As a faith community, our Covenant of Right Relations is the heartbeat of how we treat one another. It is more than just a set of rules—it is a promise we make to ourselves and to each other to live out our shared values.
The Committee on Shared Ministry has spent dedicated time reflecting on who we are today and who we aspire to be. The result is a revised Covenant of Right Relations that invites us to engage with our faith more deeply, more honestly, and more restoratively. Our existing covenant can be found here: https://kentuu.org/policies/covenant-of-right-relations/
Why the Change? Our previous covenant served us well, but as our community evolves, so too must our promises. This new draft shifts our focus from simply “behaving well” to practicing our values together. It acknowledges that community life is not about avoiding conflict, but about how we grow through it. It centers on our commitment to equity, intergenerational inclusion, and the spiritual practice of restorative repair.
Key Highlights of the New Draft:
A Living Promise: We acknowledge that we are a people who make, break, and renew promises. This grounds our community in reality—we are human, we will make mistakes, and we are committed to starting again in love.
Embracing Discomfort: The new language identifies “discomfort” not as a threat, but as a gateway to spiritual growth and deeper connection.
Restorative Approach: Rather than just avoiding conflict, we are committing to “restorative approaches”—a proactive way of healing relationships and moving forward together.
Rooted in Equity: The draft explicitly weaves our UU value of Equity into the fabric of our daily interactions.
We invite every member of the congregation to read the full draft and reflect on how these promises might shape your own journey at the Kent UU Church.
Your voice matters. Please join us to discuss and cast your vote at the upcoming Annual Meeting May 31. Let us covenant together to build a community that is as resilient as it is welcoming.
Committee on Shared Ministry can be contacted at [email protected]
Jennifer May, Rhonda Richardson, Dani Beale, Randy Bish, and Rev. Kristina Church