FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Re: UU social justice training - Rev.s Sewell and Lore

[Barbara Weatherhead (barbweather]

Sounds interesting but I could not open the attachment.

Barbara Weatherhead
barbweather [at] comcast.net  

-----Original Message-----
From: jojane [at] juno.com [mailto:jojane [at] juno.com] 
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 12:19 PM
To: Barb Weatherhead
Subject: [sa-talk] UU social justice training - Rev.s Sewell and Lore

All - MUUSJA organizes an annual social justice training for UU
leadership development.  Some of you have come to some of the trainings.

(Last year there were two - "The Revolution Starts Now" with Rev.
Valerie
Ackerman, about the reflection/action model of SJ work; and the
anti-racism workshop with Rev. Bill Gardiner "Workshop on Whiteness".)

Below is info about what we're considering for 2008.    MUUSJA may ask
FUS SAC to co-sponsor - that has worked out well in past years (our
lower
assembly hall is such a great place for events like this....).
Portland
UU uses Rev. Richard Gilbert's model of doing SJ work as UUs (education,
service, witness, systemic change).  

Considering SAC has been moving toward plans to hire a pilot/interim
social justice staff person; -  and wants to work with the board &
strategic planning committee to move toward a second minister with
social
justice part of the job description - this would be a very useful
training for all of us.

Jo



>From Ralph Wyman's report re: GA 2007:
>>Rev. Marilyn Sewell of Portland’s downtown First Unitarian Church,
together with Kate Lore [now Rev. Lore], their full time S.J. staffer,
did a great panel on Spirituality in Social Justice.  Marilyn was also
the main speaker at the Saturday “Witness for the Earth” rally that was
part of GA making wider connection to Portland.  I would like to see if
MUUSJA might be able to partner with a Metro UU congregation to invite
Marilyn (and/or Kate) to do a weekend sometime next year – ie:  a
training workshop Saturday, a fundraising reception Sat night, and have
her preach the Sunday sermon.<<

FYI from their web site:
Social Justice Program FAQ Sheet
-- Frequently Asked Questions --
Q: How many people attend your church?
A: We have just a little more than 1,600 members and an average Sunday
attendance of
around 950 - 1000 adults, plus another 250 children.
Q: How many people are involved in the Social Justice Program at First
Unitarian
Church?
A: There are approximately 250 people who regularly attend Social
Justice
meetings. A
far larger number participate in Social Justice events. For example:
· Over 700 people on a single Sunday signed our petition opposing going
to war
with Iraq.
· Over 600 people came to hear NY Times columnist Paul Krugman speak at
a
special Social Justice event.
· Over 400 church families participated in the 1-2-3 Campaign to Reduce
Global
Warming.
Q: How are decisions made regarding which social justice issues to work
on or
endorse?
A: There is a Social Justice Council, made up of the chairs of each of
the ten social
justice groups, which meets monthly with our paid Social Justice
Director. This body is
responsible for the direction of the Social Justice Program.
Q: What are the names of the social justice groups at First Unitarian
Church?
A: They are as follows:
· Economic Justice Action Group
· Peace Action Group (which has a number of subcommittees)
· 7th Principle Environmental Action Group
· Downtown Homeless Action Group
· Beloved Community (which works on racial justice issues)
· Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good (which works on community
organizing through the Industrial Areas Foundation)
· UU Global AIDS Coaltion
· Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)
· Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community (UUJEC)
· Voter Registration/Education/Mobilization Committee
Q: How many new members list our Social Justice Program as being a major
reason
for joining this church?
A: Approximately 60%
Q: Why is the Social Justice Program so successful?
A: There are several contributing factors to the success of our program,
including:
· Our church sees social justice work as part of its mission.
· Our church takes this mission seriously.
· Our church has a full- time Social Justice Director
· The senior minister, Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell, is highly committed to
social
justice work.
· We believe that for social justice work to be successful it needs to
be
grounded in
love. This means that we try our best to refrain from being
self-righteous or angry
and we incorporate our shared spiritual values into everything we do.
· We organize a lot of community events and Portland, Oregon is a
progressive
city, by and large. Its citizens respond well to our quest for justice,
equity and
compassion and many end up joining our church as a result.
Q: How is the Social Justice Director’s position funded?
A: The church has included this position in the church budget. In
addition, we have
received generous support for the Social Justice Program from the Veatch
Foundation,
McKenzie River Gathering Foundation, the Tides Foundation and other
social change
foundations.
Q: How can I find out more about the Social Justice Program at First
Unitarian
Church?
A: Please visit our church website, www.firstunitarianportland.org

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