Starting a Social Justice Program That Really Works

All of us want to save the world. We want our congregations to take a stand on social justice issues, to make a difference, but the first step is often the one that trips us up.

UU congregations that have successful social justice programs have come to them in several ways. In the case of Third Unitarian Church, Chicago (173 members), in the middle of an urban neighborhood struggling with unemployment and inequality, the need is visible every day. The church operates a food pantry, jobs program, AIDS education program, scholarship fund for neighborhood teens, day care center and tutoring program.

"These programs got started," said Laurel Lambert, social action committee member, "when one or two people got a bee in their bonnet and wanted to do something." Another reason, she said, is that members of Third Unitarian tend to be committed to the neighborhood and social action. "We have the kind of coffee hour where people say, `I'll sign your petition if you sign mine.' "

Other congregations take educational routes to social justice. When members of Orange Coast UU Church, Costa Mesa, CA (189), completed the Welcoming Congregation program in 1992 they looked for a way to put their increased awareness of bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender issues to work. They started a program that now prepares and delivers 240 frozen meals every three weeks to homebound people living with AIDS, said program codirector Clover Behrend.

The Rev. William Gardiner, director of the UUA's Social Justice Empowerment Program, helps congregations that need advice on starting social justice programs. In the past three years his teams of trained lay leaders have worked with 85 congregations, holding workshops that usually result in the selection of one or more projects. The UUA pays for most of the costs.

The part of social justice that is most difficult for congregations is picking the issues to focus on, Gardiner said. The UUA's social justice teams use a process whereby members of a congregation come up with ideas and then vote on them.

Social justice programs that are most successful are broad enough to interest a range of participants, he said. Some people like hands-on work, serving food at a soup kitchen, but others prefer to work on ways to reduce the need for soup kitchens, including lobbying and writing letters. "Service programs are necessary, but they don't change the condition," Gardiner said. "Getting people involved in more systemic change is our cutting edge."

Not all social justice should be focused outside the church. It's important to maintain a nurturing environment within the congregation, said Gardiner, for members whose daily jobs involve social justice—teachers, social workers and businesspeople who follow ethical practices. "For them, just having a Thursday night choir practice to come to can be immensely helpful to their renewal," he said.

Other social justice considerations:

• Smaller congregations can choose a church-wide theme. First Universalist Church,Yarmouth, ME (185), used the environment in that way. There were Sunday services, religious education programs and a special youth curriculum on the environment.
• Social justice can also include setting a goal of paying your director of religious education a living wage.
• The minister or lay leader can inspire social justice. When interim minister the Rev. Richard Nugent preached about the need for more state health care funds for children he asked members of the UU Fellowship of Kanawha Valley, Charleston, WV (107), to get involved. More than 40 signed up to lobby legislators, stuff envelopes, make phone calls and attend rallies.
• In some communities there may be enough soup kitchens, but there are seldom enough volunteers to staff them. Instead of starting your own program, volunteer to help with existing services.

Long-range planning is another route to make social justice happen. The UU Church of Spokane, WA (363), approved a long-range plan two years ago that included a specific focus for each year. Social justice is the focus for 1998-99. Three projects have been selected, said the Rev. Linda Hart—a community garden, family mentoring for single-parent families and building rehabilitation. About 100 members have signed up to help. "Members have always been involved in social justice," said Hart, "but we saw this as an opportunity to be a bit more intentional about it."

The most important factor in creating social justice programs is simply having someone step forward to lead a project, said Danny Proud, chair of social action at Michael Servetus Unitarian Society, Fridley, MN (104). The suburban Twin Cities congregation supports a womens' shelter, food pantry, Meals on Wheels and a temporary housing program for needy single women with children.
"It's a case where a small core of people felt social action was part of our reason for being," he said. "What it comes down to is most people want to do this stuff, but they need someone to organize it and then they'll follow." For help with social justice programs, contact the Rev. William Gardiner, director of the UUA's Social Justice Empowerment Program, 617 742-2100 ext. 450