[Sac-news] Supporting Equal Marriage & Organizing for Justice

Fri Jun 9 14:56:52 EDT 2006

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SOCIAL ACTION CHAIR (SAC) News
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Dear SAC-News Readers:

Thanks to all who participated in the UUA's Standing on the Side of Love Campaign to defeat the proposed federal marriage amendment.  More senators voted against the amendment than did last year -- we are gaining ground!  A statement from President William Sinkford is included below.  The photo of Rev. Sinkford marrying the Goodridges -- the first legal same-sex marriage - has been broadcast around the world this week by the BBC, CNN and others!  See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5056474.stm.

The National Black Justice Coalition, of which President Sinkford is a member, has announced  the first annual "Faithful Call to Justice."  On Saturday, June 24th and Sunday June 25th black clergy, their congregations and others across the nation will join together to acknowledge the contributions of and affirm their commitment to the inclusion of gay and same gender loving people in faith communities.  See http://www.faithfulcall.com/.

Also in this issue:

1) UU World.org article on the UUA's Social Justice Empowerment Program.  Find out how this program can help your congregation.   Note:  We are now accepting applications for fall, winter, and spring workshops.

2) GA Updates - AIWs, networking meetings, new resources from the UUA Committee on Socially Responsible Investing, and more.

3) A Request -- Please send in congregational reports about what your congregation has done regarding the current Statement of Conscience on Criminal Justice and Prison Reform, the proposed SOC on Global Warming and the Study Action Issue on Moral Values for a Pluralistic Society.   We will include them in the Advocacy & Witness report to General Assembly.

In solidarity, Susan

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News: UUA President William G. Sinkford Responds to the Senate's Rejection of the Federal Marriage Amendment
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"The latest effort to amend the United States constitution to deny loving couples the rights and responsibilities of marriage is a blatant attempt to write discrimination into our democracy's foundational document.  This attack on American couples and families exposes the increasingly cynical efforts by the extreme right to divert the country's attention from far more vital issues.  The resounding failure of this proposed amendment is a testimony to the enduring power of the constitution, which has never been altered with the express intent to deny equal protection to an entire class of citizens.  May it never be used as a weapon against any of "we the people," but instead be preserved in sacred trust as a guarantee of freedom and liberty for all Americans.

This amendment was a shameful attempt to divide the American people. I am thankful to the thousands of Unitarian Universalists across the country who have borne witness to our liberal religious values and raised their voices to defeat this amendment and affirm that we are in fact one people."

For more news and resources about the UUA's Standing on the Side of Love and to learn about state campaigns see http://www.uua.org/news/freedomtomarry/060605_dc.html.

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1) Social Justice Empowerment Workshop

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Program strengthens church social justice work

Long-running UUA program helps congregations evaluate and strengthen their social justice programs.
By Jane Greer 

When it comes to social justice, some Unitarian Universalist congregations say they lack size or sufficient resources to have a real impact. But the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations' Social Justice Empowerment Program (SJEP) is helping to change this perception. 

"We help groups to see their own strengths and what they've accomplished," said the Rev. Bill Gardiner, SJEP's founder and the former codirector of the UUA's Faith in Action program. "Often they don't see how powerful they are." 

SJEP has been helping congregations build their social justice programs through weekend workshops since 1992. The program helps individual congregations assess their own strengths and weaknesses in social justice organizing and works with them to develop an effective social action program. The program also helps churches that have had active social justice programs evaluate-and celebrate-their efforts, giving them ideas for ways to function even more powerfully. In April, SJEP gave its 146th workshop.

For full article see http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/programstrengthenschurchsocialjusticework4932.shtml

For workshop information and application go to http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/ep/

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3) GA News:

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PROPOSED ACTIONS OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS:

**From the UU Service Committee:

GULF COAST WORKERS DESERVE JUSTICE NOW

Take action for justice at GA06! Join UUSC in demanding justice for Gulf Coast workers. The Gulf Coast reconstruction is highlighting the struggles that have faced the working poor in the U.S. for generations. The issues of racism and poverty are now at the forefront of the public consciousness. In order to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, survivors in the Gulf Coast region need good jobs with fair wages and safe working conditions. We're calling on all GA attendees to take action with us to support justice for workers. Come learn who's not getting a slice of the pie and why! 

