At Main Line Unitarian Church, we are beginning a journey together: to create a Right Relations Covenant. This covenant will be an expression of how we want to engage with one another so that all feel welcome and at home here.
It will not be a set of rules, but an aspiration—a way of reminding us how to return to love and respect when we inevitably stumble. It will help us practice community that is supportive, accountable, and grounded in our shared Unitarian Universalist values.
What Is a Right Relations Covenant?
A Right Relations Covenant is a guide to how we live together as a spiritual community: congregants, ministers, staff, friends, and anyone who calls MLUC home.
It recognizes that conflict is inevitable—and sometimes necessary for growth. The covenant provides a framework for navigating those tensions and returning to right relations. Rather than being a code of conduct, it is an ideal we pursue together—a living commitment that can grow and change as our congregation grows and changes.
“We’re all human. We’re all going to fall out at some point. And we need each other as accountability partners. The covenant will recognize that and allow all of us to be our human selves.”
— Carol Hillman, MLUC’s Right Relations Task Force Chair
Why Now?
Many UU congregations embrace Right Relations Covenants as part of practicing Shared Ministry. In this time of Developmental Ministry, MLUC is deepening its commitments to justice, compassion, and spiritual growth. A covenant will provide steady ground as we work to widen our welcome, strengthen our connections, and live our values more fully.
The Process
The creation of this covenant will be done by all of us together. Through Appreciative Inquiry sessions, we will share stories, hopes, and commitments that will shape the covenant.
This is a shared ministry project—owned not by one team or committee, but by the entire congregation.
Timeline
- Sept. 21, 2025 – Kickoff sermon by Rev. John Morehouse
- October–November 2025 – Appreciative Inquiry sessions with committees and groups
- January 18, 2026 – After-service Right Relations Covenant Creation meeting – all congregation
- Feb. 15, 2026 – After-service Right Relations Covenant Creation meeting – all congregation
- Feb. 22, 2026 – Online Right Relations Covenant Creation meeting (Zoom only)
- March 1, 2026 – Draft covenant completed
- March 22, 2026 – After-service presentation & feedback session
- June 14, 2026 – Congregational vote on the covenant
What Comes Next
Once the covenant is affirmed, the Board will form a Right Relations Team. This team will help our congregation live into the covenant—supporting faithful communication, creative conflict resolution, and ongoing learning. They will model covenantal practice, offer training, and remind us that returning to right relations is part of the work of spiritual growth.
How You Can Participate
- Join an Appreciative Inquiry session with your small group committee or other group.
- Attend an open session in January or February.
- Reflect on your own values and how you want MLUC to live them out.
- Watch for updates in Happenings and on this page.
This is not a one-time event—it is an ongoing practice of creating the beloved community we seek.