FAQ
- Theological Foundations of UU Social Justice Work
- What are the theological foundations of UU social justice work?
- We do social justice work because of the foundations provided by
both Unitarianism and Universalism. We act because we are Unitarians
and believe in the unity and interconnectedness of all Creation. We
act as a part of the whole that is Creation. We act because we are
Universalists and believe that love is universal and that all people
are equal the sight of the Divine.
- How can we talk about the moral or theological grounding of the social
justice work we do?
- Unitarian Universalists have a long history of social justice activity
from fleeing repressive regimes in Europe and rejecting the Calvinistic
doctrines of the Puritans, to standing on the side of abolitionism
and women’s suffrage, participating in the civil rights movements
for racial justice, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender and women’s
rights, and working for peace and justice.
Our spiritual grounding is found in our seven principles:
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association,
covenant to affirm and promote:
• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual
growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice
for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which
we are a part.
The living tradition which we share draws from:
• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder,
affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit
and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
• Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us
to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion,
and the transforming power of love;
• Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical
and spiritual life;
• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's
love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of
reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries
of the mind and spirit.
• Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate
the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with
the rhythms of nature.
Creating safe spaces for dialogue on the spiritual and theological
grounding of social justice work can be a meaningful and rewarding
part of congregational life. In addition, encouraging your congregation’s
social justice leaders and/or minister to reflect upon the bigger
picture, the moral reasons behind their work, and the role of their
Unitarian Universalist faith, helps to rejuvenate the passion that
inspires us all to work for justice.
Find worship resources on the UUA’s WorshipWeb.
Also see the Washington Office’s website to read about the
Social Justice Internship Program’s Theological
Reflection activities. Theological discussion and reflection,
book readings, outside experiences, and meetings with a UU mentor
are all part of the holistic learning and serving experience of
the internship.
- How does the Unitarian Universalist Association do social justice?
- The UUA is committed to social justice on many levels. Each staff
group works to examine ways that UUA staff can integrate social justice
into the programs they manage. The UUA Advocacy and Witness staff
group is specifically dedicated to supporting congregational social
justice efforts, as well as representing Unitarian Universalism in
the larger world, both in the media at a local and national level
and in Washington, D.C. through federal advocacy.
The Social Witness Process of the UUA involves the passage of Study
Action Issues, Statements of Conscience and Actions of Immediate Witness
at the General Assembly each year. The Commission on Social Witness is a volunteer commission made up of elected and appointed members
that shepherd the Social Witness Process and redraft statements offered
by congregations to be voted upon by the entire General Assembly each
year.
- Staff Groups in the UUA that do Social Justice Work
- What is Advocacy and Witness at the UUA?
- The Advocacy and Witness (A&W) team is comprised UUA staff whose
primary responsibility is to take Unitarian Universalist values out
into the wider world. We work to bring Unitarian Universalist perspectives
into public debates on the matters of the day through our media advocacy,
through working in partnerships with other religious and secular organizations
who share our viewpoints, and through empowering local congregations
to do the same.
Director: Meg Riley
612-722-0040; mriley@uua.org, Fax: 612-721-9595
Office Manager: Jeannette Jackson
202-296-4672, x10; jjackson@uua.org; Fax: 202-296-4673
The A&W staff group consists of the following offices:
- Office of Congregational
Advocacy and Witness;
- The Office of Congregational Advocacy and Witness assists
congregations and UU affiliate organizations with building
interfaith coalitions, developing legislative and grassroots
advocacy campaigns, working with local media, and other initiatives
that move their work for social justice into the larger community.
The Director also serves as staff for the Unitarian Universalist
Association’s Socially Responsible Investing initiative
and as liaison to Unitarian Universalist social justice affiliate
groups.
Director: Susan Leslie
617-948-4607; sleslie@uua.org
Assistant: Audra Friend
617-948-4656; afriend@uua.org
- Holdeen
India Program;
- The Unitarian Universalist Holdeen India Program (UUHIP)
works with key leaders and organizations of India’s
most excluded and oppressed peoples, primarily untouchables,
tribals, and minorities, in their efforts to participate fully
in the social, economic, and political life of India. UUHIP
focuses especially on groups that promote women’s rights,
leadership, and decision-making in all areas.
Director: Katharine Sreedhar
202-296-4672 x16; Ksreedhar@uua.org
Administrative Assistant: Barbara Wilson
202-296-4672 x14; Bwilson@uua.org
- Office of Information and
Public Witness;
- The Director of Information and Public Witness coordinates
all relationships with the media, arranges interviews with
the UUA President and other key leaders, convenes the Association's
Public Witness team, and manages the UUA’s public presence
in the wider world. The Information Officer does proactive
media outreach, develops resources for ministers and congregations,
and consults with constituents on dealings with the media.
