1. Why we are here
2. Who We Are
3. Why “Black Dove”
4. Non-Negotiables: core identity
5. Principles
6. Roles and Responsibilities

Why we are here

We find ourselves without a true home. In the Southeast, Christians are told again and again that Christ stands behind one narrow political vision. Yet this vision distorts so much of which we believe about the character of God. As time has passed, our hope that such distortions might fade has dissolved. Instead of repentance, we have seen only deeper entrenchment. This reality is troubling, and it cannot be ignored.

We face two choices. One is to remain silent, waiting and wishing for harmful policies to vanish on their own. But silence in the face of injustice is both unacceptable and unreasonable. The other choice is to stand together, encourage one another, and take part in shaping change. That is why we are here.

This is a home for all who follow Jesus. Not the Jesus of political power, nationalism, and vengeance, but the Jesus of Scripture. Jesus’ eyes shine with compassion and his words overflow with mercy. We gather to seek justice in the gates of our communities. 

Our work will rest on three pillars:

First, we will be a Conscientious Community. We will not turn away from hard truths, nor will we accept a nation moving further from kindness and mercy. We will confront wrongs with clarity and conviction, using reason, testimony, and love. We reject all violence and denounce those who wield it. We look outward at the world and acknowledge the brokenness and oppression both present and intended, and we agree to resist it. 

Second, we will build a Theological Framework. Our politics are not born of fashion or trend, but of faith in the living God. They are expressions of God’s love and purposes revealed in Christ. Many who join us will need help finding language for how faith and politics intersect, and we will provide it with patience and care.

Third, we will exhibit a Bold Advocacy for what is right. As we discover trustworthy and verifiable materials, we will share them; as we hear compelling stories, we will widen their reach; and as we grow, we will encourage all to become vocal and visible, strengthening one another and extending their reach into our communities.

These three commitments shape our identity and give us the tools to live faithfully and act justly.

Who We Are

We are a community created to encourage one another and to empower the body of Christ to act faithfully in establishing justice in our land. When we see pain, danger, and wrong, we refuse silence and inaction. We are a people who step into those places as bearers of the Kingdom of God and work to establish God’s shalom. We share one another’s burdens with compassion and care. We commit to being agents of progress who view the establishment of unjust policies as unacceptable. 

Our desire is to shape our community, our city, and the world beyond into a more just and good reality through words and actions, protests and creative endeavors. Even if our efforts seem small, we answer God’s call to resist avoidance and to refuse a status quo sustained by coercion, oppression, and violence.

Why “Black Dove”

The dove symbolizes peace, our ultimate goal. Yet true peace cannot exist while injustice thrives, the vulnerable are dehumanized, and the powerful serve only themselves. Black represents mourning and resolve, reminding us that peace requires bold, sacrificial action from Jesus’ followers. The Black Dove is our symbol: peace as both the path and the destination. 

Non-Negotiables: core identity

Membership within this community communicates you hold the following and commit to supporting the efforts of the collective. Persistent opposition to these commitments, after communal discernment and pastoral engagement, will result in removal—not as punishment, but to preserve the integrity of the community.

1. Nonviolence: We reject the use of bodily harm directed at those who oppose our perspective. We follow the Christian tradition of pursuing positive change via nonviolent means. 
2. Honor Human Dignity: We affirm that every human was created in the image of God and therefore deserves to be treated with dignity. We affirm the inherent value of all people of every race, religion, nationality, economic situation, sexual orientation, and gender identity as image-bearers. We oppose any policy or perspective which fails to uphold the value of each. When conflict of values arise, we prefer the option which prioritizes the needs of the poor, vulnerable, and oppressed. 
3. Communal Discernment: Policies and actions associated with the society require review and agreement by leadership before the name and identity can be used. As challenges to the positions of the society arise, we will gather and prayerfully consider whether improvements and alterations to positions need to be made. We welcome challenges as opportunities to reaffirm priority and perspective. 
4. Scripturally Weighed Values: The priority we give to an issue (our time, energy, and resources) will reflect the weight Scripture itself assigns. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes protecting the rights of immigrants and speaks little of reducing tax burdens. We will not abandon our biblical priorities simply because others try to redirect our attention.

Principles

Where these principles can be followed and used to support a policy position, we either collectively support the position in question, or we acknowledge the perspective to be valid. We are open for all to challenge the collective, or individuals within the society, when they advocate for positions which do not align with the principles below. 

1. Eager Capacity for Fidelity: We prioritize shalom for humankind, which mandates that we always keep our hands open for our neighbors to join us, regardless of past opposition, attack, or ill-will. Every engagement includes an underlying desire for the health of the other. Ultimately we will only achieve this health when God is seen as God is: loving, kind, compassionate, and present. Our creation of a healthy community hinges on our capacity to maintain love for every person in our vicinity, offering quick forgiveness and a helping hand to disciple them into maturity. This is a critical posture for creating a society of public justice.  
2. Justice for All: We accept no compromise. All people deserve to be treated with justice. Any situation in which the powerful profit or benefit at the expense of the vulnerable will not be accepted. Justice requires for all our neighbors to live in security, dignity, and well-being, and we support rhetoric and policy that help craft this reality. We oppose all forms of abuse, oppression, and extortion of the vulnerable. 
3. Neighbor Love: In Gal 5:14 we see that the entire law is summed up in the command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” At the core of this command is an awareness that the highest love of self is expressed in pursuit of shalom, true peace. To love my neighbor as myself means that I want them to achieve shalom as well. Shalom includes security, dignity, and well-being. Any law or position which hampers the progress of universal security, dignity, and well-being must be opposed. Our community is best when we join together to bring these to all.