Justice Work Is a Major Focus at First Parish

Social justice work is a big part of First Parish Brewster's identity. A social justice committee was formed in 1982, the same year Robinson arrived at Brewster. The congregation's social justice work since then has included support for and work with: low-income families; UU Service Committee; the NAACP; battered women; the homeless; Habitat for Humanity; environmental issues, and people with AIDS. It is also a partner church to a Romanian congregation and in the 1980s provided sanctuary to 19 Salvadoran refugees, becoming one of the first Northeast U.S. congregations to do so. It is also progressing through the UUA's anti-oppression, anti-racism Journey Toward Wholeness program.

In 1990 First Parish became the first congregation to complete the UUA's Welcoming Congregation program, becoming officially welcoming to the bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender community. Since then, First Parish's GLBT membership has grown to about 10 percent. In the past two years the congregation has hosted a formal Valentine's Day dance for Cape Cod's GLBT community and friends, raising at least $6,000 each year to support issues and programs important to that community.

The church has become known for its social justice activism. Board member Karen Etsell says, "The community of Cape Cod looks to us for a conscientious response to issues. If something happens that has ethical or moral dimensions, people on the Cape expect that we will take a stance."

What made Brewster grow? Is there anything about First Parish that a congregation in, say, Texas, couldn't duplicate? No, says Etsell. "The secret is a minister who is visible in the community and a congregation that takes a role in community issues." Board member John Myers adds, "If I mention our church to non-UUs they all know about it. First Parish is a known commodity in the region." Vice President Kevin Lowey: "What I've witnessed here could easily happen elsewhere. Three things are needed: intent, focus, and action. This is not a sit-back place." Assistant Minister Mykel Johnson gives part of the credit to the congregation's small groups. "They make it feel like a lot of churches under one roof."

Asked what makes Brewster a dynamic place, board chair Carol Ann Yeaple took the question to one of the church's small groups, and got the following answers: "It's a safe and trusting place." "Jim is authentic." "Variety of people." "Strong community outreach." "It's the quality of worship." "The sense of community." "Extended family."

The Rev. William Zelazny, district executive for the UUA's Ballou Channing District, of which First Parish is a part, says the church has thrived because of a strong ordained and lay ministry team that is committed to the church and the larger community. Plus its social justice work has given it an identity in the surrounding community. "Time and time again, research has shown that people come to churches that are exciting and involved and the Brewster church is surely exciting and involved."

"This truly is a remarkable congregation," says Johnson, the assistant minister. "Jim has created a spirit of welcome for people that has changed lives. People talk about this church as something that has been life-transforming for them. Sometimes I think the sparks caught fire a while back, and then a momentum happened that carried itself forward. Once it was burning, it spread and spread. And maybe even in spite of what we do or don't do around the edges and our attention to details or lack of it — we catch up later with the way those things should be. But the central core is what catches people."