The staff of the office provides information of all kinds
to congregations and individual Unitarian Universalists. They
arrange tours of 25 Beacon Street and answer inquiries regarding
the Association and its history. They can arrange for archival
research to be performed on a fee-for-service basis at Andover-Harvard
Theological Library and other research facilities.
Director: John Hurley
617-948-6131; jhurley@uua.org
Information Officer: Janet Hayes
617-948-4386; jhayes@uua.org
Information Assistant: Erika Nonken
617-948-4652; enonken@uua.org
- Office of Interfaith Partnerships;
- Office of International
Relations;
- The Director of International Relations works closely with
the President, representing the Unitarian Universalist Association
with the International Association for Religious Freedom,
the World Conference on Religion and Peace, the International
Council of Unitarians and Universalists, the Partner Church
Council, the Canadian Unitarian Council, the UU-United Nations
Office, and other interfaith and international groups.
Director: Olivia Holmes
617-948-6412; Oholmes@uua.org
Assistant: Seth Goldstein
617-948-4311; sgoldstein@uua.org
- Social Justice Internship Program; and
- Washington Office for Advocacy;
- The primary mission of the Washington Office for Advocacy
is to effect public policy decisions made by the United States
Congress and Administration on issues of concern to the Unitarian
Universalist Association.
Office Manager: Jeannette Jackson
202-296-4672 x10; uuawo@uua.org
Director: Rob Keithan
202-296-4672 x15; rkeithan@uua.org
Legislative Assistant for Women’s Issues:
Meredith Schonfeld-Hicks
202-296-4672, x13; mschonfeldhicks@uua.org
Legislative Assistant for
Civil Rights & Religious Liberty: Elizabeth Bukey
202-296-4672, x12; ebukey@uua.org
- What does the Unitarian Universalist Association Washington Office
for Advocacy Do? Or, Does the Unitarian Universalist Association have
a voice in Washington DC?
- The UUA Washington Office for Advocacy (UUAWO) is charged with representing
the UUA to the United States Congress and Administration on legislative
and public policy matters. The UUAWO works on both urgent policy matters
and long term goals, as they are articulated in the social witness
positions passed by the UUA’s annual General Assembly.
We do this by participating in religious and secular coalitions, engaging
in direct advocacy, passing on opportunities for action to Unitarian
Universalist activists, and by hosting periodic advocacy and training
conferences. The office also serves as a resource to, and works cooperatively
with, individual Unitarian Universalists, congregations, districts,
affiliate organizations, and other UUA staff to further our common
agenda for justice.
For more information, visit www.uua.org/uuawo or call (202) 296-4672.
- What does the Unitarian Universalist Association's Office of Information
and Public Witness Do?
- The Director of Information and Public Witness coordinates all relationships
with the media, arranges interviews with the UUA President and other
key leaders, convenes the Association's Public Witness team, and manages
the UUA’s public presence in the wider world. The Information
Officer does proactive media outreach, develops resources for ministers
and congregations, and consults with constituents on dealings with
the media. The staff of the office provides information of all kinds
to congregations and individual Unitarian Universalists. They arrange
tours of 25 Beacon Street and answer inquiries regarding the Association
and its history. They can arrange for archival research to be performed
on a fee-for-service basis at Andover-Harvard Theological Library
and other research facilities.
For more information, visit www.uua.org/info or call (617)
948-4652.
- What does the Office of Congregational Advocacy and Witness Do?
- The Office of Congregational Advocacy and Witness assists congregations
and UU affiliate organizations with building interfaith coalitions,
developing legislative and grassroots advocacy campaigns, working
with local media, and other initiatives which move their work for
social justice into the larger community. The Director also serves
as staff for the UUA’s Socially Responsible Investing initiative
and as liaison to UU social justice affiliate groups.
For more information, visit www.uua.org/programs/justice/aboutcaw.html
or call (617) 948-4656.
- What does the International Office Do?
- The Director of International Relations works closely with the President,
representing the UUA with the International Association for Religious
Freedom, the World Conference on Religion and Peace, the International
Council of Unitarians and Universalists, the Partner Church Council,
the Canadian Unitarian Council, the UU-United Nations Office, and
other interfaith and international groups.
For more information, visit www.uua.org/international
or call (617) 948-4311.
- What is the Holdeen India Program?
