Healthy Community Team

Respect, compassion, attentive listening, and consideration – these are four necessities for a healthy community. We must commit absolutely to these behaviors in ourselves before we can expect them of others.


Who Are We?

The purpose of the Healthy Community Team is to assist QUUF leaders and members in using our diversity of opinion in positive ways, so that it results in growth rather than conflict in the community. The Healthy Community Team sponsors activities promoting inclusive and compassionate communication, and when there is perceived conflict, sponsors specific activities that promote healing and collaboration as a part of our spiritual path so that QUUF may be seen as a welcoming home.

Click Here to Read the HCT Charter.

Group Membership: Anne Marie Mende Lyons, Hilary Rosen, Joanna Sanders, and Reina Garcia

HCT Responsibilities:

  1. Whenever an issue arises that requires congregation-wide open forum or congregational vote, the HCT may serve the congregation as a facilitating or advising team.
  2. Offer regularly scheduled discussions on specific subjects relating to community-building.
  3. Offer training in healthy communication skills.
  4. Offer one-on-one mediations when requested.
  5. Offer group-to-group mediations when requested.
  6. Distribute to the congregation information about the activities and purpose of the team.
  7. When necessary, make referrals to other professionals appropriate for the circumstances.
  8. The Healthy Community Team will absorb the functions of the former Right Relations Covenant Team. Certain members of the Healthy Community Team will be trained and available for assisting with interpersonal conflict between members.
  9. Partnering with existing groups in this mission: the team may refer to or consult with the Minister and the Program Council and may collaborate with various councils and teams across QUUF to engage the congregation at large in events that enhance communication, connection, and growth.

If you have questions and/or would like to request the services of the Healthy Community Team, please email AskHCT@quuf.org.

What Have We Done So Far?

Introduced HCT to QUUF

  • Video at Annual Meeting 2002
  • Weekly Updates in the newsletter
  • Participation in Reconnection Fair
  • Explored enhancements for achieving communication between individuals – AskHCT@quuf.org became the link for congregants to reach HCT regarding need for assistance
  • Small group (2-3 person) facilitation model was developed and used
  • Grievance Process was created from multiple existing resources and consolidated into a single document with visuals (flow chart and spreadsheet)

FIRST, WE LISTENED – Cottage Meetings

The results are in! Throughout the summer of 2022 the healthy community team hosted a total of 22 Cottage meetings, receiving input from about 30% of the congregation. We asked about people’s moods, their needs, and what topics they would like to address as we move forward. We are so grateful for everyone’s thoughtful, heartfeltand respectful input.

Links:

THEN WE TOOK TURNS SPEAKING OUR TRUTHS – Conversation Circles:

Conversation Circles were held from November through May in facilitated sessions post Sunday services.
An average of eleven congregants joined one or two HCT members to speak their thoughts about a topic related to the morning’s message and if time permitted to address a QUUF-related topic. In this way, diverse opinions were aired in a safe listening environment.

WE BEGAN TO HAVE MORE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS – Facilitated Discussions

  • Facilitated two DAC breakout groups about Article II in early December
  • Facilitated several breakout groups for the Board’s State of the Fellowship in March
  • Conducted 3 facilitated discussions between the board and administrators of the TSG and published statements to the congregation reporting on the status of those discussions.

JANUARY 7 – COVENANT OF RIGHT RELATIONS EVENT

We had an amazing day on January 7 both online and in person after Reverend Linda’s lovely sermon on the Covenant of Right Relations.

During coffee hour, people both in person and online had a chance to comment, question, and consider our Covenant of Right Relations (CRR).

The overall picture:

The vast majority of us believe the CRR is important and agree with most of it. We believe that RESPECT is paramount and that the need for DEEP LISTENING comes quickly behind that. Many comments indicated the CRR is UNEVENLY APPLIED, unfortunately. HUMILITY came up many times, too. A dozen comments pertained to specific issues with the CRR. People also asked for opportunities to learn or practice using the CRR. You can see the complete spreadsheet of comments and how we tallied everything here.

WHAT ARE WE DOING NEXT?

The HCT Team is working hard to help us all move forward together.

Goals for this Year and Beyond:

  • Work to incorporate the suggestions made at the January 7 event into the Covenant of Right Relations
  • Plan training, events, and create opportunities for congregants to practice navigating disagreements using kindness, reflective listening, and the use of “I” statements.
  • Plan practice sessions for disagreeing within covenant.
  • Remain a neutral party facilitating increasingly healthier conversations.

As we move forward together, please consider that as travelers, we are very like boats on the sea, sharing the water, and as “captains” we are responsible not only for the actions of our boat, but also for its wake. We should all be aware that we have a ripple effect, and leave a wake behind us in every interaction.

Our hope is that by facilitating healthier conversations across the congregation, and by letting those healthy conversations ripple across the community, we will create the kind of transformation we are all seeking, moving together into a future community that exceeds all of our expectations.

This page last updated June 14, 2024