Covenant of Good Relations
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks

We come to this Fellowship seeking a religious community in which we can question, explore, grow and share with the other members of the community. To pursue these goals or paths, we need to trust this community and each other and know that this is a safe place, a sanctuary, for each one of us.

Therefore, we, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks, undertake to establish some guidelines to help us keep our sanctuary a place where, whatever goes on in the world outside, inside there is only understanding, honesty, trust, compassion and reverence toward one another.

In becoming a member of this Fellowship, I will strive to:

• Listen actively to what others have to say.
• Support the spiritual growth of others and respect the choices and particular path each of us takes on our spiritual journey.
• Deal honestly with other members.
• Engage in the exchange of information about other members only as it is respectful and truthful. Nor will I engage in harmful gossip. (We define gossip as information that is intended to be damaging and demeaning.)
• Respect the confidentiality and private disclosures of others.
• Welcome new members and guests, and endeavor to get to know the members of this religious community.
• Participate actively in the democratic process by which this religious community governs itself, and respect outcomes of the collective wisdom.
• Take responsibility for mistakes and misunderstandings for which I am responsible by correcting them as soon as possible and by apologizing to anyone affected.
• Support, encourage, and appreciate the contributions of other members.
• Communicate my needs clearly. Sometimes I will have to decline and say "no". I will honor the right of others to do the same.
• Make an effort to be aware of my emotions and to be sensitive to the emotions of others. I will try, when expressing my feelings and opinions, to show respect for the feelings and opinions of others.
• Make every effort to settle issues between another member and myself on a one-to-one basis. If I feel the need for further action, I will forward my concerns to the Conflict Resolution Team, and work with them towards a resolution. The Conflict Resolution team will facilitate the participants in The Peace Process.
• Make every effort to eliminate racism, sexism, homophobia and other expressions of intolerance from my relations with others.

I will accept these precepts and remember at all times that we are, and ought to be, a diverse community; that our strength is in our diversity, that we are all people of good will, and therefore able to worship and grow and walk our chosen paths together.

- Adopted April, 2001