The Conflict Management Committee is a standing Board Committee of the Society and shall meet on a regular basis with a view to fostering tolerance, communications skills and cooperation among members of the congregation, recognizing and defusing potential sources of conflict and, as the need arises, facilitating conflict resolution.

Committee members and prospective members are expected to develop and upgrade their skills in conflict management by availing themselves of courses provided by the Society, The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) or elsewhere.

Committee members shall ensure the confidentiality of members' discussions, and shall respect such confidentiality at all times.

Committee members shall not engage in mental health counseling or therapy (psychotherapy) in connection with any conflict among Society members or staff which they are seeking to resolve. Should any party have need of further assistance, the Committee may assist him or her in securing suitable assistance.

In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee and its members shall strive to adhere to the Mission Statement of the Society the Board's Conflict of Interest Policy, and the UUA's Statement of Principles, The Unitarian Universalist Minister's Association (UUMA) and the USSB constitution.

Society members, staff or groups finding themselves in conflict which they have been unable to resolve, are expected to seek the assistance of the Conflict Management Committee, secure private mediation services, or request conflict management assistance through the Pacific Southwest District of the UUA.

The Conflict Management Committee may become involved in the following ways:

a Society or staff member, believing him/herself to be in conflict with another member or staff person, may consult the Committee for assistance;

an uninvolved member may apprise the Committee of a conflict which needs attention, or

the Committee may become aware of conflict and offer its assistance to the disputing parties.

To effect the resolution of a particular conflict, the Committee shall appoint a Conflict Management Team of two or more members of the Committee.

In any meeting with the disputants of a particular conflict, the Team shall always be represented by at least two members.

The disputants may choose to speak individually to the Team, and the dispute may be resolved at this level.

Alternatively, the Team may bring the disputants together, having first given each a copy of the Conflict Resolution/Prevention Process. The dispute may be resolved at this level.

The disputants, if still in conflict may be heard by the entire Committee, and a resolution will be arrived at which is, insofar as possible, in the best interests of the participants and the Society as a whole.

Following mediation, the parties are expected to abide by the terms of their agreement and to fulfill the terms on their own initiative.

Should disagreements arise over implementation, the parties may again seek the assistance of the Conflict Management Committee.

Should the Committee be unable to effect a solution or a party (or parties) continues to refuse to implement the agreement, the Committee (or the Team managing the conflict) shall write a report to the Board, with recommendations.

When the Board receives a report from the Committee relating to a member or staff person in default of an agreement, the Board may deal with the matter at its discretion.

In accordance with Board policy on security of records, the Conflict Management Committee, on motion passed at a duly constituted meeting, may request that the Board destroy designated files that are closed and need no longer to be retained.

"Group" means the Board, a Committee or other set of persons within the Society.

"Staff" means any person employed by the Society.

"Mental health counseling" means therapeutic interventions designed to address the emotional and mental well being of a person.

"Therapy" means the application of psychotherapeutic techniques designed to treat mental or personality disorders or aid in healthy relationships and include the provisions of explanations and interpretations of behaviors, thoughts and internal mental and emotional states.