Melbourne Unitarian Peace Memorial Church Banner

Congregational Covenant of Healthy Relationships

The purpose of this covenant is to increase awareness of actions that each of us can take to nurture and support our community. The Management Committee has included this in each terms of reference and ask that it be followed until such time as the Church as a whole endorses this Covenant of Healthy Relationships.

To this end, we, the Management Committee of the Melbourne Unitarian Peace Memorial Church (MUPMC), affirm the following Covenant of Healthy Relationships:

We will be mindful of how we communicate with and about others.

We intend to:

  • Listen actively and seek to understand the perspectives and opinions of others

  • Use “I” statements when expressing our own views, always mindful that our thoughts and opinions may not be shared by others

  • Be respectful and kind in our words, tone, and body language

  • Use email and other forms of electronic communication with respect, kindness, and special care

We will seek a peaceful and constructive resolution process when conflicts arise.

We intend to:

  • Communicate directly with the person or group involved, instead of gossiping or speaking negatively about others in the wider community

  • Assume that others act with good intentions

  • Check the accuracy of our perceptions and assumptions

  • Be forgiving and loving when we or others make mistakes

  • Apologize, when warranted, and seek to make amends

  • Call on congregational resources when help is needed

We will celebrate the diversity within our community.

We intend to:

  • Reach out to others with warmth and kindness in a spirit of welcome

  • Recognize and honour the diversity of beliefs and spiritual paths within our community, including the words and ways people choose to express their spirituality

  • Be curious, appreciative, and informed about perspectives that differ from our own

  • Honour the contributions and needs of those who have been historically marginalized in the larger world and in our congregation, and seek growth in our ability to be welcoming

We will build the common good.

We intend to:

  • Build mutual trust through an honest and responsible use of information

  • Contribute our gifts of time, talents, and financial resources

  • Encourage and support the involvement of everyone in the life of our congregation

  • Express gratitude and appreciation for the contributions of others

  • Respect the roles and responsibilities of congregational leaders

  • Respect MUPMC’s established policies and procedures

We will work to stop and/or intervene when any bullying behaviour occurs.

We intend to:

  • Eliminate or minimise bullying by creating an environment where everyone treats each other with dignity and respect.

  • Identify bullying or unreasonable behaviour at an early stage and those situations likely to:

    • Increase the risk of bullying.

    • Implement control measures to prevent the risks and respond to any bullying.

    • Monitor and revise the effectiveness of the control measures.

This Covenant of Healthy Relationships affirms the foundation of our unity at MUPMC. Our commitment to one another ensures that our community will be a safe and inspirational place in which we, as individuals and groups, can live out our spiritual and/or personal journeys.

This Covenant was approved by the MUPMC- Management Committee for use with members, activity volunteers and associates (May 2015).