The Covenant of Right Relations
Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
As I enter this sacred space, I will do my part to create a loving, welcoming environment.
I promise to respect and nurture others in their lifelong spiritual journeys.
I will speak with directness and empathy, especially in times of disagreement.
I will strive to understand other points of view, focusing on the goal
of building the beloved community within these walls and in the wider world.
“As I enter this sacred space, I will do my part to create a loving, welcoming environment.”
- Greeting people warmly
- Getting acquainted with others
- Treating visitors as fellow worshipers
- Welcoming newcomers into conversation
- Accepting and embracing diversity, remembering that people can be diverse in many ways, such as:
Ethnicity, Religion, Beliefs,
Age, Economic Status, Ability,
Gender Identification, Sexual Orientation, Race
“I promise to respect and nurture others in their lifelong spiritual journeys.”
- Respecting different cultural and faith traditions
- Embracing our spiritual diversity
- Observing personal boundaries
- Honoring confidentiality
- Recognizing, encouraging, and appreciating the contributions and talents of other members
- Challenging each other to grow
- Remembering that everyone is both a student and a teacher in the search for meaning
“I will speak to others with directness and empathy, especially in times of disagreement.”
- Being gentle with one another when in conflict
- Treating conflict as an opportunity to grow and explore a new direction
- Making every effort to settle differences directly and openly
- Focusing on issues and behaviors, not personalities
- Testing personal assumptions; examining personal motives
- Avoiding the divisiveness that comes from encouraging people to take sides
- Striving for mutual respect but not for unanimity
- When feeling hurt, speaking to the person who caused the hurt
- Speaking for my own experiences and understanding, using “I” statements rather than “You” statements; explaining how an action affects me (I felt) rather than blaming another (You did)
- Consulting with the Right Relations Committee when needed
“I will strive to understand other points of view…”
- Assuming that people have good intentions
- Demonstrating respect by listening without rushing to judgment
- Listening compassionately and with an open heart and mind
- Being receptive, listening with care and compassion
- Being truthful, speaking with care and compassion
- Staying engaged through difficult conversations
- Taking responsibility for hearing all sides
- Being accountable for words and actions
- Forgiving myself and others
“…focusing on the goal of building the beloved community within these walls and in the wider world.”
- Participating in congregational life
- Supporting leaders with input and feedback
- Becoming a leader
- Stepping up and helping out
- Putting my Sunday best on inside
- Serving with compassion and commitment
- Engaging with those I perceive as different from me
- Supporting Fellowship involvement in the larger secular and religious community
- Promoting social justice programs
- Actively confront assumptions through critical and studied examination of the forces that disadvantage some and privilege others within this congregation and in society
November, 2012