Pledge of Nonviolence

Making peace must start within ourselves. I commit myself with God's help to become a nonviolent and peaceable person.

To Respect Self and Others
To respect myself, to affirm others and to avoid uncaring criticism,
hateful words, physical attacks and self-destructive behavior.

To Communicate Better
To share my feelings honestly, to look for safe ways to express my anger,
and to work at solving problems peacefully.

To Listen
To listen carefully to one another, especially those who disagree with me,
and to consider others' feelings and needs rather than insist on having my own way.

To Forgive
To apologize and make amends when I have hurt another,
to forgive others, and to keep from holding grudges.

To Respect Nature
To treat the environment and all living things,
including our pets, with respect and care.

To Play Creatively
To select entertainment and toys that support our family's values and to
avoid entertainment that makes violence look exciting, funny or acceptable.

To Be Courageous
To challenge violence in all its forms whenever I encounter it, whether at home,
at school, at work, or in the community, and to stand with others who are treated unfairly.

This is my pledge. These are my goals. I will check myself on what I have pledged once a month for the next twelve months so that I can help myself and others become more peaceable peaceable people.

Signature ________________________________




The above pledge was used with the permission of Jim McGinnis from The Institude for Peace and Justice located at http://www.ipj-ppj.org     Return to St. Andrew's-in-the-field Episcopal church