The Southwest Conference is beginning the development of a new pastoral practice called Covenant Tending.
Covenant Tending is intended to address what we have identified as the “missing middle” between situational support and a formal fitness review. There are times when communication has become strained, trust has been weakened, or relationships need intentional care, but the circumstances do not call for disciplinary action or another formal Conference process.
This emerging practice will provide a structured, voluntary, and pastoral space for faithful listening, honest conversation, shared accountability, and the tending of covenantal relationships. It will not serve as a complaint process, disciplinary body, or replacement for situational support, fitness review, or any other required process.
As an initial step, the Conference Minister will convene a small, carefully discerned Covenant Tending Design Team. The team will help establish the theological foundation, purpose, ethical boundaries, procedures, safeguards, training requirements, and evaluation process for an initial pilot.
This is not the launch of a finished program. It is the beginning of a thoughtful and prayerful design process. Additional information will be shared with the Conference as the work develops.
Through Covenant Tending, we hope to strengthen our capacity to engage in relational strain earlier, listen more faithfully, practice shared accountability, and care for the covenant before a rupture becomes a crisis.
Be blessed,
Dr. Toni