Values of retirement community cooperative group live on

Church of the Brethren Newsline
February 18, 2017

By Ralph McFadden

The Peace Church Risk Retention Group and the Peace Church Health Insurance Program hold two annual meetings, in which the Fellowship of Brethren Homes participates. In a recent meeting of the Peace Church Retention Group, which is served by Phil Leaman as COO and Russ Shaner as executive director, we were reminded of the group’s mission and values statements.

In the statements, five commonly held core values or attributes of the three Historic Peace Churches (Church of the Brethren, Mennonites, and Society of Friends or Quakers) were recognized. The statements were written and approved a number of years ago and, although they are related to the peace churches, they are certainly significant for any of our retirement centers.

Peace Church Risk Retention Group – Values Statement

The Church of the Brethren, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and the Mennonite denominations have different roots, theologies, and traditions, yet share many common core values…. The common values of our faith traditions lead us to a shared value set in the work of Peace Church Risk Retention Group:

Community — With shared values and a commitment to quality, we can together better manage our practice of risk management and our business for liability insurance. We support and respect each other in our work and find there is strength and knowledge in pursuing this work together. Membership in PCRRG is seen as a long-term commitment which recognizes the value of mutual aid and support to our fellow members.

Stewardship — Our common commitment to stewardship–of missions, resources, and all of our gifts–leads us to a strong sense of responsibility for the trust bestowed in us by member organizations and the need for careful and considered decisions and actions.

Peace — Our shared commitment to peace and nonviolence is the historical thread which runs through our denominations. This belief guides us to conduct our business and interactions with respect and tolerance.

Ethics and Integrity — We are called to operate from a core of respectfulness, fairness, justice, and simplicity. We conduct our work in an honest and forthright manner, treating each other and those with whom we interact with honor and respect.

Equality — We believe that there is that of the Divine in each of us and seek to honor the intrinsic value of all. This leads us to appreciate the diversity among us and focus on where we are alike, rather than how we are different.

— Ralph G. McFadden is executive director of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes, an organization of the Church of the Brethren-related retirement communities. Find out more at www.brethren.org/homes .

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