Working in consultation with the Strategic Planning and Nominating Committees, the Working for Justice Steering Group was formed to encourage, guide and oversee efforts by members and friends at UUCB to prevent hate and prejudice within our congregation as well as in the larger community.
The formation of a new social justice initiative that would realize the UUCB mission "to work for justice" began with a series of meetings over the summer of 2010 to consider questions about social action – efforts that UUCB could do as a community that would make a difference while deepening our own spiritual growth.
In October, a group of about 40 participants brainstormed social justice issues that could engage the whole congregation and voted on those they thought could be transformative –deepening relationships among participants and encouraging community collaboration. The congregation voted and selected the issue of preventing hate and prejudice as a focus for UUCB.
In January 2011, the newly formed Working for Justice Steering Group took as its charge the goals for social action to guide efforts by members and friends to prevent hate and prejudice. The Steering Group seeks to:
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Enrich the spiritual journeys of members and friends in our congregation
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Engage our congregation in actions that nourish both giver and receiver
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Encourage community collaboration by responding to an already expressed need and building on existing initiatives
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Oversee activities and work toward diminishing hate and prejudice in UUCB, Brunswick and surrounding communities
Cathey Cyrus, Jane Danielson, Lynn Ellis, Ed McCartan
Above: Peace Pole rededication at Brunswick. Produced by the World Peace Society, peace poles are hand-crafted monuments that display the message and prayer May Peace Prevail on Earth. More than 200,000 Peace Poles have been erected in 180 countries all over the world, serving as constant reminders for us to visualize and pray for world peace. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick's peace pole displays the prayer in four different language, including paw prints.
Above: Some members of the Social Justice Committee participate
in the
Peace Fair, August 2008.