it, church leaders and members agree how we will be in community with one another. St. David's has such a covenant. If you are a leader or volunteer at St. David's, we ask that you print, read, consider, and sign this covenant. You may return a hard copy to the St. David's office, or email a soft copy to our parish administrator: [email protected].
"A behavioral covenant is a written document developed by leaders, agreed to and owned by its creators, and practiced on a daily basis as a spiritual discipline. Practicing the discipline described by the behavioral covenant is an action of faith, since practicing such helpful and healthy behaviors is an acting out of one's stated beliefs and values. It is far deeper and more significant than the manners of politeness. It speaks instead of holy manners—the manners of a faith in community."
~ Gilbert R. Rendle, Behavioral Covenants in Congregations
In short: a behavioral covenant establishes basic rules that guide relations—through times of peace and plenty, and through times of change and chaos. Through it, church leaders and members agree how we will be in community with one another. St. David's has such a covenant. If you are a leader or volunteer at St. David's, we ask that you print, read, consider, and sign this covenant. You may return a hard copy to the St. David's office, or email a soft copy to our parish administrator: [email protected].
SAFE Church training
The Episcopal Church website states:
"The obligation to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being is binding for all the baptized. The authority with which leaders — ordained persons, adults who minister with minors (children and youth), youth in leadership roles, and adults who minister with vulnerable humans — are entrusted, creates an inherent power imbalance in the pastoral relationship. This power imbalance derives from the leadership role and, in the case of clergy, the symbolic authority of an ordained person. Christian leadership is intended to provide occasions for guidance and grace, and its abuse is always and unequivocally wrong."
The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon website states:
"In striving to live out our Baptismal Covenant we are called to respect the dignity of every human being. As the people of God in the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon, we are committed to the safety of all God’s people."
St. David of Wales has adopted these policies of The Episcopal Church in Western Oregon as our own: Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth and Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults. To remain compliant with requirements of The Episcopal Church and our diocese, individuals identified by the diocese are required to complete the Safe Church, Safe Communities training and to renew training as specified by the diocese.
For more information and to access the training, visit The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon's SAFE Church page, where you will find .
"The obligation to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being is binding for all the baptized. The authority with which leaders — ordained persons, adults who minister with minors (children and youth), youth in leadership roles, and adults who minister with vulnerable humans — are entrusted, creates an inherent power imbalance in the pastoral relationship. This power imbalance derives from the leadership role and, in the case of clergy, the symbolic authority of an ordained person. Christian leadership is intended to provide occasions for guidance and grace, and its abuse is always and unequivocally wrong."
The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon website states:
"In striving to live out our Baptismal Covenant we are called to respect the dignity of every human being. As the people of God in the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon, we are committed to the safety of all God’s people."
St. David of Wales has adopted these policies of The Episcopal Church in Western Oregon as our own: Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth and Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults. To remain compliant with requirements of The Episcopal Church and our diocese, individuals identified by the diocese are required to complete the Safe Church, Safe Communities training and to renew training as specified by the diocese.
For more information and to access the training, visit The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon's SAFE Church page, where you will find .
