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Northeast Iowa
UU Fellowship
PO Box 382
Decorah, IA 52101

Service location:
Bethania Church
113 N. Mill St.
Decorah, Iowa

Phone:
Sue Otte
563/382-3137
Bill Musser
563/382-3458

A Covenant of Right Relations

We as members and friends of the Northeast Iowa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship come together to explore all the possibilities inherent in a spiritual community. As a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, we covenant to affirm and promote the principles and purposes that guide all UUs in their dealings with each other and the world around them.

On member Sundays we further define these principles as follows:

We unite in the bonds of fellowship and love, to cultivate reverence, to promote spiritual growth and ethical commitment, to minister to each other's needs and to those of humanity, to celebrate the sacred moments of life's passage, and to honor the holiness at the heart of being.

We also pledge to be guardians of each other's spirits, to respect the ultimate privacy of each one's human struggle, and to believe in each one's inherent dignity. Knowing that we are all teachers and students at the same time, we regard each other as spiritual friends and potential teachers, even of occasional hard lessons.

The well-being, strength and reputation of our fellowship depend on a sense of mutual care and concern for each other, a quality which can only exist in an atmosphere of trust, respect and cooperation. To further define our first principle, we must exhibit behaviors that enhance the dignity and inherent worth of all participants: expressing sincere appreciation; allowing for human fallibility; dealing directly with each other; speaking thoughtfully with courage and compassion; being creative in problem solving; maintaining a sense of humor; actively listening and clarifying what we hear; letting others have their say; respecting boundaries that may differ from our own; respecting confidentiality; refraining from harmful gossip about others; and speaking honestly.

While we are a recognized liberal body, welcoming diversity of opinion and belief, our openness may not be used to harbor or countenance those who would do harm or cause intentional mental or physical pain to our members. We all, as responsible members of this community, have an obligation to bring to light concerns which threaten the health of our fellowship.

NEIUUF Board Policy: Right Relations

When a member brings a concern to the board, this five-stage process will be used to assure that a fair and just resolution may be found:

1. Concerns will be documented in order for board members to deal with facts. This will include signed written statements and conversations with those bringing complaints.
2. After concluding that information presented is indeed a concern, two board members will be designated to meet with the person who is addressed in the complaint.
3. At the meeting, the person will be asked to consider the unsuitability of the offending behaviors and refrain from their practice in the future. A warning will be issued that continued incidents will result in possible expulsion from the fellowship.
4. If another incident occurs, the person will be asked to meet with the entire board and explain the behavior.
5. The board will then meet in closed session to decide what action will be taken. Possible actions may include temporary or permanent expulsion from the fellowship.