Community
Covenant
This is the covenant
we enter into at Egrets’ Cove.
I desire membership in
the Egrets’ Cove community and am aligned with the following purpose, beliefs
and agreements.
PURPOSE:
To be a learning community
dedicated to walking more lightly on the earth than it is possible for any of
us to do as individual households. Our
intention is to playfully engage our culture’s social values and societal
context in order to allow sustainable ways of living in the day to day to
emerge. We expect our life together to
be a living example of hopeful and practical options.
BELIEFS:
1.
Humans are embedded in, not in control of,
earth’s synergistic ecology. We intend
to practice mutuality with all life and lay aside illusions of special human
privilege. At the same time we recognize
and accept responsibilities related to our particular human gifts and
ecological positioning.
2.
We come to our common concerns from diverse perspectives and unique
personal stories.
3.
We honor the inherent dignity and worth of all
life and all people. We commit ourselves
to supporting each other in living this vision.
4.
We see cooperation as a fundamental model for
human endeavor that balances the autonomy of the individual and the
interdependence of the community. While
we choose to live cooperatively in our community, caring for and supporting
each other’s physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, we each take primary
responsibility for our own actions.
5.
As frightening or difficult as it might seem at
times, conflict is an inevitable part of life in community. We recognize that conflict can be a creative
force so long as differences are approached playfully, with humility, and with
care.
6.
Practicing consensus making in order to make the
wisest choices possible, and to clarify relevant values is a viable way of
organizing group life.
7.
Holding a vision of, and participating in,
creation of wise and just social organizations and cultures, in ecological
harmony, is a continual challenge for humans.
AGREEMENTS:
I will strive to live by
these basic agreements:
1.
Participate in the community’s consensus
decision making process by consistent involvement in general community
conversation and attendance at community meetings.
2.
Hold the land in common and abide by our
agreements on its use.
3.
Deal directly, openly and honestly with each
other, avoiding physical and emotional abuse in our relationships, and treating
all life with respect.
4.
Carry out our commitments to each other by
following through on our agreed upon tasks and bringing any problem with
completion of our tasks back to the group.
5.
Weigh the ecological effects of our actions and
decisions.
6.
Remain open to feedback from other community
members. When conflict arises, to first
seek resolution with the individual involved.
If that fails, to bring the problem to the group as soon as possible.
7.
Experiment with and evaluate new approaches to
organizational and cultural change in light of the beliefs and agreements of
this covenant.
8.
Remain open to and conscious of the continually
changing ecological, social and spiritual realities in which we live.
______________________________________
_________________
Name
Date