First Parish of Watertown

We, the members of the First Parish of Watertown, understand the ministry of religious education to be an integral part of our church, and of benefit to all. Thus do we covenant with one another to establish and maintain an environment in which children are safe, respected and valued, and in which the lifelong pursuit of religious growth is encouraged.

As Unitarian Universalists, we intend for our children to experience membership with us in a community which believes in the following principles: religious freedom, the use of reason, tolerance of others' beliefs, reverence for the natural world and all of its wonder, and commitment to working for the betterment of the world. We want our children to learn that they have both the freedom and the responsibility to be themselves, and understand that time spent together is the primary teacher for us all.

We recognize that it is difficult to faithfully live and practice all that we believe, but hope that we may support one another in our ageless quest to become persons ever more loving, in a community ever more just.

We support our Director of Religious Education in helping us to implement a program reflective of this covenant. We charge this person to be an advocate for education, and in turn we support the Director's own continuing education. We see the Director of Religious Education as a leader and a role model in our ministry of education, through work with the teachers, the Religious Education Committee and relationships with children.

Adopted April, 1997