Values

The Charter

The word "Mamre" is Hebrew in origin and means "mountain of friendship of God".

We read of Mamre, the place, in the first book of Scripture (Genesis 18) where we are told of Abraham sitting alone outside his tent when three strangers approached him seeking rest and refreshment before continuing on their long journey. Abraham responded with a warm welcome, and hospitality befitting his household.

When the Community which calls itself Mamre began in Brisbane in 1982, the simple ideals and actions of Abraham in Genesis 18, were, and continue to be, the ideals of the people who established that first Community and of those who have joined the Community since.

In simple terms, the ideals are that all people may feel valued and included, through:

  • an acceptance of each person,
  • a recognition of, and valuing of, the gift that each person is,
  • the Community's warm welcome and hospitality to people,
  • the Community member's desire to take the time to "be with" each person, not just "do for", in order that the giver might also receive,
  • an attempt to meet the diverse needs of those who approach Mamre.

To achieve this, the Community endeavours to form a NETWORK OF FRIENDSHIP around those who support the Community in various roles, families who have sons and daughters with a disability, and friends who have the freedom to participate in Community life to the extent that they choose.

There are many who are part of the life of Mamre, e.g. Committees who support the community spiritually, emotionally and in a management capacity. There are countless friends who energise the Community in many ways, e.g. by prayer, by helping in the Community's provision of support services to families, by fundraising, and most importantly, by just choosing TO BE WITH THE COMMUNITY. In fact, all those who share these goals are in some way part of the Community of Mamre.

Community members seek to give witness to the radical example of Jesus to stand in solidarity with the "poor" and the outsiders in society and they choose to live out this conviction in a deep caring of each other and the people with a disability and their families. Simplicity is another key value of the Mamre Community - simplicity in the way of relating, in the style of working and in material goods.

It is those who live with some disability who give the Community its life. They are the people the Community "serves", but more importantly, they too, are givers. Their challenge to us is essentially life giving and calls us to be truly human.

We aim also to support their families in ways, which are most needed. To enable us to do this, we believe the first and foremost "work" of the Community members is that of listening to what family members are saying (and not saying) in terms of their needs, to evaluate our resources and where possible to act towards lessening the anguish and anxieties at times experienced by many families. Similarly, Community members seek out ways to celebrate with families their joys and successes.

It is the families themselves who point us in the direction we should go. It is our responsibility to be attentive to emerging needs as well as faithful to what we have begun.

The formation of relationships is very important to the life of Mamre. It is the deepest wish that the Mamre Community can offer some real support to families of people who have disabilities, to form communities of friendship around families and simply to show that there ARE people who care.

To achieve all the above, the Mamre Community aims to be flexible, unified, personal and welcoming, with an obvious warmth and vitality.

Ultimately, we believe that Mamre rests in the hands of God and, as the name implies, it is God's friendship that binds us all together.

Values

Mamre is an intentional Community committed to serving people. The values from which Mamre operates have their genesis in the Christian gospels but are inclusive of all those who promote the wellbeing of people. Mamre affirms and upholds the worth of every person in society.

Mamre seeks to enshrine the foundational value of love as the binding energy in all the diverse activities in the Mamre Community and its services. We believe that the lived experience of love as a core value in Mamre will energise all those involved. Mamre services are guided by the following values, all of which emanate from the value of love, 'you also should love one another' (John 13: 34)

DIGNITY

We believe that each person is created in the image of God and has unique gifts, challenges and potential. Each person’s life is sacred and is valued for who he or she is, not for what he or she does.

COMMUNITY

We accept and celebrate the diverse gifts that each person brings to the community. Such diversity enriches the quality of community life. The Mamre community affirms a spirituality of inclusion and openness to God's graciousness.

RELATIONSHIPS

We believe in the mutuality of relationships whereby everyone is invited to give and receive in the spirit of trust and respect.

HOSPITALITY

We strive to be a welcoming and hospitable community to all, including those who are different and who challenge us.

SERVICE

Serving others includes sharing the joys and sorrows of the journey, in the spirit of hope, compassion and a belief in possibilities. The character of our service is to walk together as companions and friends.

FIDELITY

We endorse the values of loyalty and commitment in relationships. In particular we honour the commitments we have made to each other.

SIMPLICITY

Valuing simplicity is to be counter cultural in such matters as esteeming people before things, interdependence before individualism and wisdom before legalism.

JUSTICE

Through the value of justice we intend to redress inequities and promote peace. To act justly requires courage, discernment, integrity and wisdom.

HUMILITY

We value humility which both celebrates current good practices at Mamre and, guided by the Spirit, is also open to new horizons of learning and development in quality service.

Principles of Service

Mamre has Principles of Service based on the Charter and the Values.

Vision

Mamre believes that families have within them a positive vision for their person with a disability to live a full and ordinary life. Each family's vision is unique created from its cultural background, language, stories, values, expectations and priorities.

Natural Authority of Families

Because of their long-term relationship, families and enduring friends have a natural authority to assist the person with a disability to choose the type, quality and level of support he or she needs to live a full and ordinary life within their community.


Strengths

Each family has unique strengths and skills and the capacity to be creative, competent and capable.


Right Relationship

When families and Mamre embrace both their authority and the task of building a good life for people with a disability, they will work in right relationship based on trust and respect.

Planning

To reach that vision, families must plan for now, tomorrow and the future, and can be supported to do this by their friends, natural networks and Mamre.


Listening

The first and foremost work of Mamre is to listen to what families are saying (and not saying). Families often know the answer to problems and can be supported to find good strategies and solutions.

Flexibility

Flexibility of service response leads to the right amount of support in the right manner at the right time.

Good communication

Families need timely, open, honest and clear communication about what matters to them.

Reciprocity

Mamre works in a way that leads to relationships with families where joys, sadness, pain and celebrations are shared and in this way, benefits are reciprocal.

Leadership and Change

Mamre is committed to make positive change and take leadership in order to meet the changing needs of people with a disability and their families.

Imagining better

The future will be shaped by what we imagine today to be a better life for people with a disability and their families.