How We Do Our Work Together

The Social Justice Ministry at UUC is accountable to the mission of the church and our UU Principles, including the 8th Principle which we voted as a congregation to adopt in January 2022 as part of our commitment to becoming a more anti-racist church community. In furtherance of these principles, we have adopted several different ways of doing the work:

Leadership

UUC’s Social Justice Ministry is supported and led by UUC's Assistant Minister, the Rev. Beth Chronister, in relationship with numerous, committed lay leaders and teams.

The Social Justice Steering Committee works with Rev. Beth to support the overall health and functioning of UUC’s Social Justice programing, as well as supports emerging initiatives and teams. They are also responsible for organizing our 2nd Sunday Plate program and Seeds of Justice program which share financial resources with organizations in the wider community.

The Equity Team is a resourceful and relational team which was formed to help guide and support UUC in becoming a more equitable and anti-racist institution, focusing the the work to dismantle oppression not only in the wider community, but within our walls. They are available on a consulting basis.

The Social Justice Teams organize around issues or specific community partnerships. Most teams meet monthly in small groups or they gather for specific service opportunities. Teams will offer educational programming in the congregation and opportunities to get involved in the wider community through volunteering, advocacy, or public witness.

Vocally and Actively Opposing Injustice

We will vocally and actively oppose injustice and stand in prophetic judgment of all that would diminish the equality and dignity of human beings or harm the web of life.

- UUC's Mission and Vision

In alignment with this vision statement, the Social Justice Steering Committee created a discernment process to take public positions. Using the Taking a Position Process, social justice teams can discern together, in dialogue with the ministers and Social Justice Steering Committee, whether to take a public position as a church community on an issue. This process has allowed UUC to be more nimble, responsive, and vocal in the wider community.

With decisions which impact the UUC community as a whole, such as hosting Tent City 3 and affirming the 8th Principle, the congregation is invited into a shared education and discernment process that culminates in a congregational vote.

You can see the history of positions UUC has taken over the past decade on our Social Justice History page.

Sharing our Resources

Through the Second Sunday Plate Program, UUC shares our offering plate once a month with outside organizations. From September 2022 to May 2023, we donated more than $40,000 to community partners and urgent direct aid. Plate recipients are nominated by Social Justice Teams to the Social Justice Steering Committee, which coordinates the program.

You can see last year’s list of Second Sunday Plate recipients on the GIVING page of the same name.

The Seeds of Justice Program is a grant-making program located within UUC. From the accumulation of dedicated gifts of members, every several years, the Social Justice Steering Committee engages in a year of application, discernment and interviewing local organizations. Each cycle, one to two grants are offered to local organizations, which we also commit to supporting in other ways over a period of two years through volunteer engagement and solidarity.