- The Unitarian Universalist Holdeen India Program (UUHIP) works with
key leaders and organizations of India’s most excluded and oppressed
peoples, primarily untouchables, tribals, and minorities, in their
efforts to participate fully in the social, economic, and political
life of India. UUHIP focuses especially on groups that promote women’s
rights, leadership, and decision-making in all areas.
For more information, visit www.uua.org/international/holdeen
or call (202) 296-4672.
- The UUA and Social Justice Issues & Priorities
- How does the Washington Office set its priorities? OR Why doesn’t
the Washington Office follow the issue of _______?
- There are many factors which go into our decisions about priorities.
These include—but are not limited to—General Assembly
resolution support, grassroots Unitarian Universalist involvement,
legislative prospects, and ease with which we can work with other
groups (religious and otherwise) on the issue. Given our small staff,
we must choose our priorities carefully. We are constantly struggling
to concentrate enough to be effective while remaining broad enough
to represent the many concerns of Unitarian Universalism. The Washington
Offices of many religious groups struggle with this same problem.
On some issues, such as bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender concerns,
our office is always active because we clearly have a unique religious
voice on this topic. Religion-state relations, economic justice, racial
justice, and reproductive freedom top off our highest priorities list.
We also keep an eye on other civil and women's rights issues, as well
as peace issues (disarmament, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, gun violence).
On issues that we cannot follow closely, such as environmental concerns
(which are prohibitively difficult to cover given our resources),
we still sign on to countless advocacy letters delivered to Congress
and the Administration.
- How does the Unitarian Universalist Association take a position on
an issue?
- The Unitarian Universalist Association takes positions through actions
of its annual General Assembly. Actions of Immediate Witness deal
with issues that are particularly time-sensitive. Since they are not
subject to congregational review, they are not considered policy of
the Association—rather the viewpoint of the General Assembly
itself. They must be passed by a two-thirds vote.
The UUA takes more social witness positions by passing a Statement
of Conscience (SOC) at General Assembly by the vote of the delegates.
The SOC process takes three years. The Commission on Social Witness
facilitates and oversees the Statement of Conscience and Actions of
Immediate Witness process.
For more information, or to contact a member of the CSW, go the Commission
on Social Witness homepage. They can also be reached via email at
socialwitness@uua.org.
- I am a Unitarian Universalist and I don’t agree with some
of the social justice statements of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Is the UUA claiming to speak for me?
- A UUA Statement of Conscience is “official” UUA policy,
to be supported by the Association and by Unitarian Universalists everywhere
according to their individual consciences, priorities and means. Thus,
the UUA does not claim to speak for all Unitarian Universalists, only
for the association of congregations as a whole.
UUA Congregational Advocacy and Witness, and particularly the Washington
Office for Advocacy that works with the U.S. Congress and other organizations,
use Statements of Conscience to move the UUA’s positions forward.
Actions of Immediate Witness only reflect the opinions of the delegates
at the particular General Assembly in which the statement is considered.
See the Commission on Social Witness website to find an article explaining
the full social witness process.
- How does the Washington Office decide to sign a letter of support
or opposition?
- First we decide whether or not it a reasonable request (namely,
an action we agree with in language that works for us) from a credible
source. We look at the organization making the request, and what other
groups are already signed on. If we don’t know the group, and
don’t see any of our usual allies signed on, we generally don’t
get involved. Next, we look to see if we have the resolution to support
or oppose the issue or legislation. General Resolutions and Statement
of Conscience carry the most weight, followed by Actions of Immediate
Witness and statements from the Board of Trustees. If so, and purpose,
content, and source are good, we’ll sign on. The UUA President
can sign things not covered by resolutions.
- I don’t see my issue on the list of previous statements. Can
the UUA take a position on the issues I work on?
- The UUA is limited to taking public positions that are clearly based
on resolutions passed by General Assembly. All statements and resolutions
can be found here. Please look carefully to make sure your issue is
not covered in part by another previous resolution. Statements passed
at general Assemblies are often quite extensive, and can include many
issues or topics. If you still do not see what you are looking for,
consider participating in our Social Witness process by proposing
a Study/Action Issue or Action of Immediate Witness. To learn more
about the Social Witness Process, please visit www.uua.org/csw.
- What is the UU position on _______?
- The social witness positions of the Unitarian Universalist Association
are determined almost exclusively at General Assembly. In rare urgent
cases, the UUA Board of Trustees may also issue statements.
The easiest way to find the Unitarian Universalist position on a given
issue is to use the UUA Actions, Resolutions, and Resources website.
The site lists resolutions by subject and can also be searched by
keyword or year. Some churches also have hard copies of the social
witness positions collection. You can download and print out hard
copies of individual resolutions or the entire collection of statements
from this website. If you do not have access to a computer/printer,
please contact the Washington Office at (202) 296-4672 x10.
