Mission Statement, Values and 
Guiding Principles

Interfaith Fellowship at Serenbe is a welcoming and inclusive gathering where individuals exploring different spiritual and faith traditions, practices and journeys connect to share ideas and experiences for mutual support, understanding, and inspiration. 

VALUES

Welcoming – We embrace anyone with an open mind who shares the search for meaning and well-being.  

Inclusive – We honor participation from people of all ages, backgrounds, genders, races, and sexual orientations.  

Gathering – We assemble to hear and participate in presentations, ask questions, tell stories, and share perspectives. 

Different spiritual traditions, exploration and awe – We value wisdom from any journeys or practices involving awe, spirit, soul or enlightenment, including from the “religious” and the “irreligious,” and including moral beauty, collective effervescence, nature, the arts and epiphanies.

Connect – We build relationships.

Share ideas and experiences – We commit to open dialogue and respectful discussion. 

Mutual support – We attend to our community: informing of activities, assisting in times of need, and celebrating in times of triumph.  Together, we do some of the inner work to support and align our outer work.

Understanding – We learn from each other’s upbringing and outlook. 

Inspiration – We spark personal growth within each other.
 

---

Original Guiding Principles
By IFaS Founder ~ Rev. Roy Godwin 2006
 

1. We do not try to compete with the churches in the surrounding area, primarily Chatt Hills. We seek ways to cooperate with them while maintaining our own uniqueness.

2. We seek to achieve the highest common denominator among us, realizing that the lowest common denominator divides us.

3. While encouraging one another in the practice of one’s own faith, we strive to understand one another’s position and affirm that in each other. We try not to proselytize one another, but rather seek to understand and learn from one another.

4. Rather than create a treasury through collection of offerings, we give away all that we raise through direct donations to organizations and individuals in need. That means that we do not pay an honorarium or expense to invited guests. However, we offer to pay for brunch/lunch for our speaking guests at one of our community restaurants after our morning session.

5. We rather loosely followed the “liturgical year” and religious seasons as a guide for emphases that we can follow in our pursuit of spiritual well-being.

6. On occasion we follow a practice of a faith group (ex., Jewish Seder; Easter reverence, etc.). On other occasions we initiate a religious ritual for a special occasion or observance (ex. Lighted candle on table/altar in the middle of our fellowship circle; our regular “Go Now In Peace” musical benediction, borrowed from The Unitarian-Universalist Church; the practice of meditation).

7. Our modus operandi is dialogue rather than divisive debate, and at least some discussion rather than pure lecture. 

8. We seek the Spiritual through a variety of disciplines which allow us to invite artists, musicians, writers, poets, professors, etc., to share the story of their own spiritual journey and passion with us.

9. Compassion has always been evident among the Fellowship from the earliest days and has become a more pronounced value and practice as we have grown in number and maturity. The journey Inward is to be balanced with the journey Outward, both for the “being” as well as the “doing.”

10. All of our gatherings are voluntary (no roll or offering taken, only a mailing list). We present each session with whomever shows up be it 5 or 500. The participants own the fellowship (administratively, custodially, programmatically, responsively, caringly, and positively).

11. The primary emphasis is upon the people of the Fellowship. Facilities are secondary to that. The circle sitting format allows face-to- face-ness (unless more people are in the room), the space is to fit the body, a building should follow the formation of a critical mass that is sustainable unto itself, and its architecture should reflect the Fellowship’s values and purpose.

12. Above all let it be said that we are a “Beloved community” and an integral part of the Serenbe/Chatt Hills/South Fulton County life in Georgia.

***
Dialogue Norms
Inspired by Dr. James O. Rogers
https://www.jamesorodgers.com/

1. Approach each view and speaker with a Spirit of Wonder
2. Respect all Points Of View
3. Search for Commonality, Unity among Diversity
4. Listen Generously
5. Everybody can speak, if they desire to add meaningful input
6. "Rule of 2" ~ A contributor must wait until 2 more people have spoken before speaking again
7. Seek to Understand, not Persuade or Coerce
8. Enjoy each other!

***

UPDATE March 2023

RELATIONAL AGREEMENTS

• Commit to no judgment, comparing, or fixing (of self or others)
• Engage with curiosity (both of others’ perspectives and how ideas, behaviors, and thoughts were formed in us)
• Listen for understanding, not agreement
• Bring openness, love, and support
• Practice forgiveness (of self and others)
• Commit to listening deeply
• Honor confidentiality; share learnings, not personal information
• Make sure everyone’s voice is heard; awareness to length and number of times each of us has spoken (rule of two)
• Assume best intentions
• Meet each other where we are; bring compassion to self and others

 
OPERATIONAL AGREEMENTS

• Each Interfaith session follows this general format:
  • Introduce self and welcome newcomers and review Interfaith’s mission and flow of hour (2-minutes – Facilitator)
  • Cares and concerns (_ min – Facilitator)
  • Opening meditation/grounding (_ min – Facilitator)
  • Introduce speaker: interactive presentation or guided discussion (40 minutes)
  • Closing circle (_ min – Facilitator)
• Someone is designated to hold and reinforce community agreements
• Create space after someone speaks; allow time for processing