CONGREGATIONAL COVENANT: We, the members and staff of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg, agree to be in a relationship with each other and our larger community in ways that build a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment and strengthen our common bonds. Toward this end, we are committed to putting forth our best efforts to live out the ideals expressed in this our Congregational Covenant.
WELCOME AND HOSPITALITY : We practice hospitality and inclusion, welcoming all those who enter and showing a genuine interest in one another. We honor and respect the differing cultural backgrounds and orientations of all members, friends, and others who walk through our doors.
CELEBRATION, SUPPORT, AND SERVICE : We support each other both in times of joy and need. We serve with generosity and good humor, striving to the best of our ability to contribute to the life of our community. We acknowledge and honor the service of others.
LISTENING, SPEAKING, MAKING DECISIONS: We listen with respect and attention and without assumptions. We speak and respond openly, thoughtfully, and honestly. We value diversity of opinions, be they of a philosophical, spiritual, or political nature. Committed to practicing the democratic process as envisioned in our UU Principles, we seek to engage in informed and productive discussions about decisions that affect us.
CONFLICT AND RECONCILIATION: We acknowledge our mistakes and shortcomings and are willing to forgive our occasional lapses and those of others. We make every effort to settle differences directly, yet with compassion and kindness, and strive to build trust in all our relationships. When concerns arise, as they inevitably do from time to time, we focus on the issue at hand and not the person.