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The Seven Eight Principles
  1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

  2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

  3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

  4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

  5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;

  6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

  7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

  8. And our Eighth Principle... We affirm and promote the following 8th Principle:

    Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by building a diverse, multicultural Beloved Community that by our actions accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

CONGREGATIONAL COVENANT

Rev. 05/25/2022

Because we have expressed that:

Love is the guiding force of this faith community,
The quest for truth informs our sacred journeys,
And service is our prayer,
And because we aspire
To journey toward spiritual wholeness,
To dwell together in peace,
To seek knowledge in freedom, and
To share our strength in fellowship,

Thus do we covenant:

To abide in friendship, by:

  • Appreciating our differences and celebrating our diversity;
  • Enjoying each other’s company in fellowship and fun;
  • Encouraging each other;
  • Supporting each other’s spiritual growth;
  • Giving and receiving help in times of need;
  • Participating in the activities of our community, both formal and unstructured;
  • Embracing radical hospitality toward newcomers and each other;

To resolve our misunderstandings in a spirit of love and accountability by:

  • Assuming that others behave with good intentions;
  • Listening with an open heart to each other’s opinions, ideas, life experiences and concerns;
  • Working honestly through conflicts directly with those involved in a spirit of kindness and understanding;
  • Offering and accepting apologies and forgiveness;
  • Respecting differing voices and honoring dissent;
  • Cooperating in a spirit of compromise and consensus toward the well-being of the community as a whole; and

To build a strong, diverse, and multicultural Beloved Community by:

  • Supporting one another in our efforts to help our congregation thrive;
  • Honoring and respecting the work of our leadership, ministries, committees and dedicated individuals;
  • Building on our congregation’s legacy of working with community partners in solidarity and with accountability to challenge and dismantle systemic racism and to nurture and sustain an inclusive community;
  • Working to recognize and undo other oppressions as well within ourselves and our congregational culture;
  • Contributing generously of our time, talents, and financial resources;
  • Accepting the call to leadership with openness, warmth, and humor;
  • Being realistic about our commitments, choosing to do what brings us fulfillment and what we are able to complete; and
  • Expressing gratitude for one another’s contributions.

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