For more information, please visit www.uua.org/actions.
- How can I find information on the issue of _______?
- The Washington Office website is your best gateway to information
on the legislative issues we cover. In addition to information on
issues—or links to the information—the website contains
summaries of relevant resolutions, outstanding social justice sermons,
advocacy and organizing resources, including information on contacting
your Members of Congress, and links to other organizations that work
on a wide variety of justice issues. Additional social justice programs
and resources can be found here. If you cannot find what you seek
on the website or do not have access to it, call the Washington Office
at (202) 296-4672 x10 or email uuawo@uua.org.
- How can I get involved in and stay informed about the work of the
Washington Office for Advocacy?
- Subscribe to our Action Alert! As a member of our email list, you'll
receive an email update every week or so on what's going on in Washington
and how you can take action. The list—officially called "Advocacy
News"— can be joined through the Washington Office website.
Through this email list, you may also hear of other, issue-specific
lists that are run by the staff of the Washington office. Subscribe
to these for more detailed information on issues you care about. The
Washington Office website is also an excellent source of information
and resources on Unitarian Universalist advocacy and taking action
in your community.
- Does the Unitarian Universalist Association take a stand on administrative
or judicial nominations?
- The Unitarian Universalist Association is a non-profit, non-partisan
501c3 organization; therefore we do not take positions on administrative
nominations. The UUA Washington Office has been charged, through an
Action of Immediate Witness at General Assembly, to inform congregations
about upcoming judicial nominees, their records on certain issues,
and the judicial nominations process in general, so that Unitarian
Universalists may share their concerns with elected officials.
In addition, the UUA has been empowered through a Statement of Conscience
to oppose nominees to the federal appeals courts or the Supreme Court
whose records demonstrate insensitivity to the protection of civil
liberties. Because the UUA works to affirm the democratic process
in our society, we support full hearings for all nominees, and the
hearings and nominations process as a chance to further a national
dialogue around issues of concern to people of faith and all Americans.
- Are there any Unitarian Universalists in Congress? Who are they?
- Yes, there are currently 4 Unitarian Universalists in Congress-
one in the Senate and three in the House of Representatives. They
are:
• Kent Conrad (D-ND)
• Nancy Johnson (R-CT-5)
• Jim Moran (D-VA-8)
• Pete Stark (D-CA-13)
Please only contact these members of Congress if you reside in their
districts or states.
- How do I know which issues the UUA has made a public statement on?
- Congregations and Social Justice Work & Structures
- How can I find out what other Unitarian Universalist congregations
are doing about social justice?
- You can find out more about the UUA's Justice work on our website.
Many of the issue areas on this page include congregational stories.
Other than the website, Susan Leslie, the UUA Director of Congregational
Advocacy and Witness, is the best source for this information. She
publishes an email list called Social Action Chair News (SAC-News)
that goes out to all Social Justice Chairs in UU congregations. You
can find out what’s going on from your social action chair in
your congregation, or contact Susan directly.
Sign up for SAC-News at lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/sac-news.
- Does the UUA work with other denominations? Which ones? In what
capacity?
- The UUA works with many other religious denominations in several
aspects of its work. Much of our interfaith work is done in coalitions
that come together to work on a specific project or issue. Although
we have partnered with many groups over time, our most frequent issue
partners are other liberal denominations, including the United Methodist
Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Religious Society of Friends
(Quakers), the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church (USA),
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Reform Judaism.
- What other organizations work on the issue of _______?
- As a new Social Action Chair for my congregation, what do I need
to know about social justice at the Unitarian Universalist Association?
Where can I find the information I need? Our congregation doesn’t
have a long history of social justice work. How do we get started?
- The web is the best source for all the information you need. Start
by checking out the UUA's Justice page and the UUA Washington Office
for Advocacy. Both of these sites will give you an overview of the
issues the UUA is working on, as well as provide you with resources
to aid you in whatever focus you choose.
Make sure to check out the advocacy resources section of the Washington
Office page for more detailed steps to start your work. A great piece
to start with is called Creating a Justice Seeking Congregation. Other
than the website, Susan Leslie, the UUA Director of Congregational
Advocacy and Witness, is the best source of information for new Social
Action Chairs. She publishes an email list called Social Action Chair
News (SAC-News) that goes out to all Social Justice Chairs in UU congregations.
Visit
the UUA's complete listing of public mailing lists to sign up for SAC-News and many other
list-serves run by and for UUs.
