“Covenant is the silk that joins Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations, communities, and individuals together in a web of interconnection. The practice of promising to walk together is the precious core of our creedless faith.” – UUA.org
This spring, 35 Follen lay leaders gathered to discuss and draft a “Covenant of Right Relations” for Follen. Simply put, we asked the leaders to consider how we treat each other and to develop a guiding covenant around it.
We were seeking a simple framework upon which we could base our relationships and uphold our UU principles within them.
We read examples from more than a dozen other UU congregations, talked about our priorities, and created a draft of our own. Here we offer our draft for comment. It is our plan to present our first Covenant of Right Relations at Annual Meeting for a vote of the congregation.
Follen Church Congregational Covenant (Draft)
Building community is an ongoing spiritual practice, in which we strive to be our best selves and live out the principles of Unitarian Universalism. We hold each other in loving community, even as we acknowledge our imperfections. In that ever-learning and humble spirit, with open hearts and open minds, we created this covenant of right relations to hold ourselves and each other accountable.
We, the members and friends of Follen Church, affirm:
- We offer goodwill and good intention in our interactions.
- We remember that our intentions do not always mirror our impact.
- We are open to difference, and open to changing our minds and our behavior.
- We communicate directly with honesty, respect, and compassion.
- We speak up when we feel hurt and listen with an open spirit when we cause hurt.
- When we listen, we stay curious, seeking facts, ideas, and new possibilities.
- We invite healing through forgiveness and making amends.
- We acknowledge and accept that all of us have limitations of role, responsibility, ability, understanding, and time.
- When we fail, we will try again.