Covenant of Right Relations

The MCUUF is dedicated to maintaining a safe environment where expectations are clear. To that extent, we developed a Covenant of Right Relations. "Covenant" is Latin for "come together" and means a "solemn agreement" or "promise from the heart" regarding a course of action between parties.

Mid-Columbia Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Guidelines for Right Relations

We, the membership of the Mid-Columbia Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, have committed and aspire always to act and speak in accord with the seven Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Out of deep respect for the power of relationship and the value of our community, we adopt the following as a guide for personal behavior in our activities and community:

In my relations with MYSELF I will

  • take responsibility for my personal well-being by nurturing my spirit, mind and body.
  • make every effort to enjoy life and engage mindfully in my journey.
  • treat myself with honesty, kindness, respect and self-love.
  • make choices that maintain balance in my life and respect my boundaries and limits.
  • accept that change is a part of my life.

In my relations with CONGREGANTS I will

  • listen attentively and interact in ways that respect connectedness and boundaries.
  • encourage and celebrate diversity of opinion, experience, and belief.
  • give of my energy and time.
  • learn from others and accept their assistance and support.
  • choose appropriate times, emotional content, and methods for communicating with others.
  • identify when I have negative emotions or conflict with others and address it directly with them in a caring and tactful way.

In my relations with FELLOWSHIP GROUPS I will

  • honor the group’s intentions for the situation (i.e. interpersonal support, creating sacred environment, making decisions, conveying information) and be prepared to intervene gently on behalf of the group.
  • be aware of my opinions and biases.
  • be open to the opportunities offered by flexibility in the moment
  • support using a decision-making technique appropriate to decision at hand

In my relations with LEADERS AND STAFF I will

  • provide encouragement, express gratitude, and allow appropriate discretion to people actually doing the work.
  • respect privacy, personal time, assigned responsibilities, and supervision structure.
  • share constructive criticism through appropriate channels and with concern for the feelings of others.
  • provide resources for appropriate compensation and recognition.

In my relations with the COMMUNITIES outside our congregation I will

  • be comfortable talking about my religion, beliefs, and values.
  • promote mutual trust.
  • serve needs within these communities.
  • model behaviors that I would like to see more of in the world.

Adopted by MCUUF Congregation: 4/29/2007