Social Justice and Faith

Faith as Essential to Social Justice Work:

 Although Unitarian Universalists do not strictly abide by religious rules, congregants expressed that their faith plays an essential role in their engagement with social justice. Denise Konen said that tough social justice work involves “breaking your heart open over and over.” She expressed that “that is where my faith helps me. I could not do this work without it and without my faith community."¹

Unitarian Universalist faith grounds its individual adherents in their own activist work, but also serves as an institution that can provide support for activist movements more broadly.

Polly says that at a Black Lives Matter rally event, “It wasn’t an accident that Reverends Justin and Elaine wore collars. I said, ‘Where’d you get that—the costume store?' They rarely wear collars. But when they show up [to these events], they always wear their collars because it says something. It says there’s a community of faith behind us… We have that authority and credibility behind us.” ²

Social Justice Efforts Provide a "Sense of Purpose:"

For many congregants, service to the community is a central draw of Unitarian Universalism. In Peg Mitchell's leadership with the church’s Faithful Action efforts, she said she has gained a "sense of purpose and has a support for that purpose.”⁴ Congregant Denise Konen, similarly feels that the church gives her a chance to fulfill her “purpose,” which is “to create more belonging and connection” in the world. ⁵ Polly Talen feels that The First Universalist has served as one of her “spheres of influence,” meaning that she has “the opportunity to be influential” to other congregants and other churches. She said that through their racial justice work, “right now we’re influencing other churches. They’re come to us and asking ‘how did you do this?’ That’s an exciting piece of it.” ⁶ Aside from her own community engagement efforts, Peg expressed that for the average Unitarian Universalist congregant, social justice is a major draw.

She said, “There are a number of people who I would say join this church as a support base for their social justice concerns. When you don't have God pulling you, what is it that pulls you in? It’s those shared values, and for many people it’s the social justice stuff and the racial justice stuff.”⁷

Social Justice and Community-Building:

Because many congregants take interest in community engagement, the First Universalist allows people with similar interests to bond. Congregant Fawzia Khan remembers that when she first started coming to the First Universalist, people told her “the best way to get to know others is to volunteer for something.” At first, Fawzia thought, “Of course, sure- you want us to volunteer because you need volunteers.” But that sentiment ended up being true.

Fawzia found that “The more you get involved, you meet other people.” ⁸ Passion for social justice unites members of the First Universalist, and the space provides them with the resources, faith basis, and people-power necessary to sustain their engagement.