Brigham Young University / Wheatley Institute
Religious Freedom Annual Review
Opening Session, June 16, 2022
Marian Edmonds-Allen:
Covenantal Pluralism: Why Religious Freedom Matters to Me
The Covenantal Pluralism Process
The Covenantal Pluralism Process (CP Process) is a structured, values-based approach to collaboration, developed by Rev. Dr. Marian Edmonds-Allen. This process makes covenantal pluralism actionable as a means for addressing difficult issues and building meaningful partnerships across difference.
The CP Process includes the following steps:
1. Identifying Core Values: Each participant or organization identifies their key “covenant” or guiding principles, whether religious, non-religious, or based on conscience.
2. Creating Relationships: Participants establish authentic connections and dialogue, recognizing the integrity and legitimacy of each other’s values and perspectives.
3. Collaborative Problem-Solving: The group works together toward a common goal, applying their values and strengths to achieve impact.
The CP Process formula is:
Core Value + Collaborator = Solution
By maintaining integrity and respect for all participants, the CP Process allows for:
• Focusing on Primary Problems: Theological or ideological differences are acknowledged but do not prevent collaboration.
• Creating Innovative Solutions: Diverse perspectives contribute to more comprehensive and effective solutions.
• Fostering Dignity and Understanding: Participants are empowered to act from their core values while building bridges of trust and cooperation.
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Applications of the CP Process
One notable application of the Covenantal Pluralism Process is its use by the LGBT International FoRB Roundtable (RT), which has embraced FoRB and human dignity as guiding principles. The RT demonstrates how groups with differing theological beliefs can collaborate without compromising their own convictions.
The CP Process also has applications for individuals, offering a framework for personal integrity and decision-making. By defining their key values and understanding how those values align with their life choices, individuals can achieve congruence and clarity in their personal and professional lives.
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Why Covenantal Pluralism Matters
In a world increasingly marked by polarization and division, Covenantal Pluralism offers a hopeful way forward. By creating pathways for engagement and collaboration across difference, it promotes genuine understanding and respect, ensuring that every participant’s integrity is maintained.
Through the Covenantal Pluralism Process, individuals and organizations can come together to create a more inclusive, flourishing world where dignity is upheld for everyone, everywhere.
Covenantal Pluralism
A Framework for Collaboration Across Difference
Covenantal Pluralism is a powerful framework that enables individuals and groups with differing beliefs and values to come together and work toward shared goals, while maintaining their own integrity and deeply held convictions. Built on the foundation of freedom of religion, belief, and nonbelief (FoRB), covenantal pluralism offers a practical way to engage in meaningful dialogue and collaborative problem-solving even across profound differences.
What is Covenantal Pluralism?
Covenantal Pluralism was first articulated in the 1970s by Rabbi Irving Greenberg, inspired by his personal journey of building relationships with those he once considered “other.” Motivated by the desire to prevent another Holocaust, Greenberg found allies in Christian communities, discovering that true collaboration is possible when we see one another as kin, sharing a common humanity.
This life-changing experience became the foundation for a theological framework that allows people to work together without erasing their differences. Covenantal pluralism recognizes that people can engage and collaborate across theological and ideological divides, acknowledging and respecting each other’s values and beliefs without ascribing moral equivalence.
The concept was further expanded by the Templeton Religion Trust, which has successfully applied it beyond purely religious contexts to promote collaboration and understanding in various sectors, including education, governance, and community building. The Templeton Religion Trust sees covenantal pluralism as a way to create mutual assistance across difference while maintaining personal integrity and convictions.