Our Covenants

We are united not by a common belief, but by the concept of covenant where we agree to walk together as a congregation with common values, but not necessarily common belief.  Covenant is a way of being in right relationship with each other and the world.

One of our covenants is the affirmation we recite each Sunday in worship:

• Love is the doctrine of this church,
• the quest of truth is its sacrament,
• and service is its prayer.
• To dwell together in peace,
• to seek knowledge in freedom,
• to serve humanity in fellowship,
• thus do we covenant with one another.

Another covenant is our Covenant of Loving Kindness which guides our relationships within the congregation:

Covenant of Loving Kindness

We, the members of the Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church,

commit to practice and promote loving kindness:

To make kindness and good relationships a priority

Give help, support, hope, love, comfort and joy
Value and nurture our relationships

To encourage and trust others

Recognize, trust and encourage the strengths of others
Apply our strengths to help and encourage others
Give others the trust, time and encouragement to reach their own conclusions

To be patient and forgiving peacemakers

Promote peace and solve problems by patiently seeking the reasons, feelings and opinions of others
Be slow to anger
Seek common ground rather than dwell on differences
Forgive past wrongs and join together to pursue common goals for the future

To generously work for tolerance, fairness and equity

Care about and share with those in need
Welcome and support those who are vulnerable or wrongly excluded
Welcome diversity

To be considerate, respectful and sensitive

Take the time to know and appreciate others, by paying attention and listening carefully
Be sensitive to the personal boundaries and feelings of others
Avoid distracting others during meetings and presentations
Offer feedback lovingly, quietly and privately and in an encouraging and gentle way

To be responsible, honest and trustworthy

Keep commitments and take agreed-upon actions
Gently use our resources and surroundings, care for them and make them better

If you seek a faith community that values the principles expressed in this covenant, that strives to live up to them in everything it does, we hope you will join this church and add your time, treasure, talent, and strength to ours.