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Civil Discourse Guidelines

The Commission on Christian Action has devised the following nine guidelines—based on the fruit of the Spirit revealed in Galatians—to encourage our assemblies and bodies to engage in civil discourse.

  1. Show love to your fellow delegates. How are your words or silence affecting those around you? Are you creating an environment that is hospitable and allows for differing opinions and the work of the Holy Spirit? Are your words and actions rooted in love and showing respect for those around you?
  2. Seek joy in the work of this body. We have been called together to do the work of Christ’s church. We should look for opportunities to rejoice in the good work God has done in and through the Reformed Church in America.
  3. Act to create peace and highlight areas of shared interest. One of the mottos on the RCA crest is “Eendracht Maakt Macht,” which translates to “in unity/concord there is strength.” The church is stronger when we can celebrate the many things we have in common.
  4. Practice patience and follow proper Robert’s Rules of Order. Wait for the moderator or president to call on you before speaking. This allows your fellow delegates time to process what each speaker preceding you has said.
  5. Our words and actions should reflect kindness. Demeaning and belittling comments, including eye rolls, exasperated sighs, or rude remarks are always inappropriate and should be unwelcome on the floor of General Synod and in any space, let alone the church.
  6. Assume good intent from the others in this body. Seek to understand the intention and content of speakers who are expressing ideas you disagree with. What message are they trying to convey? How might their experiences, which differ from yours, shape their thinking on this? Can we find empathy for their opinion even if we don’t agree with it?
  7. Show faithfulness to God, to one another, and to the church you’ve been called to serve. Have you brought a personal agenda into this meeting, or have you set it aside to hear the Holy Spirit, to learn with and from your fellow delegates, and to serve the Reformed Church in America faithfully?
  8. Be gentle with yourself in times of misunderstanding or confusion. Ask clarifying questions; if you’re unsure of something happening or being said, someone else will be too.
  9. Practice self-control. Refrain from speaking over one another or engaging in outbursts of emotion. If side-conversations are necessary, respect those at your table and around you and take the conversation off the plenary floor.

General Synod 2021 commended these guidelines for civil discourse, encouraging that they be used in both classis and congregational governing discussions.