Universal Justice

Unitarians and Universalists have long been at the forefront of justice work with active participation in movements in the 19th and 20 th century for religious freedom, abolition of slavery, women’s rights, prison reform, and mental health services.  Today, Unitarian
Universalists continue to work for justice on issues such as environmental justice, immigration, religious pluralism, LGBTQ rights and marriage equality, economic justice, and racial justice.

Our UU Principles call us to affirm:
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;
The goal of a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part;

And,

Our UUSMV mission calls us to:
Foster community action and universal justice.

See how we live our mission and principles through community and justice actions…

At UUSMV, we advocate, we educate, we serve, and we donate. We live our mission of community action and universal justice and our UU principles of justice, equity and compassion by:

Advocacy

Learn more about UUSMV campaigns and groups we support:

Black Lives Matter
Supporting the UUA’s endorsement of the Black Lives Matter campaign, by witnessing for racial justice ( http://www.uua.org/multiculturalism/black-lives-matter )

  • Side with Love campaign seeking to harness the power of love to end oppression ( https://sidewithlove.org/ )
  • Bearing witness for human rights by participating in the Stand Together Rally and the Women’s March
  • Using our Wayside Pulpit and Facebook page to bear witness against oppression and for human rights, ( https://www.facebook.com/uusmv/ )
  • Working for food justice by walking in and raising money for the annual Church World
  • Services CROP Walk for Hunger, and donating to the Family to Family fund drive to provide Thanksgiving dinners to needy island families.
  • At Christmas time we provide needed clothing and gifts for needy island families through the Red Stocking Fund.
  • We participate in the UU Service Committee’s efforts for international justice and human
  • rights through the Guest at Your Table program and calls for international relief support ( http://www.uusc.org/ )
  • Through our quarterly Share the Plate program, we donate a Sunday Offertory to a charitable organization in keeping with our mission and principles. Download a charity nomination form here. (Insert link)
  • In 2024 we participated with other churches in organizing and hosting postcard parties to
  • encourage voters in swing states to vote in the presidential election. Many of our members wrote many postcards!
  • We promote lifelong learning on justice related issues through common book reads. (Link Resources for Anti-Racism and Other Oppressions under this site)


How You Can Help

Our actions for universal justice bring love to others, nurture hope in our lives, and help
move the arc of universe toward justice. Join us…

To advocate:
Follow our Facebook page and the weekly email newsletter, the UU Voice, for advocacy
action items! Contact Dorie Godfrey if there is a justice issue for which you would like to
champion advocacy.

To serve:
Volunteer for the Houses of Grace Island shelter. Contact Dorie Godfrey.
Help with the UUSMV Red Stocking gift purchasing or wrapping.
Join the Sewcial Action Knitwork. Contact Laura Beebe.

To donate:
Donate to the Share the Plate Sundays, Family to Family dinner fund in November, Red Stocking fund in December, Guest at Your Table program.

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