CHAPTER 1: CHARACTERISTICS OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL CHANGE MINISTRY

Below are listed some of the qualities which are essential in developing a successful social justice program in a local congregation.

Identity: The members of the congregation are committed to having the congregation involved in social justice issues. The congregation has a sense of mission and purpose.

History: The congregation has a history of being involved in social change ministry. Members of the congregation are informed about actions the congregation has taken through sermons and brochures. People are also aware of the history of social justice work in our Unitarian Universalist movement.

Ministerial Leadership: The minister (or ministers) supports social justice activism in the congregation. The minister informs people about important issues, connects the church with the wider community and the UUA, assists the social responsibility committee and task groups in defining issues and setting goals, and provides leadership training.

Committed Members: At least twenty percent of the members of the congregation are involved in the social justice program. In addition, a large number of members work in social change professions or are active in social change groups. These members are skilled, knowledgeable, committed, and hardworking.

The Social Justice Program Is Integrated Into The Overall Life of the Church: Social justice ministry is seen as one part of the life of the congregation. But social justice activities are integrated into the worship, religious education, caring community, and social programs of the congregation.

The Congregation has Structures for Making Decisions About Social Justice Issues: All the members of the congregation have opportunities to set priorities for issues to be worked on and carry out projects. The Board of Trustees ensures that the congregation has an identity as an ethical institution.

There Is A Strong Social Justice Coordinating Committee and Several Task Groups: The congregation has a well-organized social justice committee or social justice coordinating group. There are also task groups that focus on major issues. These groups are well organized and run effective meetings.

The Social Justice Program is Well Balanced: The overall program has a good balance of the different styles of doing social justice ministry: service, education, witnessing, advocacy, and community organizing.

The People Doing Social Justice Ministry are Intentional About What They Do: Task groups establish program priorities and set clear goals and objectives around those issues people are passionately concerned. Rather than "jumping into action" quickly, people about which make a careful analysis of the problems they are trying to solve. They develop concrete, specific, manageable projects.

Social Justice Program Leaders Make Full Use of the Financial Resources of the Church: Social justice leaders draw on the financial resources of the congregation and its members. They know how to apply for funding from the Unitarian Universalist Fund for Social Responsibility.

Publicity: Social justice leaders are intentional about recruiting church members to be involved in their programs. They attempt to utilize the special talents of church members.

Denominational Links: Social justice leaders make use of the resources provided by the thirty five UUA departments and affiliate groups that are involved in social justice programming.

Alliances With Community Organizations and Interfaith Groups: Often our congregations or social change groups are small. We can increase out effectiveness by working with community organizations (NAACP, NOW, Rainbow Coalition, Sierra Club, etc.) and interfaith groups.

Inclusivity: The members of the congregation make a special effort to develop a faith community that includes people from different racial and cultural backgrounds; people with different lifestyles; bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people; the blind; and the physically challenged.

Dealing Effectively with Conflict: The members of the congregation know how to deal creatively with controversial social issues and how to resolve the inevitable conflicts that arise in doing social ministry.

Training: Social justice leaders train people in organizational and social change skills.

Evaluation: Social justice leaders are continually evaluating their programs.

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