The Congregational Covenant and Relational Covenant are intended to be living documents
reflecting current language and approaches. They will be periodically reviewed to ensure
they continue to reflect our best intentions of how we are with each other.
reflecting current language and approaches. They will be periodically reviewed to ensure
they continue to reflect our best intentions of how we are with each other.
FIRST UNITARIAN OF OTTAWA CONGREGATIONAL COVENANT
Revised and passed at our Fall Congregational Meeting, 2020
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, and do hereby in good faith covenant together to uphold our principles :
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 demonstrate our caring and compassion with kindness and empathy.
Revised and passed at our Fall Congregational Meeting, 2020
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, and do hereby in good faith covenant together to uphold our principles :
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 demonstrate our caring and compassion with kindness and empathy.
Living our faith
We share our vibrant, living Unitarian Universalist culture in ways that are relevant to current and future generations. Understanding that we choose to walk diverse spiritual paths demands of each of us to seek and foster our own and others' spiritual growth. We encourage and support each other in striving towards social and environmental justice by respecting the interdependence of all existence.
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. When we encounter challenges, we forgive each other and ourselves and begin again.
Embracing Diversity
Grateful for the broad diversity among us, we willingly accept responsibility for our own behaviours and our obligations to honour each other. We strive to challenge oppression and discrimination in all its forms. We are committed to upholding social justice principles and working towards inclusion and equity.
Ensuring that our congregation continues to thrive
We share the work of stewardship within the Congregation which includes resources of time, money, energy, property, ideas, and each of our individual talents and skills. We gratefully embrace all contributions large and small, knowing that whatever we each contribute, will strengthen our relational bonds so that we may live our Unitarian Principles.
We freely enter into this covenant and agree to honour its spirit.
We share our vibrant, living Unitarian Universalist culture in ways that are relevant to current and future generations. Understanding that we choose to walk diverse spiritual paths demands of each of us to seek and foster our own and others' spiritual growth. We encourage and support each other in striving towards social and environmental justice by respecting the interdependence of all existence.
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. When we encounter challenges, we forgive each other and ourselves and begin again.
Embracing Diversity
Grateful for the broad diversity among us, we willingly accept responsibility for our own behaviours and our obligations to honour each other. We strive to challenge oppression and discrimination in all its forms. We are committed to upholding social justice principles and working towards inclusion and equity.
Ensuring that our congregation continues to thrive
We share the work of stewardship within the Congregation which includes resources of time, money, energy, property, ideas, and each of our individual talents and skills. We gratefully embrace all contributions large and small, knowing that whatever we each contribute, will strengthen our relational bonds so that we may live our Unitarian Principles.
We freely enter into this covenant and agree to honour its spirit.
FIRST UNITARIAN OF OTTAWA RELATIONAL COVENANT
I will strive to honour our Congregational Covenant and the principles of Unitarian Universalism by:
I will strive to honour our Congregational Covenant and the principles of Unitarian Universalism by:
- Speaking for myself with honesty.
- Being aware of how my words and actions may affect others.
- Listening. Assuming good intentions. Remembering that people differ in their perceptions, previous experience and communication styles.
- Interacting respectfully. Acknowledging other people’s views and confirming my understanding of what is being said.
- Speaking directly to a person with whom I disagree rather than about them. Engaging a third party to mediate, if needed.
- Following through with actions on my promises and commitments.
- Serving as I am able with my time, talents and treasures.
- Celebrating our diversity by ensuring that all feel welcome and included.
