Document of Values and Principles. The Church City Mission Oslo

Transcription

1 Document of Values and Principles The Church City Mission Oslo

2 dignity fellowship justice solidarity compassion hope and faith The Church City Mission s vision is the people in the city to experience respect, justice and care. This vision springs from the belief in God as the God of life: a God who raises the downtrodden and invites us into a fellowship that cut across disparities and different life experiences, a God on the street and in the drawing room of the nursing home. A God with human features. In this folder, you will find the fundamental values that underlie all our work. We have also chosen some texts and illustrations that further elaborate on these concepts. a heart at the city center What really matters, at the end of the day? What motivates us, drives us forward and challenges us? What can we not imagine exchanging for anything else? What is good, simply because it is good, and what is right, simply because it is right? The Church City Mission would want these values to invite and inspire, correct and bring about change. That is why we want to constantly emphasise them, discuss them in the light of new challenges, and penetrate deeper into an understanding of how we can realise them in our daily work. These are our values. However, they can never be ours alone. In addition, the good thing about values is that the more that share them, the more visible and active they can be in our surroundings. Like dignity. Like fellowship. Like solidarity. Like justice. Like compassion. Like faith and hope. what is irreplaceable for us? These questions pinpoint our values. These values are both planks on the floor and guiding lights. They are the ground beneath our feet and points of reference by which we can steer, and goals towards which we can strive. Sturla J. Stålsett General secretary 2 3

3 vision The Church City Mission s vision is that people in the city experience respect, justice and care. 4 5

4 uncover relieve & change The City Mission s commission is... to see and uncover violations, suffering and distress. Suffering is often hidden from those who have power and authority in society. It is vital that the truth be told about what suffering, distress and injustice can do to the individual s life and dignity. to offer help, comfort and compassion. Those who are the most troubled ought to get the best of what we have to offer. to influence and change the causes of suffering, injustices and violations, and work towards a more just distribution. In this work, it is vital that both the individual and the group is given courage, authority and opportunity to do something themselves to improve their situation. hence, The City Mission s tasks are... to work for, with and among the people of the city, especially the less fortunate members of society. to uncover and fight against violations of individuals and groups. to engage in preventive work that will protect people from suffering and crises. to work towards relieving suffering and changing its causes. to promote justice, and work towards a more just distribution of society s goods. to give courage to live and courage to believe, and contribute towards hope and joy of living being kept alive under all circumstances. to help people meet death in a dignified and worthy manner when the time comes. to be a church in the city where other congregational life does not extend. 6 7

5 equality & fellowship 8 9 The City Mission s outlook on people and values Our aim is to meet people with love and respect. We are in the city on behalf of Jesus Christ. Our outlook on life is the most decisive factor in how we act in matters dealing with our fellow human beings. The City Mission s view is expressed through the values that characterize our work. Our values give us a social outlook that commits us to always speak and act on behalf of the weakest members of society.

6 dignity All people are created in God s image with a dignity and worth no one has a right to violate. We believe God loves all people, and that all love originates from God. Therefore, all people have a right to be met with the same dignity, respect and care regardless of their circumstances in life. Dignity can also be given expression by giving people the opportunity for redress and a new life, regardless of what they have experienced of suffering, debasement and malice. The City Mission will insist on the individual s worth and dignity even when change does not seem to be imminent. fellowship Humans are created for fellowship and community. We depend on one another. This dependence can ultimately be used to violate others through injustices and abuses of power, yet it is through meeting others that one comes to understand oneself and find one s own identity. A relationship of trust fills us with hope and joy, gives a sense of closeness and belonging, self-esteem and pride. Our task is to create fellowship where these values exist, and to fight dependency s possibilities of abuse. The multi-cultural city poses new challenges and opportunities for fellowship. We want this perspective to be central in The City Mission s community-building work. Materialism has come to hold a strong position in our society in recent years. Our belief is that other values are more decisive and important in order to attain a life worth living. Through our fellowship, we wish to be a counter-force against destructive consumerism. We want to create arenas where individuals sense that they are seen and heard regardless of status, education or financial means. justice All people have the same fundamental rights and obligations, regardless of skin color, cultural background, religion, social status, gender, sexual identity or other factors. Everyone has the right to life, health, housing, education, work, religious practice and legal protection. This is based on all individuals unique worth. All life is given and created by God. We must administer everything according to God s will. God has asked us to manage it in a way that everyone gets their share, and especially to ensure that the poor and needy get what they have a right to. The City Mission wishes to take part in society and the social debate in a way that will help establish systems and solutions that will secure all people their share of society s goods and benefits. solidarity The Church s message gives authority and dignity to the poor and to those who are excluded in various ways from society. Solidarity is about standing together with others in a mutual and equal relationship. One person s well-being is not more important than another s, no matter how different people are. The City Mission wishes to work in solidarity with those who are the least fortunate in our society. This must happen both with regard to the forces that exclude individuals from society, in support of the individuals and their struggle against exclusion, and by giving people the opportunity to take part in work that makes a difference to others people s lives. There is an element of power inherent in all relationships. This is why power and power relations are central to all aspects of health and social work. Most people are more vulnerable when they need care or help. Negative use of power or authority can prevent the individual from being seen and respected on the basis of their position, their value or distinctive character