Once you are familiar with the goings-on on the national level, make sure you contact your district office to find out how your congregation can get plugged into justice efforts happening locally. Partnership, whether is it with other congregations or local community organizations, is the most effective and fulfilling way to do justice work. Find out about social justice efforts in your community and get involved!
- How should our congregation decide what issues to work on? Our congregation
is divided along many issues. How do we speak in the community on issues
we don’t agree on?
- Just as democratic decision-making is fundamental to our religious
life, it is also essential in choosing social justice issues to work
on as well. When all the members of the congregation have the opportunity
to be involved in picking issue to focus on, more of them will potentially
become involved in carrying out projects.
There are several models for involving congregational members in picking issues (information can be found here). These examples come from the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, New York, The Unitarian Universalist Church West in Brookfield, Wisconsin, The Unitarian Society of Germantown in Philadelphia, All Souls church in New York City , and the Unitarian Fellowship of Morristown, New Jersey.
Get more information about each of these approaches.
- How can our congregation do effective social justice work?
- There are many ways for your congregation to be more effective in
the social justice work that you are already doing. One of the most
important is partnership-- combining your strength, energy, and expertise
with that of others to increase your power. Partnership with another
Unitarian Universalist congregation, other religious groups, or community
organizations, can be some of the most rewarding, long-lasting, and
effective ways to do congregational justice work.
Other suggestions can be found on the Washington Office website here under Advocacy Tips.
You may want to consider holding a
Social Justice Empowerment Workshop that is designed to focus, structure, and energize the social justice
work of a congregation.
- How can we involve Youth and Young Adults in the social justice work
of our congregation?
- Many youth and young adults are involved in social justice work,
some through their congregations or youth groups, but many in organizations
outside of church. Young people can be great resources on many topics
related to social justice, and can often provide a different perspective
or alternate ideas for tactics and advocacy. Justice work in the congregation
should be done in a manner that is welcoming and accessible to all
people who want to be involved. For more information on intergenerational
social justice work, please visit the
Unitarian Universalist Family Network.
- How can I involve more members of my congregation in social justice
work?
- There are many ways of getting members of your congregation involved
in your congregational justice programs. Forming action groups or
task forces enables congregational members to do several projects
at one time. Every time you start a group around an emerging issue
you provide an opportunity for new people to be involved.
Effective publicity keeps people informed about what is happening
in your program and shows them where they can get involved. Make effective
use of the newsletter, bulletin boards, letter writing tables, and
Sunday service announcements about your work.
Be intentional about developing a strategy for recruitment to get
new people involved in your programs.
One way to get others involved in activism or issues that you care deeply about is to know the reasons behind your own activism. If you can tell others in a clear and passionate way the reasons behind your own activism, they are more likely to want to be involved that if you simply ask them or try to guilt them into it. One resource to help you clarify your values and help others to do justice work from a spiritual place is Nurturing a Ministry of Activism from the UUA Washington Office. Reading this piece may help you to involve others, and yourself, in activism from a more grounded place. Also see Ways of Getting People Involved in Social Justice Programs (from the Social Justice Empowerment Handbook).
- How can congregational committees get involved in social justice,
even if it’s not their main focus?
- Social justice is comprised of social service, education, community
organizing, advocacy, and public witness. Find out what the strengths
and passions of your members are and choose at least one program that
can bring people together. Whether it is to provide service, learn
more about a social justice issue, write letters to elected officials,
advocate for a particular initiative or join a demonstration or sign
a statement about a social justice issue, you will be helping people
act as a congregation. You can also create a social justice identity
and practice by paying attention to your own environment from displaying
diverse artwork, purchasing Fair Trade coffee, investing the congregation’s
funds responsibly, and becoming a Green Sanctuary. For more information
of these programs see www.uua.org/programs/justice/resources.
- What's the best way to structure a social justice program based on our congregation's size?
- The size of a congregation has a lot to do with how you can structure
a social justice program.
In a congregation of less than 150 members you can organize a program through a social justice committee. To be effective the committee needs a leadership structure, a job description, a schedule for meeting, and a budget to fund programs. For more information see Structuring Social Justice Programs in Small Congregations and Fellowships and Social Justice Committee Job Description: a Working Model
In a congregation larger than 150 members, the ideal way to organize
the program is to form an organizing committee and task or action
groups. In a larger congregation, action groups are needed because
it is difficult for a social justice committee to manage several projects
at the same time. In this structure the organizing committee takes
responsibility for coordinating, funding, and publicizing the work
of the action groups.
For further ideas about these possibilities go to Structuring Social Justice Programs In Mid-Size And Large Congregations (scroll down the page for the section on mid-size and large congregations).
- How can I work with congregations of different faiths in my community?
