What is Common Purpose?


​With God’s help, Common Purpose works towards building a Beloved Community at St. David’s. Specifically, we commit to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves; and to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. Through conversation, education, and advocacy, we strive for reconciliation as we live out our baptismal covenant.
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How do we do that?
Six times a year we host a Zoom event with a guest speaker on a specific topic.  After the formal talk, we break into small groups to talk and share ideas. We follow guidelines for conversation and recite a Respectful Communication Prayer that reminds us to be supportive and keeps us feeling safe within the group

2020


In 2020, Common Purpose held 9 meaningful events, 2 live and 7 virtual via Zoom. All events included opportunities for attendees to ask questions and actively discuss the topics in small groups. Our events included outstanding speakers from the community and beyond. Click the highlighted titles to see the video of the presentation.

  • January: Andi Barney, “The Road Back from Prison”
  • March:  The Hon. Rueben Green “Accountability Courts”
  • April:   Rev. Dean Taylor and Rev. Anne Elizabeth Swiedler   Coming Together While Apart
  • May:   Judi Hine, Grieving
  • June:   Kate Boccia and Holly York, “Caring for the Most Vulnerable During the Pandemic”
  • July:  The Venerable Janet Tidwell, and Rev. Dr.Spenser Simril, “Racial Healing”
  • Sept:   Alan Yarborough of The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations 
                    ​Voter Accessibility
  • October:   Bishop Rob Wright, Church Growth
  • November:   Brother Steindl-Rast, “Thanksgiving as a Lifestyle” (Ted Talk)
 
2021
  • January:  Jack Murphy, from the North Fulton Improvement Network                       
    ​        Our Invisible Neighbors- Financial Vulnerability in North Fulton
  • March:   Sally Bethea, “Creation Care”
  • May: Sargent Hal Shoffiett, Alpharetta Police Dept.  “CRASE” Civil Response to Active Shooter Event