**Pizza Party with a purpose! Hosted by UUSC

Speakers: 

Johanna Chao Rittenburg, manager of UUSC's Economic Justice Program

Mary Fontaneau, director of ACT (All Congregations Together) in New Orleans

Martha Thompson, manager of UUSC's Rights in Humanitarian Crises Program

When and Where:

The Youth Room: the America's Center -- Room AB 

Thursday, June 22, 2006 6:30pm -7:45pm (right before HUUPLA)

For more information contact Rachel Binderman, UU Service Committee at rbinderman at uusc.org <mailto:rbinderman at uusc.org> .

**From Sponsors of ACTION OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS ON IRAQ WAR

The proposed AIW on the Iraq War calls on UUs to join The Declaration of Peace, a new nonviolent campaign uniting over twenty-five organizations and thousands of individuals across the nation and around the world to take nonviolent action to end the US war in Iraq. We would welcome your joining us in this important nonviolent campaign and helping spread the word with your friends and constituencies with whom you work.

Click Below to Read and Sign the Declaration of Peace
http://www.declarationofpeace.org/ 

The Declaration of Peace is a pledge to take peaceful steps for the
immediate withdrawal of US troops and to engage in nonviolent action
if a plan to end the war is not established and begun by September
21, 2006 -- International Peace Day -- days before the US Congress adjourns.

IF YOU CAN COMMIT, PLEASE, TELL US BY SUBSCRIBING TO [

UUADOP-SUBSCRIBE at LISTS.RISEUP.NET <http://us.f822.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=UUADOP-SUBSCRIBE@LISTS.RISEUP.NET&YY=62592&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b> 

Micky Duxbury, Sherry Larsen-Beville, Tom Luce - First Unitarian Church
Of Oakland

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SOC MINI ASSEMBLY Threat of Global Warming: Statement of Conscience 3 hour Mini-Assembly is on Thursday, June 22nd at 8:00 a.m.  America's Center 267

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SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING WORKSHOPS AT THIS GA  

The UUA Committee on Socially Responsible Investing has developed new tools for congregational involvement in SRI and has expanded the UUA's shareholder advocacy program.  

Congregational Finances: 
A Powerful Tool for Social Justice
Friday, June 23, 4-5:15pm Room 242 
Community Investing, Shareholder Activism, Investment Screens. Each offers a powerful addition to congregational social justice strategies. But which one? How much money is needed? What committee structure is effective for launching each one? What's step one? You'll leave with an action plan to get your congregation's finances bending toward justice. 

Repeat Sunday, June 25, 1:45-3:00PM Room 242

The Double Bottom Line: Investing Our Values
Sat, Jun 25, 12-1:15pm Room 220
If you have the Q's we'll do our best to have the A's at this open house workshop. Please join our smorgasbord of UU representatives who have knowledge and interest in socially responsible investing, shareholder advocacy, the UUA General Investment Fund, and the UU Service Committee in a free-for-all dialogue 

See http://www.uua.org/finance/sri/ for more information.

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GA Gatherings:

Social Justice Gathering on Wed. June 21st, 2-5 http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/06ga_SJ_gathering.pdf

>From the Heart: Building a New Democracy Movement -- Featuring Linda Stout of Spirit in Action, joined by Paula Cole Jones for JUUST Change, Rev. Jeanne Llloyd of UU Society for Community Ministries, and Susan Leslie of Office for Congregational Advocacy & Witness.

See http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/06ga_LindaStout_NOLA.pdf.

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4) UU Congregations and the Social Witness Process

Please send in congregational reports about what your congregation has done regarding the current Statement of Conscience on Criminal Justice and Prison Reform, the proposed SOC on Global Warming and the Study Action Issue on Moral Values for a Pluralistic Society.   We will include them in the Advocacy & Witness report to General Assembly on our justice website and elsewhere.  

Please write to me directly at sleslie at uua.org.  Thanks!

Please send in congregational reports about what your congregation has done regarding the current Statement of Conscience on Criminal Justice and Prison Reform, the proposed SOC on Global Warming and the Study Action Issue on Moral Values for a Pluralistic Society.   We will include them in the Advocacy & Witness report to General Assembly.

Susan Leslie
Director for Congregational Advocacy & Witness
UUA, 25 Beacon St., Boston MA 02108
617-948-4607; sleslie at uua.org
Visit www.uua.org/justice
Subscribe to SAC-News, SRI-News & Advocacy-News at
www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo

<http://www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo> 