OUUC Covenant Project 2022-23
In the Fall 2022, we began the process of revisiting the OUUC covenant and creating a behavioral covenant. Rev. Mary started this project because there has been confusion about what it means to be in and out of covenant. This suggested to her that a clear behavioral covenant would be helpful. A behavioral covenant would not replace the current covenant but would be added to it. Rev. Mary also noticed that it had been many years since the current covenant was crafted and it should be revisited.
Preparation:
In October 2022, Rev. Carol McKinley and Rev. Summer Albayti led a worship service and covenant workshop. As part of that workshop, small groups discussed what it meant to be in covenant. Out of that, a writing team crafted the proposed behavioral covenant that could be added to the current covenant. Thank you to the writing Team of Martha Nicoloff, Helen Henry, Jenée Wolfram and Rich Kalman.
Rev. Mary also reviewed the current covenant and is proposing one word change to remove ableist language.
Current OUUC Covenant
We the members, staff, and ministers of the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, enter into this covenant as an expression of our commitment to each other.
Because we value our congregation, we promise to…
enhance its health with our time, talent, energy, and financial resources; and honor our commitments here.
Because we seek to be a friendly and inclusive congregation, we promise to…
provide a safe and nurturing environment for all our members, young and old; assist those among us who have urgent needs for care and support; and provide opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.
Because we choose to walk together we promise to …
create and support an organizational structure that is responsive, responsible, identifiable, and accessible; share our gifts as we participate in the leadership of the congregation; and encourage our congregational leaders to listen and speak openly, understand deeply, work with fairness, and serve with passion.
Because we need not think alike to love alike, we promise to…
speak and work openly, honestly, and lovingly with our leadership, providing informed, constructive feedback when we believe change is needed.
Because we recognize that conflict is normal we promise to…
speak with each other directly and honestly from a position of respect, kindness and love, recognizing that to do so, there will be times we need to seek counsel from the community.
Because we strive to live our Unitarian Universalist principles, we promise to …
inform ourselves about and engage issues that concern our larger communities.
Proposed change to current covenant Rev. Mary 3-4-23
Change this phrase in order to remove ableist language:
Because we choose to walk together we promise to …
Change to:
Because we choose to journey together we promise to …
OUUC Behavioral Covenant draft revised 3-2-23
As members, friends, staff, and ministers of OUUC, we are united in our commitment to treat one another with dignity and love. This Behavioral Covenant formalizes our commitment. It requires making promises and trusting that we will embrace those promises. We know we will make mistakes and disappoint one another, but when we cause harm, we promise to take the necessary steps to return to right relationship.
This Behavioral Covenant is a path for ensuring that we at OUUC will be seen, heard, cared for, and accompanied on our journey. We bring this Behavioral Covenant into all situations and interactions, as we work together toward fulfilling our Vision, Mission, and Goals. It will guide us in becoming our best selves, within, among, beyond, and throughout our congregation. When we make these sacred promises to each other we become the congregation we aspire to be.
I will create and foster a safe space to allow all to feel welcome and included.
I will work to dismantle all oppressions in myself and our congregation.
I will speak honestly about my personal experiences and express my views in a manner that is respectful of others.
I will listen to others with attention and curiosity, and will stay open to alternative perspectives.
I will assume that others have positive and productive intentions and are equally committed to our vision, mission, and goals.
I will express my discomfort in a timely and respectful manner when I perceive behaviors towards others or myself to be out of covenant, creating space for resolution.
I will communicate directly to the person with whom I have a conflict or concern. If I need support, I will promptly seek assistance from the Healthy Congregation Team.
I will consider the potential impact of my words and actions and will work to remedy any negative impacts, recognizing that their impact can differ from my intent.
I will respect leadership’s gifts, experience, knowledge, commitment, and the decisions they make on behalf of the congregation.
I will, to the best of my ability, contribute my time, talent, energy, and financial resources, and will honor my commitments to OUUC.
Proposed Behavioral Covenant with Examples
These examples are offered to help provide clarity about expected behavior. These examples are not exhaustive and are meant to clarify.
- I will create and foster a safe space to allow all to feel welcome and included.
Examples:
- Make services and gatherings open, and accessible to those with differently-abled bodies, special needs, dietary restrictions, or limited transportation. Include online programs whenever feasible.
- Respect people’s boundaries, whether expressed verbally or non-verbally.
- Include pronoun statements when welcoming others.
- Follow all health and safety protocols.
- I will work to dismantle all oppressions in myself and our congregation.
Examples:
- Avoid bias based on race, sex, gender identity, class, ability, age, and beliefs.
- Actively inform myself about systems of oppression and reflect upon my own biases.
- I will speak honestly about my personal experiences and express my views in a manner that is respectful of others.
Examples:
- Engage with openness and humility.
- Bridge to build connections.
- I will listen to others with attention and curiosity, and will stay open to alternative perspectives.
Examples:
- Seek first to understand through deep listening and respectful questioning.
- Trust that other people’s stories, comments, experiences, points of view, and spiritual journeys are valid and deserve to be heard.
- Allow others time to speak without interruption.
- I will assume that others have positive and productive intentions and are equally committed to our vision, mission, and goals.
Examples:
- Assume others share my goals, even when they may initially sound different than mine.
- Embrace different learning styles and different methods of accomplishing a task.
- I will express my discomfort in a timely and respectful manner when I perceive behaviors towards others or myself to be out of covenant, creating space for resolution.
Examples:
- Uphold this covenant by speaking up for oneself and on behalf of others, especially when my privilege affords me more opportunity to do so.
- Express and honor my personal boundaries.
- Avoid the use of profanity when addressing others.
- I will communicate directly to the person with whom I have a conflict or concern. If I need support, I will promptly seek assistance from the Healthy Congregation Team.
Examples:
- Avoid speaking about a person or conflict with others that are not directly involved.
- Act promptly in an attempt to resolve any conflict.
- Respect confidentiality as I work to resolve conflicts, issues, or concerns with others.
- I will consider the potential impact of my words and actions and will work to remedy any negative impacts, recognizing that their impact can differ from my intent.
Examples:
- Before I speak, I will ensure my words are true, helpful, important, necessary, and kind.
- Consider the audience and communicate with sensitivity to each unique circumstance.
- Acknowledge that my impact is my responsibility to make right.
- I will respect leadership’s gifts, experience, knowledge, commitment, and the decisions they make on behalf of the congregation.
Examples:
- Support a leader’s authority and responsibility to make decisions.
- Respect other’s schedules, boundaries, limitations, and their volunteer efforts overall.
- Show sincere appreciation for work done.
- I will, to the best of my ability, contribute my time, talent, energy, and financial resources, and will honor my commitments to OUUC.
Examples:
- Make and fulfill a supportive annual pledge, or request a waiver as necessary.
- Contribute to the Reserve Fund and/or volunteer to help maintain our building and grounds.
- Volunteer to lead, or participate in, spiritual, social justice, educational, and social activities.
