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Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of
Missoula
Covenant  At the center of the circle is the individual, not because our credo is “Me first,” but because any group is only as strong as the commitment individuals bring to it. The promise of the individual As individual members of this Fellowship, each of us promises to practice right relations with one another, to seek self-awareness, and to offer honesty, patience, and courage in each interaction. As individuals coming together in beloved community, each of us promises to open ourselves to one another’s differences, while acknowledging that we may remain different. As individuals on the search together for truth and meaning in our lives, each of us promises we will honor these differences in a spirit of mutual respect. The expectation of the individual As individual members of this Fellowship, each of us can expect from others their support in our own spiritual journey. As individuals seeking to create and know community, each of us can expect from others that they shall do and say to us as they would have us do and say to them. As individuals who acknowledge that each of us is only human, we can expect from others compassion, dignity, and respect when we make mistakes. The circle of the group Surrounding and supporting the individual is the group, which is both made of individuals and transcends them. The promise of the group As the group making up this congregation, we promise to respond collectively to conflict in a caring, timely, and considered manner. As the group coming together in community, we promise that we will honor in our programming and interactions each member’s desire for intellectual growth, spiritual inspiration, and authentic relationships. We promise particularly to love, nurture, and educate the children of our community to promote growth of their hearts, minds, and spirits, and to honor their exploration and questioning. As the members of the organization that embodies our Unitarian Universalist heritage and values, we promise to participate to the fullest of our ability in the life of the Fellowship, and to stay involved and engaged through hard as well as easy times. The expectation of the group As the group making up this congregation, we expect members and friends to seek out and take part in healthy ways of resolving conflict that preserve the dignity and integrity of all involved. As the group building this community, we expect members and friends to respect, support, and celebrate the diverse and unique contribution each of us makes to the life of the congregation, its programming, and operation. As the group sustained by active involvement, we expect members and friends to participate and contribute as fully as their talents and resources allow, responding to the needs and aspirations of the community as a whole. The circle of the world Beyond the circle of this group lies the larger world. While the community of this Fellowship may be a needed refuge from the world, we do not shrink from its challenges and realities. The promise to the world As a church that looks outward as well as within, we promise to be a voice of hope, good will, and justice in our local community, our state, our nation, and the global community. As a people united by shared practice, we promise to carry our experience of right relations within the congregation as a source of inspiration for our interactions in our local community and the rest of the world. As Unitarian Universalists, we promise to practice the Seven Principles as each of us understands them in our daily lives. The expectation of the world As a church that looks outwardly as well as within, we expect the congregation to reach out to, connect with, and share our resources with the larger community. As a people united by shared values, we expect that the greater community will come to recognize our actions as embodying our Unitarian Universalist heritage and values. As Unitarian Universalists, we expect that our prophetic voice in the world at large may often be the voice of dissent, and we are prepared to accept the consequences of standing for what is right when it is not popular. In all these, We, the members and friends of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Missoula, will retain our sense of humor. We will know joy of all sorts. We will bring laughter, hope, and optimism to all we do as individuals, as a congregation, and in the world. |