We Believe:

That Faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life;

That the brotherhood of men transcends the sovereignty of nations;

That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise;

That government should be of laws rather than of men;

That earth’s great treasure lies in human personality;

And that service to humanity is the best work of life.

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History

The year was 1946; the place, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: the event, the United States Junior Chamber National Convention. Visitors came from Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe and the Philippine Islands. It was here that the idea of a JC Creed was born.

Past President of the Ohio Junior Chamber and National Vice President of the United States Junior Chamber C. William Brownfield realized at this convention that the organization did not have a Creed. He was inspired by the devotion of Junior Chamber members “to the purpose of serving mankind in a thousand different ways, right down at the grass roots where freedom lives or dies”.

Brownfield saw Junior Chamber as “the potential for a new force in the world, one capable of changing the balance between victory or defeat for our chosen way of life in a time of crisis.”

The actual writting of the Creed took place in July 1946 during a drive from Brownfield’s hometown of Columbus, Ohio, to his coal mine in New Lexington, a journey of about 75 minutes. He started that journey with a firm conviction in his mind to work on the Creed. It was during that trip that the following words came to mind and were put on paper:

The brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations.
Economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise.
Government should be of laws rather than of men.
Earth’s great treasure lies in human personality.
Service to humanity is the best work of life.

In 1950 the first line, “We believe that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life.” was added.

Since it was written, Junior Chamber members all over the world recite the Creed at local national and international meetings and functions.

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The Jaycee Creed and Benediction

(Used rarely; for VERY formal events and also at a memorial for a Jaycee who has passed away_

President: Father, we are united by a common bond of faith, that man lives by the will
of his God, that God’s will for man is good; and that the life worthwhile
is lived in harmony with His eternal plan because:

Response: We believe that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life:

President: “Father, Man-made boundaries have been drawn, separating the human race
into many nations. But across these divisions there is evidence of man’s
universal brotherhood because:

Response: We believe that the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of
nations:

President: Father, Where economic improvement has been greatest, man has been free
to follow his dreams of self improvement and self fulfillment because:

Response: We believe that economic justice can best be won by free men through
free enterprise:

President: Father, No one should be-above the law, and that the law should be the
same for all people, no matter what status they hold in society because:

Response: We believe that government should be of laws rather than of men:

President: Father, True treasure lies in the hearts of men. It’s not the quantity nor the
length of life that gives it zest, but the quantity of living, the
achievement we make in terms of human progress because:

Response: We believe that earth’s great treasure lies in human personality:

President: Father, Life lived unselfishly grows richer, deeper and fuller. Joy is more
enduring and peace of mind more certain. One knows in truth the
greater benefit has been his own because:

Response: We believe that service to humanity is the BEST WORK OF LIFE.