What if we don’t agree on certain issues?
- It’s important to understand that interfaith partnerships
and coalitions are not “home” but the place where we sometimes
need to experience some discomfort as we look for common values and
common work together. Many Christian and Catholic churches have less
liberal positions than Unitarian Universalists on social issues but
have highly developed activism and ministries for economic justice.
Most interfaith coalitions recognize these differences and have ground
rules for interfaith etiquette that guide participants respectful
sharing of their different traditions and perspectives. Often coalition
partners take turns leading opening and closing words or prayers,
giving homilies, and speaking from deeply held values. Unitarian Universalists
are often asked to speak as religious people from our traditions and
values on social justice and issues of the day.
Interfaith coalitions are often issue specific. An interfaith group
might not work on issues such as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
rights and reproductive choice, but will work on criminal justice
or tax reform. At the same time it will be necessary to join other
advocacy coalitions to speak out collectively on issues such as freedom
to marry or sex education.
- How can we structure the Social Justice Program in our congregation?
- The mission of the Office of Congregational Advocacy and Witness is
to support and enhance the social justice efforts and programs of Unitarian
Universalist congregations and to help increase the collective UU and
interfaith voice in the public policy arena. We promote UU and interfaith
social justice campaigns and actions and provide a variety of resources
to social action committee members and ministers through:
• list serves
• the UUA web site
• workshops, meetings
• consultation
One of the ways the Office of Congregational Advocacy and Witness supports
congregational justice work is through the Social Justice Empowerment
Program. The basic purpose of this workshop is for members of a congregation
to assess the quality of their social justice program. During the workshop
participants reflect upon what they can do as a religious community to
put their faith into practice, including developing strategies and long-term
action plans to do social justice work.
Information on the Social Justice Empowerment workshop can be found online or contact Susan Leslie at sleslie@uua.org or (617) 948-4607.
Also see Rev. Bill Gardiner's Congregational Decision-Making about Controversial Social Justice Issues. Or for a paper copy, contact the
Washington Office for Advocacy at (202) 296-4672 or uuawo@uua.org.
- How can I make my voice heard as a Unitarian Universalist in my
community?
- The first rule of effective advocacy is to have a clear message.
Establishing yourself as a Unitarian Universalist voice in the community,
either as an individual or as a spokesperson for your congregation,
means being able to communicate clearly who and what we are as a faith
movement. And even if you’re a lifelong UU, having some short,
direct answers to such questions takes reflection and preparation.
Resources: Peter Montgomery's "Speaking to the Media as a Unitarian Universalist." For a paper copy, contact the Washington Office for Advocacy at (202) 296-4672 or uuawo@uua.org.
- Does the UUA want to know if my congregation makes a public statement
or takes public action on an issue?
- Yes. In order to coordinate our religious voice more effectively and strategically in the larger world, congregations and ministers should alert the UUA Office of Information and Public Witness of statements made on behalf of the Association or its member congregations. Controversy erupts when individual UUs, ministers, or congregations allow their passion for an issue to become the “official” opinion of the UUA as a whole.
It is also important to know what social justice issues our congregations
are working on. This will help the offices within Advocacy and Witness
as we develop and disseminate proper and relevant resources and information
congregations want and need to do social action.
- How should we publicize or get media attention for our social justice
event or campaign? Who should we call at the UUA if we need advice on
working with the media?
- The Office of Information and Public Witness provides general information
as well as media and public relations services for the UUA, districts,
and congregations. The term "Public Witness" refers to religiously
grounded communications on issues of social justice. We work with a strong
sense of mission; for us public relations work is about sharing and advancing
our most cherished values.
John Hurley, Director of the Office of Information and Public Witness,
convenes the UUA's interdepartmental Public Witness team, a group that
coordinates the UUA’s internal and external communications strategies.
He also assists with crisis communication for congregations and provides
media training for ministers and other UU spokespeople.
Janet Hayes, Information Officer, develops public relations workshops
and resources for UU congregations and offers practical help for local
media outreach efforts.
Erika Nonken, Public Information Assistant, serves as the UUA's first
point of contact for all inquiries to the association. In addition to
answering a wide range of questions, Erika conducts historical research
and coordinates the monthly congregational mailing. She provides tours
of the UUA headquarters building for visitors and youth from across the
country.
Please feel free to contact us if we can assist you: John Hurley: (617)
948-6131, jhurley@uua.org; Janet Hayes: (6170 948-4386, jhayes@uua.org;
Erika Nonken: (617) 948-4652, enonken@uua.org or info@uua.org
- Congregations and Lobbying & Advocacy
- Isn’t a religious lobbying office a violation of the separation
of church and state?
