The Civility Project: 2022 Civility Pledge
Reported By: Benny Schorie
On Nov. 29, George Fox University’s (GFU) Civility Project held an event for community engagement with their newly drafted civility pledge. The event was hosted by GFU Professor Ron Mock, alongside panelists Brian Groves, Phil Smith, Dan Roberts, and Paul Blattner. The civility pledge was crafted in August and September of this year for local election candidates and the general Newberg-Dundee community.
The pledge is comprised of five elements: I will be kind and respectful; I will listen to understand the views and values of those with whom I disagree; I will work to solve problems by seeking common ground; I will refrain from mocking and ridiculing those who disagree with me; and I will seek to trust, and be trustworthy and truthful, in my interactions with others.
It was also created in collaboration with United as Neighbors, a local organization dedicated to conducting community conversations and providing tips for civil conversations. Founded in November 2020, the Civility Project operates under a similar premise to help GFU and the broader Newberg community recognize the importance of disagreements to God’s vision, nurture civility while opposing injustice, and offer resources for those working to build civility and heal political cultures.
The panelists expounded upon how they view civility and its functions through a series of conversation examples. They established how civility needs to go beyond concept and affect how we treat people. “When we start practicing real civility with good intentions, we will start becoming friends with those you disagree with,” Blattner said.
Practicing civility can happen in a number of ways, but the panel highlighted a few key elements and their derivation from the civility pledge. Being civil means avoiding assuming the motives of others and not ignoring our problems. The panelists with the help of audience interaction explained the dangers of hiding behind silence; not addressing important conflicts leaves us to assume the intentions and/or feelings of others which creates mischaracterizations that do not promote understanding. The main goal of civility is to understand one another and the validity of differing ideas.
They were also keen to point out the importance of connection and the subsequent development of empathy when handling conflict. When we refuse to listen out of distaste for confrontation, we deprive ourselves of the experience of connecting with others and the development of creative solutions. The panelists emphasized that civility is not about a winner and a loser, but cooperation that makes us better people.
The event aimed to prove the benefits and future of civility; they are adamant that it will heal our communities and political culture. Civility supports the establishment of trust with one another and offers a road to human flourishing.