Our Congregational Covenant

We, the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, are committed to living our lives and shaping our church in ways that are compatible with the principles and purposes of the Canadian Unitarian Council and the Unitarian Universalist Association, do hereby in good faith covenant together to uphold our principles by:

Nurturing our relationships with each other

• Aware that we shall not always be of the same mind, we create an inclusive, welcoming, and safe space in which we value each other and everyone’s contributions and opinions.
• We assume good intentions and honour people in their absence, talking with and to, rather than about, each other.
• We challenge or debate ideas respectfully and constructively. 
• We demonstrate our caring and compassion with kindness and empathy.
• We welcome newcomers and help them find their way in the Congregation.
• We honour all generations and assist those in need. 
• When we encounter difficulties we forgive each other and ourselves.

Living our faith

• We share our vibrant, living Unitarian Universalist culture in ways that are relevant to current and future generations.
• That we choose to walk diverse spiritual paths still demands of each of us that we seek and foster our own and others’ spiritual growth. 
• We pledge not only to tolerate but also to respect, honour, and celebrate our diversity.
• We encourage and support each other in striving towards social and environmental justice.

Celebrating the democratic process 

The democratic process, with its acknowledged imperfections, is an essential element in our Congregation’s governance. 

• We resolve our differences and make decisions through fair and transparent processes.
• We respect these decisions and when necessary, we advocate for change by honouring the existing structures and working from within. 

Ensuring that our congregation continues to thrive

• We offer our financial support according to our means.
• We support the congregation with our time and our talents, taking our turns in leadership roles, as we are able. 
• We share the work of the Congregation so no one is called upon to do too much.

Grateful for the broad diversity among us, we willingly accept responsibility for our own behaviours and our obligations to honour the other.  We freely enter into this covenant and agree to honour its spirit.  We promise each other our help in upholding the covenant and our mutual respect.