- No, lobbying is well within the bounds of legality for churches,
and is in fact one of the most effective forms of social justice work
for congregations. The IRS defines lobbying as "advocating for
or against a specific bill or piece of legislation". In other
words, this is when you meet with your representative and/or their
staff and say, “We oppose HR 27 and ask you to vote against
it.” Lobbying does not, however, include talking about the issues
with your elected representative. When you speak about your support
for the environment or opposition to hate crimes, you are having an
issues discussion, not lobbying.
The IRS allows churches to spend up to 5% of their total time lobbying.
Total time includes everything the church does- choir practice, religious
education, covenant group meetings, services, etc. It would be virtual
impossible for a congregation to reach that 5% limit for lobbying.
So don’t worry about it- get out there and let your elected
officials know where you and your congregation stand! For more information
on IRS Guidelines for Congregations, please check out
The Real Rules.
Can our congregation be involved in Political Activity without violating
our IRS non-profit status? What kinds of activities?
Your congregation can be involved in the political process in many
ways, as long as it is not politically partisan. For more information
about congregational action and the IRS, please see the UUA Washington
Office for Advocacy resource
The Real Rules. There is a short version
summary as well as a full version.
- Should our congregation invite political candidates to speak?
- Depending on the facts and circumstances, a congregation may invite
political candidates to speak at events without jeopardizing its tax-exempt
status. Political candidates may be invited in their capacity as candidates,
or individually (not as a candidate).
When a candidate is invited to speak as a political candidate, the congregation
must take steps to ensure that:
• It provides an equal opportunity to other candidates
seeking the same office;
• It does not indicate any support of or opposition to the candidate
(this should be stated explicitly when the candidate is introduced
and in communications concerning the candidate’s attendance);
and
• No political fundraising occurs.
• Equal Opportunity to Participate
In determining whether candidates are given an equal opportunity to
participate, a congregation should consider the nature of the event
to which each candidate is invited. For example, a congregation that
invites one candidate to speak at its well-attended annual banquet,
but invites the opposing candidate to speak at a sparsely attended
general meeting, will likely be found to have violated the political
campaign prohibition, even if the manner of presentation for both
speakers is otherwise neutral.
• Public Forum
A public forum involving several candidates for public office may
qualify as an appropriate educational activity if it is conducted
in a nonpartisan manner. To ensure that your congregation does not
engage in prohibited political campaign activity, make sure that:
• All candidates (or at least all major candidates) are invited
to participate;
• Questions for the candidates are prepared and presented by
an independent nonpartisan panel;
• The topics discussed by the candidates cover a broad range of
issues that the candidates would address if elected to the office
sought and are of interest to the public;
• Each candidate is given an equal opportunity to present his
or her views on the issues discussed;
• Candidates are not asked to agree or disagree with positions,
agendas, platforms or statements of the congregation; and
• Comments or questions from the moderator do not imply approval
or disapproval of any or all the candidates.
For complete IRS Guidelines on Advocacy, Lobbying, and Elections for congregations,
see: The Real Rules or contact the Washington Office for Advocacy at (202)
296-4672 or uuawo@uua.org for a paper copy.
- Social Justice Programs for the Whole Congregation
- What is Socially Responsible Investing? How can our congregation
get involved?
- Integrating our religious values and societal concerns with investment
decisions is called
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI). Many congregations
seek ways to invest their money without sacrificing their values.
This is especially true for religious and charitable organizations
that seek competitive rates of return from investments consistent
with their ethical or moral principles.
Methods of socially responsible investing include avoiding stock ownership
in corporations that make harmful products or that have patterns of
egregious behavior; proactively investing in firms known for corporate
responsibility or positive contributions to society or the environment;
seeking to change corporate behavior through proposing and representing
resolutions at annual stockholder meetings; and investing in credit
unions, non-profit banks, or funds that make loans to enterprises
in low-income communities.
In addition, through a matching investment to the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) your congregation has chosen to support, the UUA encourages congregations to adopt a community investing policy. Visit the Community Investing Matching Program webpage for info on how to apply.
For resources on how to get started and stories of other UU congregations who have practiced socially responsible investing, visit the SRI webpage. Contact Susan Leslie, Director of the Office for Congregational Advocacy and Witness, at sleslie@uua.org or (617) 948-4607 for more information.
- What is Congregation Based Community Organizing? How can our congregation
get involved?
- Congregation Based Community Organizing (also called Faith-Based
or Broad-Based) is a movement that seeks to establish inter-faith,
cross class, multi-ethnic and multi-racial grassroots organizations
for purposes of increasing social integration and power in civil society
and for making civic, regional and state-wide changes for social improvement.
