By Jennifer Rehbein and Marianne Alt
Our faith is covenantal. What binds us together is not a set of dogmatic beliefs but rather a living, breathing covenant. Here at UUCWC, our Covenant of Right Relations is our agreement about how we want to be with one another when we are together.
Creating a beloved community requires intention and practice. Our covenants articulate our intention, but how do we live that practice? When all is going well, and every member, friend, and participant is true to our shared covenant, things go smoothly. Everyone feels seen, heard, and valued, and they belong. This is the aspiration, but we are, after all, human.
Because we are human, we will sometimes find ourselves frustrated with one another, feeling misunderstood or unseen, or even in deep disagreement. Sometimes we hurt one another. Sometimes we are the ones who have caused harm, and we need support and guidance to make amends. At those times, our covenant remains and is the container that holds our relationship. Conflict and disagreement can be navigated safely within the boundaries of that container.
Our community is stronger and healthier when we have spaces to explore and resolve our conflicts in ways that honor the dignity of each of us. The Right Relations Committee is an intentional presence within the congregation, available to all when such space is needed.
The Right Relations Committee is committed to our ongoing learning about how to communicate clearly and authentically, act responsibly, show deep respect for each person’s unique experiences, and meet one another’s hurts and vulnerabilities with compassion. Our intention is to be a resource for the whole congregation, helping all of us learn together how to do so.
The UUA asks us to “Imagine a spiritually mature, culturally competent, humble, non-anxious Unitarian Universalism where conflict is a faith formation opportunity and a normal part of religious community and the human journey.” It is the responsibility of each congregant, friend, and participant to recognize conflict as natural and as an opportunity for deeper connection.
If you have had an interaction with a fellow member that left you feeling uneasy or uncomfortable, you can reach out to a member of Right Relations. If your small group has disagreements that aren’t getting resolved, or if your group is beginning challenging work and you want to create a covenant, Right Relations is here for you. If you have concerns about any aspect of our life together here at UUCWC, Right Relations is ready to listen. For those times and for all the other times when we need support to be our best selves, we have Right Relations to help us return to our covenant and live into our commitments.
The current members of Right Relations are Marianne Alt, Mike Gianella, Jennifer Rehbein, and Scott Drew. You can speak with any of us in person on a Sunday or reach out by email at rrc@uucwc.org.