Why have a Healthy Congregation Team at Saltwater Church?

At Saltwater Church, we recognize that occasional conflict is natural in any organization and that the difference between healthy and unhealthy organizations is not whether conflict is present, but how it is addressed. We want to address conflict in a healthy manner, and the Healthy Congregation Team helps us to do this, in keeping with the commitments we make in our Covenant of Right Relations.

More specifically, the Healthy Congregation Team has three purposes:

To promote healthy communication practices within the congregation.

To consult with any member of the congregation regarding how to deal with any situation that has the potential for conflict.

To help resolve conflict between members of the congregation.

Who is on the Healthy Congregation Team?

Amanda Radak has been a Saltwater member since 2002, raised her now young adult children here and has served on many teams from Ministerial Search to Building and Grounds. Her commitment to everyone being heard lends itself to accompanying congregregants through conflict on the Healthy Congregations Team. 

She brings a passion for youth engagement, racial justice and trans-rights. She spends her days planning events and off hours making things with string or loving on an unending series of foster felines.

Jim LovellFord has been a member of SWUUC since 2007.  A retired high school math and CTE teacher (I also taught business education and robotics), I appreciate structures and how things are put together. I also like to sing and occasionally strum the guitar.

My worldview is that most people are doing the best they can where they’re at.

I like to think of myself as someone who is approachable and willing to listen as well as to talk. Even at almost 70, I’m still a work in progress.

When should I contact the Healthy Congregation Team?

If you are ever upset about something or with somebody else at Saltwater Church – – another church member, a staff member, or even the minister! – – the best thing to do is usually to speak directly and personally to the relevant person.

However, many of us are sometimes hesitant to do this because we don’t know how to do so without creating a conflict or escalating an already existing conflict. Instead, we often either keep our thoughts and feelings to ourselves – – which makes sure they never get resolved – – or complain to somebody not directly involved in the situation – – which also makes sure they never get resolved.

This is the ideal time to contact the Healthy Congregation Team.

How can I contact the Healthy Congregation Team?

You can contact any member individually, or contact administrator@saltwaterchurch.org

What are “healthy communication practices?”

Here are 10 recommendations for healthy communication practices within our congregation:

1. Recognize that conflict is natural in any organization and that the difference between healthy and unhealthy organizations is not whether conflict is present but how it is addressed.
   
2. Take responsibility for communicating your own thoughts and feelings regarding any issue about which you are concerned.
   
3. Assume others are acting out of the best of intentions until proven otherwise.
   
4. Don’t triangulate or gossip.
   
5. Also think thrice about using email to communicate regarding any issue about which you or anyone else may have strong feelings.
   
6. Instead, speak directly and personally to the relevant individual or individuals regarding any issue about which you are concerned. Speak from your own experience. Use “I” statements.
   
7. If you are uncomfortable about speaking to any individual directly, seek the help of the Healthy Congregation Team.
   
8. Avoid allowing yourself to be triangulated by others. Don’t speak on behalf of others. Encourage others to speak directly and personally to the relevant individual or individuals regarding any issue about which they may be concerned or to seek the help of the Healthy Congregation team.
   
9. If somebody speaks to you about an issue concerning you, practice active listening.
   
10. To the best of your ability, practice apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

Does the congregation also have a “Covenant of Right Relations?”

Yes, the “Covenant of Right Relations” was adopted by the congregation in 2008 and updated in 2021.