By “civil society,” we mean the voluntary sector, including
religious institutions.
Over 100 UU congregations are members of CBCOs. The Office for Congregational
Advocacy and Witness provides resources and support for congregations
interested in or engaged in CBCO. Contact Susan Leslie, Director of
the Office for Congregational Advocacy and Witness, at sleslie@uua.org
or (617) 948-4607 for more information.
Dr. Fred Seidl, a UU volunteer, is working with the Office for Congregational
Advocacy and Witness to promote and enhance congregation based community
organizing. He is available for consultation and connecting UUs who
have an interest in or are currently active in Congregation Based
Community Organizing. You can contact him at Fseidl@uua.org.
For more information, visit www.uua.org/programs/justice/cbco.html
- How do the programs of Advocacy and Witness fulfill the UUA’s
commitment to racial justice and anti-oppression?
- See
Congregational Resources for information on, and a complete
listing of, the UUA’s anti-oppression resources and programs,
including:
• Accessibility Resources
• Journey Toward Wholeness Path to Anti-Racism
• Latino/a Hispanic Concerns
• Welcoming Congregation
Read
Becoming a Strong Ally 101 and share it with your congregation
as you engage in social justice work. Or for a paper copy, contact
the Washington Office for Advocacy at (202) 296-4672 or uuawo@uua.org.
In addition to these resources and programs offered by Advocacy and
Witness, the UUA’s Washington Office strives to pursue a legislative
agenda that is accountable to people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender communities, and other historically-marginalized groups.
We do this by framing the issues we work on in an anti-oppressive
manner. For example, our work on civil liberties not only focuses
on privacy rights that are of concern to all Americans, but also on
racial profiling and the targeting of Muslim, Arab, and South Asian
citizens and residents. The Washington Office also chooses its legislative
priorities after considering the priorities of organizations that
represent constituencies of historically marginalized and oppressed
groups.
- About the Washington Office
- I am a young adult interested in working in the Washington Office.
Who should I contact?
- Please contact Rob Keithan, Director of the UUA Washington Office,
at rkeithan@uua.org or (202) 296-4672 x15 if you are interested in
applying for the Social Justice Internship Program.
The goal of the UUA Social Justice Internship Program is to combine
service, learning, and faith development in order to produce energetic
young adults with the professional skills and strength of character
to be lifelong leaders in Unitarian Universalism and working for social
justice.
The program requires a time commitment of two years in which interns
invest their time and energy in three main areas: Advocacy, Community
Service, and Theological Reflection.
Visit www.uua.org/uuawo and click on “Internships”
for more information on the internship and application process.
- Does the Washington Office need volunteers?
- Over the past few years we have had many volunteers, including high
school students doing internships for credit, and long-time volunteer,
Larry Egbert who has done work on Peace and Conflict Resolution issues.
We especially welcome persons interested in volunteering to work on
short-term projects with our office. Please contact uuawo@uua.org
or call (202) 296-4672 x10 to further discuss volunteer opportunities.
- I’ve been trying to reach Rob Cavenaugh for a year now. Where
did he go?
- Turns out he’s been here the whole time! Rob got married last
year and changed his last name to Keithan, along with his wife, Mandy.
When you call him, ask him to tell you the whole story of how that
name came to be—he LOVES to tell that story.
- How can Meg Riley be the director of the Washington Office if she
lives in Minnesota?
- In the words of Meg Riley: “Thank you for all of the kind,
supportive wishes on my family's relocation to Minneapolis. Several
of you have also expressed some bewilderment about just how a person
would direct the Washington Office of the UUA from Minneapolis. I
wanted to address that question head-on, knowing that you will be
interacting with constituents who may be similarly baffled and hoping
that you will be able to answer all their questions feeling well-informed.
“The answer to the question is simple: I am not the Director
of the UUA Washington Office. Two years ago, I accepted the position
of Director of Advocacy and Witness for the UUA, and Rob Keithan became
the Director of the Washington Office for Advocacy. He has done that
job superbly ever since, and I have served as his supervisor, as I
have supervised Olivia Holmes and International Programs, John Hurley
and the Office of Information and Public Witness, and Susan Leslie
in the Office of Congregational Advocacy and Witness, all of whom
work in Boston. As a member of the UUA Leadership Council, I have
worked and will continue to work to connect the dots between these
various programs, whose shared mission is to represent UU values to
the wider world and to promote harmony and justice. We have bold plans
for the coming years and are moving full speed ahead.”
Free JavaScripts provided
by The JavaScript Source
|
