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CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCESS
Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Adopted into the Operations Manual on January 9, 2008

As a foundation for our conflict resolution process, the Conflict Resolution Team discussed creating a Covenant of Right Relations. A Covenant of Right Relations is an agreement about how we QUUF members will treat one another. The following might serve as a starting point for such a covenant: "Because we recognize that conflict is normal, we promise to speak with each other directly and honestly from a position of respect, kindness and love, recognizing that there will be times we may need to seek counsel from the community." (This quotation is excerpted from the Olympia UU Congregation's Covenant of Right Relations*.)

If resolving a conflict within QUUF requires additional support, the Conflict Resolution Team (CRT) is available.

The CRT recommends the following steps:

• Step 1:
  When conflict occurs within QUUF, those in conflict are encouraged to work it out together in a face-to-face meeting.

• Step 2:
  If needed, those in conflict are encouraged to contact the CRT directly, or may be referred by the Board or Minister to the CRT.
  1. All participants in the CRT process participate on a strictly voluntary basis.
  2. Confidentiality parameters and ground rules for interacting during the CRT process are defined and agreed to prior to initiating the process.

• Step 3:
  After gathering information about the conflict and determining that it is within their scope of practice the CRT will provide a safe and structured environment with facilitation for disputants to resolve the conflict. (See "scope of practice of the CRT" below.**)

• Step 4:
  If no resolution is reached, CRT members suggest next step to disputants, including the possibility of calling upon the "Healthy Congregations Team" of the PNWD of the UUA, or the Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center.

• Step 5:
  CRT members debrief the conflict resolution process with one another.

The scope of practice of the CRT includes the following:

1. Conflicts between members within church setting.
2. Conflicts between members and staff.
3. Conflicts involving a minor with parental consent.
4. Members' concerns with treatment in deliberation regarding policy changes.
5. Facilitating respectful dialogue within the fellowship.

The CRT is also available for the following conflicts, if invited:

1. Conflicts with minister (Invited by the minister or by the Committee on Ministry).
2. Staff to staff conflicts (Invited by the Personnel Committee).
3. Conflicts involving policy (Invited by the QUUF Board).

The scope of practice of the CRT excludes the following:

1. Conflicts that arise outside of our fellowship.
2. Issues needing professional services (mental health issues, marriage therapy, threats of violence or any illegal activity).

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* For more background on the Covenant of Right Relations, please see the websites of the UU Church of Berkeley and the Olympia UU Congregation.

** For more info about local UUA resources on conflict resolution, please see PNWD's website section on the Healthy Congregations Team.