First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh

  605 Morewood Avenue
  Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2999
  412-621-8008

Covenant Groups at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh

What is the purpose of a covenant group?

Covenant groups provide opportunities for members and friends of First Unitarian Church to grow spiritually and to develop caring relationships with others. Covenant groups offer opportunities for friendship, spiritual growth, mutual responsibility, leadership, and service.

One source states: "In a covenant group, people experience a relational individuality which affirms the inherent worth and dignity of every person. People experience themselves and each other as part of the interdependent web of existence of which we are all a part. Together, people establish communities which embody the values of justice, democracy, and human dignity. Each person is treated equitably. Each has a voice and is heard. And each person is respected for his or her own intrinsic humanity. The defining purpose of a covenant group is to bring people into right relationship with each other and with the larger world."

Why the name "covenant groups"?

Members of each covenant group interact with one another in ways that reflect the principles-or covenant-of the Unitarian Universalist Association: honoring the inherent worth and dignity of one another, promoting justice, equity and compassion in human relations, encouraging one another to spiritual growth, and so on. In addition, members of each covenant group make a commitment to attend meetings regularly, to maintain a measure of confidentiality, and to respect the experiences, conclusions, and growing edges of all members of the group.

What happens during a covenant group meeting?

First, the group takes a few moments to make a transition from the cares of the day. Next, the group takes time for checking in with one another, reviewing personal joys and sorrows. Then a leader introduces a topic for discussion; this may be in the form of a question, a poem, or a passage from an article or book. Finally, at the end of the meeting, the group takes a few moments for closure.

When and where do covenant groups meet?

Covenant groups, of six to twelve people, meet at the church or in members' homes at a regular time once or twice each month; meetings might run for one and one-half hours to two hours. Some covenant groups will meet in the evening; others meet during the day, or sometime over the weekend.

How do I become part of a covenant group?

You may contact our minister, Rev. David Herndon, at 412/621-8008, extension 102, or at dherndon@first-unitarian-pgh.org. Or you may contact our Membership Coordinator, Devon Wood, at 412/621-8008, extension 104, or at dwood@first-unitarian-pgh.org. They will find a place for you in one of the existing groups or in a new group that is just forming.

Can children and youth attend their parents' covenant group meetings?

Some of our covenant groups include families with children. In these groups, which meet just once each month, parents and children gather for a potluck supper. Afterwards, while the children are playing together (with the supervision of a babysitter), the parents have their covenant group session.

Who leads covenant groups?

After the initial start-up, each covenant group works out its own way of providing leadership. Each covenant group has a representative who meets from time to time with Rev. David Herndon and with other covenant group representatives.

Is there anything else that covenant group members are expected to do?

Each covenant group is encouraged to engage in some sort of service project from time to time. This might be service to the church or service to the larger community.

Where did the idea of having covenant groups come from?

Lay members of First Unitarian Church heard about covenant groups in other Unitarian Universalist congregations and brought the idea to church leaders, who responded with enthusiasm. The structure outlined here follows similar structures that have proven to be successful at other Unitarian Universalist congregations.

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