Our Covenant

As we share our lives in this place of blessed community, we promise to unite in an atmosphere of care and support, provide a spiritual home for ourselves and our children, and work together in our search for truth and caring ways to be in community with each other both within and beyond these walls.  We seek to embody a welcoming community of

CARING     SUPPORT     and     SERVICE 

We therefore promise to:

Treat each other with respect, trust, and compassion.

Actively listen to all points of view on important issues. 

Create an open environment for nonjudgmental participation.

Honor dissenting views, agreeing to disagree.

Make decisions with as much participation as possible. 

Accept that we will make mistakes.  Forgive each other and move on.

Express gratitude for the efforts of others.

Work together to live by our Covenant.

Try to the best of our ability to live by our Unitarian Universalist Principles and Purposes, affirming our tradition of service and justice for all.


                                                             Adopted by the members of BUUC, May 20, 2012

---

Treat each other with respect, trust and compassion by

• actively listening without judgment or interruption and listening with the                         intent to fully understand, asking clarifying questions as needed
• being careful not to monopolize discussion
• letting each person speak for him or herself
• making every effort to engage each other directly

Actively listen to all points of view on important issues by

• soliciting participation from all and considering all viewpoints and concerns
• focusing on ideas, not personalities

Create an open environment for nonjudgmental participation by

• striving to use nonjudgmental language
• being careful not to dismiss anyone’s ideas

Honor dissenting views, agreeing to disagree by

• acknowledging differences of opinion
• fully respecting and exploring conflicting ideas

Make decisions with as much participation as possible by

• building consensus through discussion and dialogue on important issues
• ensuring decision-making doesn’t disenfranchise members with different opinions
• supporting a unified position once a decision has been made

Accept that we will make mistakes.  Forgive each other and move on by

• communicating openly, directly, and with honesty
• committing to remaining friends and a part of this community
• extending the hand of friendship after and through any disagreement

Express gratitude for the efforts of others by

• remembering to offer our thanks
• honoring the knowledge and experience of those who have served before

Work together to live by our Covenant by 

• knowing we can review the Covenant at any time
• committing to thoughtful, active participation in our congregation
• showing our caring and respectful relationships with one another

Try to the best of our ability to live by our Unitarian Universalist Principles and Purposes (as articulated in our hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition) by

• offering our gifts and talents in service to the larger community
• attending to the shape of justice in the world