Our Covenant
What is a Covenant?
Key aspects of a UU covenant include:
- Voluntary Relationship: It is a mutual commitment, often described as an “invisible thread” connecting individuals, rather than a top-down rule.
- Behavioral Focus: Covenants focus on actions (e.g., how to navigate disagreements, foster inclusivity) rather than shared beliefs.
- “Promise-Making, Breaking, and Restoring:” Acknowledging that humans sometimes fail, a covenant focuses on restoration and repair when broken, rather than punishment.
- Purpose: It acts as a guide for living in a diverse “Beloved Community.”
Covenants are used in various settings in Unitarian Universalism, including small group ministries, congregational life, and, sometimes, to define the relationship between a minister and a congregation.
In 2026, Fourth Universalist revised its own congregational covenant. It was voted on and adopted by the congregation during our Annual Congregational Meeting on June 7th, 2026:
Covenant of the Fourth Universalist Society
We are a congregation bound by covenant, not by creed. United by our shared values and commitment to one another, we gather to build a beloved community. With love at the center of our actions and beliefs, we covenant to:
Welcome all with open minds and hearts,
Honoring diversity, working for mutual understanding, and fostering a warm sense of community.
Communicate responsibly with one another,
Speaking honestly and respectfully, listening with care, and nurturing an atmosphere of trust.
Learn together in all stages of life in order to grow as individuals and as a community,
Being open to new ideas and perspectives and to being changed.
Support and care for one another’s well-being,
Contributing our time, talent, and treasure to the congregation as we are able.
Seek joy in being together,
Celebrating happy occasions as well as individual, family, and congregational milestones.
Abide by democratic principles in our decision-making,
Participating in the process, assuring all voices are heard, seeking consensus, and accepting collective decisions.
Advocate for a world imbued with these ideals,
Affirming that our promises to one another are inseparable from our quest for justice and equity for all people.
Abbreviated Version:
Covenant of the Fourth Universalist Society
We are a congregation bound by covenant, not by creed. United by our shared values and commitment to one another, we gather to build a beloved community. With love at the center of our actions and beliefs, we covenant to: