Why talk about behaviour and culture?

At i61 we’re serious about showing the world what love really is - and love looks like something! It is not something that happens automatically. It requires commitment, courage, skill, and resilience.

Early in our development as a community, we spent some considerable time together asking the question of “how will we behave together?”

These values are the result of our journey together. They are not just aspirational. They are our heart for each other and the commitment we have made to each other. They are how we have agreed to show up and do life together.

These values are “how we do what we do”. In all we do, these values will be defended and championed.

FREE TO FLY. FREE TO FAIL. FREE TO BE YOU.

We don’t expect you to minimise yourself or shut down who you really are in order to fit in. We celebrate our uniqueness. We celebrate every attempt at pursuing destiny, fullness, and the glory of God. Mistakes are not failure – they are learning experiences that take us higher.

IF WE MAKE A MESS, WE CLEAN IT UP

An environment of freedom also requires an environment of personal responsibility. In our imperfection we will at times hurt or disappoint others. We don’t shy away from this. Rather, we commit to quickly make amends. We don’t strive for an environment of “no messes”, but one where “messes have owners”.

WE ONLY DO “REAL”

We commit to living honestly, transparently, and vulnerably with each other, knowing that only this kind of environment breaks shame and allows people to grow into all they can be. You don’t have to “be perfect” to fit it. We weep with those who are weeping and laugh with those who are laughing. We look our pain in the eye and pursue wholeness together.

THE “ONE” ALWAYS MATTERS

While we may grow in number, every individual matters to God and matters to us. We don’t lose sight of the individual in the crowd. We take time for the one, we go after the one, we invest in the one.

EVERY PERSON IS POWERFUL

While we recognise and honour giftings and leadership roles that individuals may have, we exercise these in a way that lifts those around us to a higher place. We recognise that every person has a God-given destiny and a  powerful voice to transform the world around them. We build community in a way that every person feels powerful regardless of age, role, or gender.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

I understand that my life is ultimately my responsibility. I don’t expect others to work harder on my life than I do. I don’t place my happiness, my destiny, my wholeness at the mercy of others actions and words. I take active responsibility for my personal growth and development.

MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY

We hold each other accountable to living out the greatness that has been put in us. We call each other up, and we call out the gold. We don’t shy away from the hard conversations when we are not living out our values or our destiny. We do accountability through heart-to-heart connection, not moral or behavioural judgement.

FUN, PASSION, ADVENTURE

A major expression of God’s kingdom is joy. We laugh a lot. We live passionately. We consider life an adventure to be explored, and are not afraid to try new and different things.