| Download | Name | Play | Size | Length |
 | Confronting the Lack of Civility: Living Our Spiritual Values (University Christian Church) |
12.6 MB | 110:18 min |
From the schoolroom to the boardroom and the halls of Congress, from the streets of Chicago to our family dinner tables, we are increasingly bombarded by rude, uncivil, even violent behavior. Often the media, TV shows and the internet seem to encourage and provoke this lack of respect for each other, our religious beliefs, our political values and our institutions. It's time we address this as a Christian community.
On the afternoon of Sunday, October 24, UCC's Endowment for Creative Ministry brought another stimulating program to our church. The topic was Confronting the Lack of Civility: Living Our Spiritual Values. Bob Lively presented his perspectives, followed by a choice of four break-out groups on timely issues of incivility, ending with a large group discussion.
Reverend Dr. Bob Lively, an ordained Presbyterian minister, theologian, newspaper columnist, speaker, and author of books and award-winning short stories, is known for his great storytelling style. He addressed the topic of incivility from Christian perspectives, promoting spiritual transformation in an age of self-absorption. He also lead a small-group session on incivility in the workplace.
Julia Span lead a group on abuse in the home and family. Ms. Span has been Executive Director of SafePlace in Austin since 2005, where she previously served as Chief Program Officer. With a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Social Work, she brings 22 years of experience in the human services field, and has led agency and community planning efforts focused on women's and children's issues, poverty, basic needs and homelessness.
Freddy Gonzalez is Principal of KIPP Austin College Prep, one of the schools that sprang from the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) in Austin Public Schools. KIPP schools have an outstanding record for putting under served students on the path to college. Mr. Gonzalez lead a small-group discussion on instilling civility in our schools.
Melody Chatelle, PhD., lead a group in exploring civility and incivility in our public life and the media. Dr. Chatelle is a respected and effective veteran in the national and state legislative arenas. She is president of Chatelle and Associates, her own political and communications consulting company founded in 1999. Prior to that she worked for 12 years as Director and Vice President of Government Affairs for Mariner Post-Acute Network, a large health care company, and 10 years as a legislative aide to a former Texas State Senator now serving in the US Congress, and aide to the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.
Additional materials
