SMALL GROUP MINISTRY (SGM)
COVENANT OF RIGHT RELATIONSHIP

Core Components to Meet Our Needs
and Support Our Values

Within the group

Respect, Consideration, and Support
•••• Begin and end on time.
•••• Have a strong commitment to attend every session.
•••• Let the facilitator know when you will not attend.
•••• Practice respectful listening and sharing of “air time” by listening to each
••••••••person’s check in and sharing of the topic without interruption or
••••••••cross talk (silent empathy).
•••• The facilitator and group members will call the group back to the covenant
••••••••when needed.
•••• Respect the right to pass.  A person may choose to talk later, or to sit/share
••••••••in silence.

Empathy and Understanding
•••• Speak from personal experience and use “I” statements.
•••• Refrain from giving advice or trying to fix problems (yours or someone else’s).

Trust and Safety
•••• Confidentiality:  keep what is shared in the group within the group.
•••• Follow the meeting format.  It provides a safe and predictable environment.

Learning and Contribution
•••• Remember we are all learners and teachers.

From the group to the church

Respect, Consideration, and Support
•••• Affirm and promote the principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the UUCE mission statement.
•••• Do a service project for the church or larger community.

From the church to the group

Nurturance and Support
•••• Provide the organizational and logistical support to maintain the Small Group Ministry program.

Optional Meeting Strategies ............

Small Group Ministry Steering Committee 2008-2009 Berry Broadbent 344-9037  DorothyClark 342-2013  Bob Coleman  461-0956  RachelCummings  485-7561  Lyn Fischrup 653-8922  Rev. Stephen Landale 686-2775 Norma Landy 741-6619 Brian Lewis 870-6658 Dick Loescher (chair) 485-1157 Gretchen Miller  484-5701 Jane Wagner 687-0757  Leora White 337-5001   SGM Webpage

(modified by the Small Group Ministry Steering Committee 3/26/08)

top
rev 10/10/08 per Dick Loescher