• Service after the Service

  • First Sunday of the month, donations are accepted for the Easton Food Pantry

  • Second Sunday of the month, the congregation assembles and provides bag lunches of Mainspring House

  • Third Sunday of the month, donations are accepted for Womansplace Crisis Center

  • Fourth Sunday of the month, the congregation participates in a letter writing campaign supporting a social justice issue during Coffee Hour.

• Supporting the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

• Supporting Womansplace Crisis Center in a variety of ways, including our annual Mother's Day Eve Concert.

• Offering the Church a Social Action Resource Table.

• Supporting South Shore Habitat for Humanity through work-days and financial donations.

• Participating in the Brockton-area Interfaith Community

• Requesting special offerings for charitable organizations and during emergencies, including The Sharing Foundation and RAWA (A Women's Organization in Afghanistan)

• working on a Christmas Toy Drive for for Families in our Area

Introduction

Unity Church’s Social Justice Program became the topic for the 2004 Annual Retreat after reflection and discussion by the Executive Committee revealed that Unity’s Social Justice Ministry was in need of attention.  While social justice activities were and are ongoing, a clearer vision and structure were needed.

During the retreat, a chronological history of Unity’s social justice work was created.  This permitted further reflection and a rich grounding for the work ahead.  Retreat facilitator, Mr. Charles Zoeller, shared with those in attendance at the retreat the many benefits to churches that institute effective social justice programs.  Creation, approval and implementation of such a program by the congregation of Unity Church in North Easton, Massachusetts will allow interested congregants to participate fully in an array of social justice ministries.  They may do so by leading, or participating as a member, in two types of initiatives: a Unity Annual Social Justice Commitment group or a Social Justice Project group, or by serving on the committee charged with coordinating Unity’s social justice efforts.

This “coordinating committee” is charged with a number of responsibilities including creating and maintaining support, training, and a caring community for the volunteers who are active in our shared Social Justice Ministry.  Additional challenges to the committee are to create and implement an effective conflict resolution process and guide the congregation in avoiding political infighting in regard to the social justice program initiatives.

This document describes the first steps in establishing a new Social Justice Program for Unity Church.  Appendices are included to provide suggestions for communication strategies around the Social Justice Program, and to illustrate important elements in the social justice ministry of congregations.  The chronological history of Unity’s social justice work may also be attached as an appendix at such time that it is deemed appropriately complete.

Proposal

The discussions at the 2004 Annual Retreat led to this proposal to create:

v      a plan for the maintenance of ongoing social justice projects.

v      an effective infrastructure to support all of our social justice initiatives.

To meet these goals, a Social Justice Coordinating Committee (SJCC) will be formed.

Two types of social justice initiatives will be recognized:

• Social Justice Projects

These are projects that do not need approval by the entire congregation. They may be led by a smaller group of people, and may be the focus for a smaller subset of the congregation.  So that the SJCC may fulfill their responsibilities of coordination, project leaders must inform the SJCC of their mission and may submit a budget request.  A Social Justice Project could be organized at any time.

• Unity Church Annual Social Justice Commitments

These initiatives are submitted as proposals to the SJCC.  They are voted on by the congregation, thus establishing those chosen as Commitments for a given year. They require committed participation by a broad group of people and will be a focus for the entire congregation.

Creation of a Social Justice Coordinating Committee (SJCC)

The first step in implementing the program is to create a committee responsible for coordinating the social justice ministries of Unity Church, North Easton, Massachusetts and for communicating the actions of the ministries to the congregation.  As stated above, this committee is charged with creating and maintaining support, training, and a caring community for the volunteers who are active in our shared Social Justice Ministry.  This is the Social Justice Coordinating Committee (SJCC).

Structure of the SJCC

• Membership of this committee shall consist of five (5) persons as appointed by the Executive Committee of Unity Church, North Easton, Massachusetts. After the first year of the program, each member will serve a staggered term of three (3) years in office.

Responsibilities of the SJCC

• The SJCC shall generally educate and advise the congregation of Unity Church of North Easton, Massachusetts, and/or the social justice initiative groups (see above – two types of social justice initiatives will be recognized).
• The SJCC shall review, coordinate, and clarify the submitted proposals and create a list of initiatives which they will then communicate to the congregation.
• Throughout the year, the SJCC supports, coordinates, and oversees the initiatives and assists them in keeping the congregation informed of their work.
• The SJCC will work with initiative groups to identify the following areas/types of social justice work within their initiatives

• education

•  witness

• advocacy

• community organizing

• service

• transformative work

• The SJCC will offer periodic social justice training opportunities.
• The committee shall self appoint members to act as liaisons with, (but not limited to) the UU Service Committee (UUSC), the Ballou Channing District (BCD), and with all Unity Annual Social Justice Commitment(s) or Social Justice Project committee members/participants. 
• The SJCC is also a means for the church and congregants to grow into and support a larger, more comprehensive social justice community project, outside of Unity Church.

Meetings

• Meetings of the SJCC will be open to members and friends of Unity Church, including members and friends of the Unity Annual Social Justice Commitment(s) and Social Justice Project(s), as well as social justice groups or members acting officially or unofficially in partnership with Unity Church of North Easton, Massachusetts.  Members of the public at large are also welcome.