Mission of the Social Justice Council
To fulfill the Church’s mission to act for social justice by empowering individual members and the congregation as a whole.

Basic Belief and Policy Framework
1.    Our work will be most effective if it concentrates on systemic change, but also includes charity for those in need.

2.    Our work will of necessity bring us into conflict with those who resist change, either because of their fear of change or because the present conditions serve their interests.

3.    Where conflict results from our press for systemic change, we will pursue our agenda vigorously and relentlessly, but with good humor, with fairness, with open minds, and with compassionate hearts.

4.    We will see “victory” as progress on the road to greater social justice and never as a vanquishing of an enemy.

5.    We will work for social justice, not because it makes us feel good to “do good,” but because our work to serve others is central to our own Awakening as spiritual beings.

6.    We will always be mindful of the spiritual basis for our work and not allow our work to become merely partisan political efforts.

7.    We are permanently committed to continuous social justice reform and recognize neither permanent allies nor permanent adversaries among other religious groups or political parties.

8.    We welcome all progressive social justice work by other groups of all kinds; we will join with them in common cause whenever that joining adds strength to the effort.

9.    We agree that in our work together, we will:

• Count all voices equally.
• Listen to hear.
• Leave baggage at the door.
• Take no cheap shots.
• Look for the Light in one another.

Goals

• Provide information to members and attendees of the First Unitarian congregation and other UU congregations about social justice work underway at the church.
• Encourage and facilitate the formation and successful work of Action Groups that subscribe to the principles of the Church and the Social Justice Council.
• Encourage and facilitate both forums for learning about social justice issues and practical action to bring about systemic change.

Responsibilities of the Social Justice Council

• Review proposed new Social Justice Action Groups to determine whether and how they fit the criteria established by the Church and the Council.
• Monitor the activities of the Action Groups and other social justice groups to provide assistance where needed or counseling where actual or proposed actions are outside the criteria established by the Social Justice Council.
• Develop and assure the implementation of efficient processes for accomplishing social justice work so that a minimum of time and energy is spent dealing with process and a maximum on actual social justice work.
• Approve budgets and exercise budgetary control of the Social Justice Council itself and of all related Action Groups.
• Assure that no Social Justice action by the Council or any Action Group is in violation of the rules under which the Church is a tax-exempt body.
• Review and approve major Social Justice initiatives proposed to be conducted in the name of the Church or of the Social Justice Council.
• Actively pursue connections with other groups in the community that are working for social justice.
• Prepare, and update at least annually, a strategic plan for Social Justice initiatives that look three to five years into the future.
• Assure continuity from year to year for all social justice initiatives, with protocols for change over of Council members and Action Group chairs.

Membership of the Social Justice Council 

• Chair
• Vice Chair
• Social Justice Director
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Action Group Chairs or Representatives
• At-Large Members:
  Youth Group
  United Nations Delegate

    Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Chair: Carl Vandervoort