Developing a Covenant of Right Relations is an important step in clarifying expectations and creating a safe environment for congregations. "Covenant" is Latin for "come together" and means a "solemn agreement" or "promise from the heart" regarding a course of action between parties. An article from Interconnections explains how covenants help members respect and hear each other.

Congregational covenants can take many forms and reflect the needs and best wishes of a variety of groups—from church committee members to staff groups to how members of an entire congregation agree to conduct themselves with one another. Creating and agreeing to a covenant can be an extremely effective tool for setting guidelines and building trust.

Developing a covenant can be a useful method for addressing disruptive behavior.

Sample Covenants

• UU Congregation of Brattleboro, Vermont
• Atkinson Memorial Church Covenant (PDF)

Related Books

• Redeeming Time: Endowing Your Church With the Power of Covenant
• Behavioral Covenants in Congregations: Handbook for Honoring Differences