The UCC Small Town And Rural (STAR) Coalition is planted to be a celebratory, supportive community of people, places, churches, organizations, conferences and associations who are rooted in the heavenly bounty created by the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are like the birds of the air, each unique and diverse, come to seek shade in the Lord.

The STAR Coalition seeks to show the fruits of our labor by:

1. Planting and maintaining a covenantal and communal relationship with all United Church of Christ STAR churches, pastors, leaders, organizations, including those seeking a call to ministry..

2. Gowing and nurturing a covenantal and communal relationship with the United Church of Christ Council of Conference Ministers, officers of the Church, UCC Covenantal partners, and UCC Board of Directors.

3. Being a silo of resources to share information, encouragement, and support of one another to yield excellence in our various locations, timelines, shores, fields, tables, and ministries.

4. Being a legitimate voice of representation for the concerns, reality, and importance of STAR churches, pastors, organizations, people to the work and witness of the national setting of the United Church of Christ.

In our quest to accomplish our purpose, members of the STAR Coalition covenant to:

• Participate in meetings and activities of the Coalition, to the best of our ability, setting and timeline

• Share information and include our fellow STAR members who may not be able to be active Coalition participants during certain seasons of the year.

• Sow and grow a welcoming, supportive environment for all new STAR Coalition members, entities, organizations and churches, encouraging their input, stories, and participation.

• Hold ourselves and one another accountable for tasks and honoring of this covenant.

• Continually hear and listen to one another, celebrating our unique ministry settings, holding in highest regard each of our own setting-based work, both individually and collectively.

• Approach the work of the Coalition with a spirit of wonder, positivity, and hope that with Christ, all things are possible. In our efforts to live out our purpose in our time together, members of the STAR Coalition covenant to:

o Nurture our faith so that like mustard seeds, it grows

o Bring our authentic selves to meetings and gatherings, and to honor each other’s non-monolithic selves, experiences, stories, joys, heartbreak etc.

o Work to grow, water, and care for a Christ-based community where differing views and opinions are heard and respected.

o Share space for all at the table to express and fully participate.

o Speak solely from our own personal experience and ministry setting, being intentional to use “I” statements.

o Speak our truth in love and ways that are respectful and productive.

o Practice self-care, attending to our own personal gardens and needs as they arise.

o Maintain all confidences placed in us.

 * The Coalition is open to anyone who identifies as being part of a Small Town and Rural setting, ministry, or background. The term “STAR” is used in this document to refer to all persons, churches, organizations, leaders, students, people in discernment etc. who are in some way connected to the United Church of Christ.

Adopted by the United Church of Christ STAR Coalition on XXXX, 2024.