TGH Community Guidelines

At The Gathering Harlem, people from all backgrounds are welcome. Community is at the heart of who we are as a church and like a garden, a healthy and grace-filled community takes care and intention. We ask everyone—visitors, staff, covenant members, and leaders— to commit to these four simple guidelines.

1. Honor Consent & Practice Respect

“Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no.” Matthew 5:37

  • No means no: If someone says no, stop. Don’t pressure or try again later.

  • Honor one another: Respect people’s words, bodies, time, and boundaries. No emotional pressure, persistent messaging, unkind jokes, or spiritual manipulation.

2. Protect the Safety of Others

“The Lord watches over the strangers; he protects the fatherless and the widow…” Psalm 146:9 

  • Physical safety: Maintain a physically safe place for men, women, children, older people, and newcomers. Ask before hugging or touching, and respect personal boundaries.

  • Emotional safety: Avoid acting in ways that make others feel unsafe. Be mindful of the words that you are communicating.

  • Respecting privacy: Keep confidential matters private unless there is a safety concern—then use the support form.

3. Hold One Another Accountable

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17

“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense…” Matthew 18:15

  • Addressing concerns: We lovingly and directly address harmful behavior, boundary-crossing, dishonesty, or unhealthy patterns. We do not avoid conflict, but pursue  restoration.

  • Process for accountability: We have a biblical process for accountability and a standard for rightly communicating and  pursuing reconciliation. 

4. Speak to Build Up

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works…” Hebrews 10:24-25

  • Building up others: Speak to encourage, rather than tear others down, belittle, mock, or degrade.

  • Use dignifying language: Avoid crude humor, sexualized talk, violent language or gossip in community spaces.

If you are part of this community, we ask that you commit to these guidelines. If they’re not upheld, you will be lovingly but firmly held accountable. These guidelines help maintain a healthy community at The Gathering Harlem.

Community Guidelines Support Form