Commitments for Designation as a "Church of Character" (or Synagogue, Temple, Mosque) BY THE CHARACTER COUNCIL OF GREATER CINCINNATI AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY John F. Pierce, Faith Committee Chairman December 1, 2000 The commitments of a congregation to be recognized as a "Church of Character" by The Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky fall into three groups: Commitments prior to the commencement by the congregation of encouraging each monthly character quality. Commitments for monthly encouragement of congregation members. Commitments for monthly encouragement of the external community. These commitments follow. Commitments Prior to Commencement of the Monthly Qualities Senior spiritual leader commit to personally trying to practice, model and encourage others to practice, the monthly character qualities, and intentionally encourage the other leaders to do likewise. Distribute to congregational members a newsletter introducing the "Church of Character" initiative. The newsletter covers topics including: the general community-wide initiative and the faith community participation. the nature of good character, its development, general benefits special benefits stemming from the faith (optional) ways practice of good character will be encouraged as a "Church of Character". Create a plan for distributing Achieving True Success to each family as a gift or purchase. Create a plan for providing each congregation member with a Character Pocket Guide. Commitments for Monthly Encouragement of Congregation Congregational Services Senior spiritual leader devote 4 or more minutes of first monthly services to character quality. The goals of this influencer are to: encourage practice of the monthly character quality based on motivations from the tenets of the faith personally encourage the congregation to personally practice the character quality of the month and to encourage others to practice it Include meaningful reference to the month's character quality in each regular sermon or homily throughout the month. Devote at least 1 minute of announcement time in each service to promoting good character. The goal is to encourage practice of the monthly character quality, especially through testimony. This might be done through a personal testimony from the congregation or community, recognition of individuals for practice of good character qualities, skit, story from history, etc. It might be done live, through use of a video or audio, or other means. Include in the bulletin for each regular service during the month an insert encouraging the character quality of the month, especially through personal application. Provide opportunity in services at least once each month for self-evaluation (and optionally, accountability to another individual ) in assessing how one is doing in practicing the character quality of the month. This might be accomplished, for example, by including in one of the character bulletin inserts a personal checkup list or form, and then having the spiritual leader during the congregational service call attention to it (maybe giving a few moments to complete the evaluation right then) and extend encouragement to all to keep practicing. Religion Classes and Small Group Meetings of Congregation Members Encourage teachers and leaders to devote at least five minutes of each religious or business class or meeting to encouraging the character quality of the month, especially through personal challenge. The goals are to heighten awareness, understanding and motivations for practicing he monthly character quality; to provide opportunity for self-evaluation; and to encourage re-commitment to practice the character quality regularly. Other Place posters highlighting the character quality of the month in strategic locations throughout the premises of the church, synagogue, temple or mosque. Distribute to congregation a newsletter introducing the character quality of the month. Commitments For Monthly Encouragement to External Community Feature the monthly character quality on the congregation's marquees. Encourage each individual in the congregation to: model the practice of the monthly quality to everyone throughout the day encourage and recognize others in their practicing of the quality encourage others to encourage their organizations to join the community-wide initiative give copies of the Pocket Guide to friends, relatives, co-workers, suppliers, etc. give copies of Achieving True Success as a gift Carry out a congregation-sponsored project or action plan monthly to intentionally encourage . the practice of good character in the neighborhood. For examples: distribute coupons to residents in the neighborhood inviting them to join the congregation for an event and redeem the coupon for a copy of Achieving True Success volunteer as character coaches in a local school or YMCA adopt a smaller congregation, providing them with ideas and support for character initiatives, copies of Achieving True Success and other materials, etc. distribute monthly character posters to neighborhood businesses, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, churches, ministries, etc. Pass on one or more informational items monthly to the Character Council that it can disseminate as means of encouraging the community, as appropriate. For examples: stories of activities undertaken to encourage the practice of monthly character qualities. reports of outcomes and benefits being observed in the congregational life, in small groups, etc. statistics on decrease in counseling requests, increase in volunteerism or giving, etc. testimonials of people exhibiting good character, or trying to practice good character, or working with another to try to practice good character, etc. This material is published by the Faith Committee of the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Reproduction and Adaptation is encouraged.