Union's commitment was first to include lives given exalted status (8)
I believe the answer is:
idolised
'given exalted status' is the definition.
'union's commitment was first to include lives' is the wordplay.
'union's commitment' becomes 'ido' ('I do' is the traditional wedding vow).
'was first' becomes 'led'.
'to include' indicates putting letters inside.
'lives' becomes 'is' ('be' can be a synonym of 'live').
'led' going around 'is' is 'lised'.
'ido'+'lised'='IDOLISED'
(Other definitions for idolised that I've seen before include "Worshipped like graven image" , "Hero-worshipped" , "Adored and worshipped" , "put on a pedestal" , "Worshipped, say graven image" .)