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Small Group Ministry Covenants Developing a covenant is an important aspect of a healthy small group. Below are some sample covenants. We invite you to share yours with this community. Just email it to us with the name of your congregation. Peter We know that groups are healthier when there is a mutual behavioral covenant -- something that explains how participants will be in relationship with one another. But that only addresses what happens in the general participant groups. What about the small group for your leaders/facilitators? Don't forget to make a covenant between the minister of your church, any coaches you have and the facilitators. This is just as important. How will the minister support the SGM leaders and vice versa? What is the role of goup leaders both in and outside of the group? COVENANT VISIBILITY There are various ways of reminding people of the group covenant: Read covenant at each meeting Place printed copy next to the chalice or candle Have it at front of binders each group member has for sessions Review covenant after a each new member joins the group Review covenant quarterly ________________ Share ideas POLICY VS. GROUP CULTURE When training facilitators in covenant formation make sure to establish what are aspects of your small group ministry that policy and non-negotiable versus details up for group discussion. For example, you do not want groups to "veto" having a check-in. Other issues often addressed at the policy level include how people are assigned to groups, frequency of service projects, how sessions are created, selected and/or approved, and other issues that determine whether group is part of the larger ministry and life of the congregation. SAMPLE COVENANTS: We value our time together as a group and therefore: commit to attend the meetings start and stop meetings on time We value our privacy and therefore: keep personal information strictly confidential share ideas outside the group only without attribution We value each other's contributions to our discussions and therefore: encourage and allow all to contribute equally listen to all contributions try to use only "I" statements treat each other with respect, caring, and kindness keep discussion on topic We value face-to-face decision-making and therefore: discuss all matters of group process only at meetings use e-mail only for routine housekeeping matters or informal communications We value our values and therefore covenant to abide by them. Submitted by Bill Hurlbut, October 2003 We each have the right to pass What is shared here, stays here (confidentiality) We will share time equally We will be attentive listeners and not interrupt each other We will not use this group as a therapy session We will respect diversity and value our differences We will remain quiet until all have finished their reflection guides We will value all questions We will start and end on time Anyone is free to take a time out from any of the exercises or We will listen from the heart. We will speak personally, using "I" statements. We will speak honestly from the heart. We will not engage in cross talk. We will try not to judge others by what they say. We will allow space for everyone who wishes to speak. We will be brief. We will respect the confidentiality of what is shared here We will listen from the heart. or (Going around the circle, each of us speaks one line) I will listen with my heart I will try to speak from my heart. I have the right to pass. What is shred here, stays here. I will respect confidentiality. I will not treat this as group therapy, although our time here may well be therapeutic. I will not interrupt. I will not give unasked-for advice. I will share our time together. I will allow space for everyone who wishes to speak. I will not treat others people's problems lightly. I will honor the diversity of thought and feeling among us. I will honor the times for reflection with quietness. (together) I will speak from my heart. I have the right to pass. I will listen with my heart. or We will listen from the heart. We will speak honestly from the heart. We will respect the confidentiality of what is shared here. We will not interrupt. We will not give unasked-for advice. We will not judge others by what they say. We will not treat others people's problems lightly. We will honor the diversity of thoughts and feelings. We will honor the times for reflection with quietness. We will honor and respect our time together. This is the template we present to facilitators at the beginning, but each groups develops their own covenant, and the implementation team does not have copies of those.  The group covenants are "supposed" to be read at each meeting, but some groups have opted not to do that.  They are evolving documents.  When we have our CG ReMix in the next couple of months, we are going to look more closely at what is meaningful in the covenant and how covenants best serve our groups.  Covenant Elements       Mission CG members will deepen relationships, spirituality, and sense of community through sharing, and discussion, in a safe environment. Sponsor   Membership Trustee   Boundaries   This is not a therapy group.  The group will follow session plans provided by the minister.   Outcomes   One service to community project per year. Deepen relationships, spirituality, and sense of community.   Timeline   Covenant group members will make a one-year commitment to their group.  However, membership in each group may fluctuate according to the needs of that group.   Measures of Effectiveness   Every six months an evaluation of the group will occur and at the end of one year a discussion by the group based on the evaluation will take place.   Group Interactions   Group members will give issues to facilitators to bring either to the facilitation group, the members representative, or the minister.   Resources to the Group Facilitator Session Plans   Membership of the Group   Six to ten members.  All are welcome. This space is reserved for the actual group members’ names.   Group Roles and Responsibilities   At a minimum, groups will have a facilitator.  However, groups are encouraged to discuss and choose other group roles.   Ground Rules   The following ground rules are required at a minimum:  confidentiality, meetings are held in member’s homes, and the groups will meet a minimum of once a month.  Groups are encouraged to develop a set of ground rules on how the group will operate.   Group Self-Assessment   The group is encouraged to develop how they will assess whether the meetings are fulfilling the mission for the group. Submitted by Genevieve Harvey for the Miami Valley Unitarian Fellowship We, the members of this group, make the following covenant with one another: 1. We will take responsibility for own spiritual development and respect the spiritual journeys of others 2. We will participate in this group for at least six months and attend regularly 3. We will honor each others' boundaries and our own 4. We will listen deeply to one another and give each person equal time 5. We will not disclose confidential information shared by other group members unless we have clear permission. 6. We will regularly invite others to consider joining our group when appropriate, and divide the group when it is time 7. We will serve the community and/or UUCPA as a group regularly 8. We will commit to addressing and resolving conflicts in a respectful way 9. We will encourage others to share their concerns and express their wishes 10. Before leaving the group, we will attend at least three more meetings after informing the group of our decision From UU Church of Palo Alto.