​A Civility First Religious Congregation
 
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
From Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address
 
Current Civility Congregations

1. St. Augustine’s in the Woods (Episcopal)
2. St. Hubert's Catholic Church
3. Langley United Methodist Church
4. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island
5. Whidbey Island Friends Meeting (Quakers)
6. First United Methodist Church of Bellevue

 
Civility Congregations

• Sign the Civility First Pledge as a congregation.
• Encourage individual members to sign the civility pledge.
• Incorporate civility principles into congregational practices.
• Participate in or volunteer for Civility First activities.
• Distribute and/or display information about the Civility First projects in appropriate organizational venues.
• Advocate that community leaders sign and adhere to the Civility First pledge.

 
Civility First Pledge
Value honesty and good will while striving to solve problems.
Attempt genuinely to understand the point of view of others.
Model civil behavior and tone, online as well as in public, by:

• Being kind while maintaining the right to vigorously disagree.

• Acting respectfully toward others, including opponents.
• Listening to those who disagree with us, as well as supporters.
• Making only accurate statements when defending a position.
• Refraining from characterizing adversaries as evil.

Challenge disrespectful behavior, courteously.
Encourage any person or organization working on our behalf to meet these same standards for civil 
discourse.
Renew our efforts, if we fail, and forgive others, if they fail.

For more information on how your congregation can become a Civility Congregation please email us at [email protected]