Nigel Taber-Hamilton Weighs in on Civility

From an email message by the Rev. Nigel Taber-Hamilton on the House of Bishops listserv, reproduced with permission of the author:

Please, let's all be generous in our responses - let's disagree politely (I'll try and restrain myself).

Here are some that I can think of 'off the cuff' and in no particular order . . . .   Perhaps establishing some broader social values is a good place to begin

1. Able to disagree politely (Wait.  I said that.  But it's worth saying again) and generously.

2. Able to acknowledge "I might be wrong" (I was once - 1984 I believe)

3. Able to embrace those I disagree with (or shake hands if I "don't embrace people at the peace").

4. Committed to some form of relationship (as opposed to no relationship at all) irrespective of what others say or do.

5. Willing always (always) to break bread with all others, no matter how strongly I may disagree with what they say

(See also the Rules of Engagement.)