7 A good use of power, however, can give strength and courage to achieve change. This is a challenge to both society and to The City Mission s activities and functions. compassion We want compassion to be a visible expression of God s love among people. We understand compassion as attentiveness, generosity and openness, an expression of an equal and mutual meeting between people. Where charity is about giving good gifts, compassion also entails a willingness and ability to take part in the lives of fellow human beings who have experienced pain and suffering. The City Mission wants to offer help and support regardless of their circumstances. hope and faith People have longings, dreams and hopes - for closeness and belonging. God has created humankind with the possibility of regaining ground and rebuilding lives, no matter what we have experienced of pain, degradation or evil. And He has given us an inherent source of hope and courage to live. The City Mission s desire is to be a place where the longing, the hope and the dream can find nourishment, - in an openness towards God and through a communion with fellow human beings. The Church City Mission Oslo is a diaconal foundation. From The City Mission s regulations: The City Mission objective is - in cooperation with bodies of the Church of Norway and in accordance with its article of confession - to promote measures that will contribute towards realizing the Church s tasks. organization The organization of The Church City Mission Oslo consists of a Board and a Committee. The work is carried out in more than 40 different institutions and enterprises, large and small. Employees have a varied background and high competence levels. They constitute the most important resources in our work. The Church City Mission Oslo also administers a number of independent foundations, funds and grants. wide cooperation The City Mission has an extensive network of cooperative partners within the public health and social sectors, primarily in the Oslo municipality. In addition to self-financed projects, The City Mission runs about 30 treatment and care institutions financed in full by the local authorities. As a diaconal foundation, The City Mission also has close alliances with other church related and humani-tarian organizations. The City Mission is present with independent foundations in most of the larger cities in Norway: Tromsø, Bodø, Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Tønsberg, Drammen, Fredrikstad, Haugesund, Lillestrøm and Oslo. The foundations work together through The Council of City Missions in Norway, and through leadership meetings. finances Public reimbursements constitute roughly 4/5 of the total budget. The remainder is covered by funds, grants, donations and charities. Every December, a charity campaign called Light in the Darkness takes place, including fundraising, Christmas gatherings, and distribution of food, clothes and financial aid to the city s needy inhabitants

8 stones that speak... The City Mission s symbols In our work among people of the city, The City Mission has chosen a few symbols: the cobblestone, the candle, the rose and the cross. The symbols act as reminders of what it is we actually are a part of and what we do, giving each of us the opportunity to establish a bond with the task at hand in our own individual way. The symbols are used in church services and prayer-life in the following manner: the cobblestone - is the symbol of our day-to-day life, our collective life experience and the reality of life on the streets. the candle - is the symbol for hope, faith and prayer: the light of hope, the fire of faith, and the silent prayer. the rose - remind us of love. With its warm, red color, the rose is a symbol of both God s and our love. The thorns are a witness to Christ s sacrifice of love for the world. the cross - reminds us that God, too, is a human being who knows what the suffering, pain and joy of everyday life is. We carry the empty cross into the streets as a sign that Jesus loves the city and is victorious over all evil. This is Christianity s foremost symbol of hope and new life. 15

9 Photo: Brith Dybing respect, justice & care The Church City Mission Oslo Stiftelsen Kirkens Bymisjon Oslo SKBO Address: Tollbugata 3, 0152 Oslo Phone: / Fax: Internet: firmapost@skbo.no