A covenant is a promise made to ourselves and others about how we want to treat each other.  These promises are ideals, and this document is a record of our highest aspirations.  If we find ourselves breaking these promises, this covenant will serve as a reference and reminder of our agreements.

We covenant with each other, promising our goodwill and honest effort, pledging our care and support to one another and to our church community, encouraging one another to live in accord with our Unitarian Universalist principles.

With this common purpose as our source, we each covenant:

• to welcome those who come to us with acceptance and respect for the differences among us, and to remain open to the richness and discomforts of diversity;
• to be our authentic selves, remaining openhearted and to listen fully to others;
• to foster trust, practice patience, and speak our truth directly and with compassion;
• to consider the potential results of our words and actions before we speak or act;
• to accept the democratically reached decisions of the congregation, and to support the process even if we don’t agree with the decisions;
• to speak directly to those with whom we have disagreements and encourage others to do the same;
• to seek assistance with the resolution of disagreements when a mutually satisfying outcome cannot be agreed upon;
• to act with kindness, cultivating warmth and joy while seeking to promote justice, equity, and compassion;

This covenant is a living document that will evolve as we evolve. It invites ongoing learning and courageous acts of love and reconciliation.  We will practice this covenant within this community with confidence, in the hope that it will have an impact in the larger world. [i]

[i] Adapted from the Congregational Covenants of Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse, and Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Congregation

You can download a printable pdf of the covenant here: Boise UU Covenant