Our Mission & Covenants
Our open and welcoming congregation connects hearts, challenges minds and nurtures spirits, while serving and transforming our community and the world.
Our Shared UU Values
Our core values define us as a congregation and direct us in what we do.
Unitarian Universalism is a living tradition that has changed in many ways from the original Christian roots of its Universalist and Unitarian heritages, and it continues to evolve today. Most recently, this evolution has taken the form of adopting new language to describe who we are as UUs. At General Assembly in June 2024, UUs voted to replace existing Seven Principles and Six Sources language in our bylaws with language describing Unitarian Universalism through these shared values, all centered around love:
- Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it.
We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships. - Pluralism: We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect. - Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive.
We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large. - Transformation: We adapt to the changing world.
We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect. - Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality. - Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.
We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.
We arrived at this description of Unitarian Universalism after a multi-year process of discernment and discussion, writing and revision, and eventually a final democratic vote. The process of review and revision is mandated by UUA bylaws to happen every 15 years, and the language describing Unitarian Universalist faith has changed multiple times over the course of our history. We encourage you to review the final adopted language of Article II (PDF, 3 pages), which includes our Shared Values.
Find more resources on our shared values.
Our Covenant
Recognizing we are individuals who need one another, we stand as a community held together by the promises we make and keep.
We promise to:
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- Share the ministry of our congregation through our gifts of time, talent and money;
- Care for and support each other;
- Celebrate our intentional diversity with joy and gratitude;
- Attend to our differences with openness, compassion and trust;
- Create healing by listening and speaking in the spirit of love;
- Be steadfast in support of our community in times of disagreement;
- Strive to live our Unitarian Universalist values and congregational mission.
Our life together declares that the future of each depends on the good of all and the future of all depends on the good of each.
Our end statements
Our Ends grow from our values: Connection, Inspiration, Compassion, Justice.
Connection & Inspiration…
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- We create a vibrant spiritual environment where children, youth and adults  develop and articulate their faith identity.
- We support our children and youth in their moral and spiritual development.
- We sustain our congregation with our generous gifts of time, talent and money.
Compassion…
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- We create a community where people of all ages and backgrounds experience belonging, and feel loved and needed.
- We nurture relationships across generations.
- We support and sustain each other in times of need and celebration.
Justice…
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- We challenge and support one another to put our values into action.
- We commit to practice and partner in the work of environmental and social justice, serving as a wellspring of hope.
Respecting Each Other: A Community Covenant
As Unitarian Universalists we agree to respect everyone as part of our First Principle. In order to  do our best to respect everyone (including elders, children of all ages, and differently-abled people) so that we all feel welcome and safe together, we agree to the following:
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- We will be polite and speak kindly to everyone.
- Children under the age of 11 must be supervised and in sight of their parent (or supervising  adult) at all times. This means that whenever an apparently unsupervised child is discovered, they should be able to immediately respond to the question, “who is your person?”
- No running inside any building.
- Whenever we light a chalice we create sacred space; space that holds our best hopes and invites our best selves. Out of respect for the person lighting the chalice and our community, we pay attention to that person and participate as they ask us to participate. Â That could mean being silent or it could mean speaking, singing, or participating in a ritual created for the occasion.
- No young people under the age of 18 may congregate or play outside when it is dark, unless a supervising adult is present.
- Whenever we gather, we will leave the area cleaner than we found it.
- If something is broken or damaged, it should be reported to the event leader or church administrator as soon as possible.
Permission for Community Parenting is part of this covenant. As a trusting church community we give one another permission to sensitively redirect behavior that any reasonable adult considers dangerous, disrespectful or in violation of this covenant when the parent is temporarily distracted. As parents we will gracefully accept reminders that our children need more direct supervision.
Note: Â Parents have full responsibility for their children when children are not in class or in supervised childcare. They may enlist a supervising adult when the parent is unable to supervise their own children for a finite time period but the parent still bears full responsibility. For children in supervised childcare, in order to be considered under the supervision of childcare staff that child must be signed into childcare by a parent.