“Our congregation strives to be inclusive communities, affirming our differences in beliefs, opinions, and life experiences.

However, in some cases, concern for the safety and well-being of the congregation as a whole must be given priority over the privileges and inclusion of an individual. To the degree that destructive behavior compromises the health of the congregation, as people of faith our actions must reflect our commitment to maintaining both security and beloved community. Disruptive behavior may involve actions that create concern for the physical or emotional safety of children or adults, staff, members, or even visitors…Destructive behavior may involve actions that disturb activities or weaken the congregation’s ability to serve current and future members and friends. These incidents can occur on the congregation’s property, during a congregational event, or via email and social media.

…When behaviors are seen to be dangerous (creating concern for the physical and emotional safety of children and adults), destructive (disturbing or interfering with essential congregational activities), or image tarnishing (weakening the congregation’s ability to serve current and future members and friends), additional steps may be necessary.”  (From the Unitarian Universalist Association website: “Dealing with Destructive Behavior.”)

https://www.uua.org/safe/handbook/covenant/dealing-disruptive-behavior

What About Inherent Worth and Dignity?

Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Sometimes, leaders in congregations can worry that by enacting their Destructive Behavior Policy they are denying the worth and dignity of the person they are asking to leave. Affirming worth and dignity does not mean affirming all behaviors, or always giving every badly behaving person a second (or third, or tenth) chance. In order to create a community that truly honors each person’s worth and dignity, we sometimes have to ask destructively-behaving people to leave. Protecting and respecting the community—especially the most vulnerable—is important and sacred work.  (From the Unitarian Universalist Association website: “Destructive Behavior Policies.”)

https://www.uua.org/safe/destructive-behavior-policies

POLICY REGARDING DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

While openness to a wide variety of individuals is one of the prime values held by our congregation and expressed in our denomination’s purposes and principles, we affirm the belief that our congregation must maintain a secure atmosphere where such openness can exist.  When any person’s physical and/or emotional well-being or freedom to safely express his or her beliefs or opinions is threatened, the source of this threat must be addressed firmly and promptly, even if this ultimately requires the expulsion of the offending person or persons.

There have been times when disruptive behavior of an individual in the church building or on the church grounds has led members to voice their concerns about one or more of the following:

1. Perceived threats to the safety of any adult or child;
2. The disruption of church activities;
3. Diminishing appeal of the congregation to its potential and existing membership.

The following shall be the policy of Pacific Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in dealing with these issues:

1. If an immediate response is required, this will be undertaken by the leader of the group involved. This may include asking the offending person or persons to leave, OR suspending the meeting or activity until such time that it may be safely resumed.  If further assistance is required the Police Department may be called.  Anytime any of these actions are undertaken without the Board of Trustees (the Board), the Board must be notified; a follow-up letter detailing the offense and the action taken because of the offense, should be written and distributed to the Board.
2. Situations not requiring immediate response will be referred to an ad hoc committee appointed by the Board. The committee will respond in terms of their own judgment observing the following:
   1. The committee will respond to problems as they arise.  There will be no attempt to define “acceptable” behavior in advance.
   2. Persons identified as disruptive will be dealt with as individuals. Stereotypes will be
   3. The committee will collect all necessary information.
   4. To aid in evaluating the problem, these points will be considered:
      • DANGEROUSNESS—Is the individual the source of a threat or perceived threat to persons or property?
      • DISRUPTIVENESS—How much interference with church functions is going on?
      • OFFENSIVENESS—How likely is it that prospective or existing members will be driven away?
   5. To determine the necessary response, these points will be considered:
      • CAUSES —Why is the disruption occurring? Is it a conflict between the individual and others in the church? Is it due to a professionally diagnosed condition of mental illness‘?
      • HISTORY—What is the extent, if any, of disruption caused in the past‘?
      • PROBABILITYOFCHANGE —How likely is it that the problem behavior will diminish in the future?

1. The committee will decide on the necessary response on a case by case basis. However, three levels of action/response are recommended:
   • LEVEL ONE—The committee shall inform the Board of the problem and either members(s) of the board or member(s) of the committee shall meet with the offending person or persons to communicate the concern.
   • LEVELTWO—The offending individual(s) is excluded from specific church activities for a limited period of time, with reasons and conditions of return written and made clear (with a copy going to the offender and one going into congregational files)
   • LEVEL ONE or LEVEL TWO action taken may be appealed to the Board.
   • LEVELTHREE —The offending individual is permanently excluded from church premises and all church activities. Before this is carried out, the committee  will consult with the Board and the Minister(s).  If it is agreed that the expulsion take place, a letter will be written and sent by the the Board to the individual outlining the expulsion, the individual’s rights, and any possible recourse.

Pacific Unitarian Universalist Fellowship strives to be an inclusive community, affirming our differences in beliefs, opinions and life experiences.  However, concern for the safety and well-being of the congregation as a whole must be given priority over the privileges and inclusion of the individual.  To the degree the disruptive behavior compromises the health of this congregation, our actions as people of faith must reflect this emphasis on security.