UUErie and UUJusticePA: The UUErie Social Justice Committee is active in UUJusticePA which has seven different Justice Teams. Each team is based on one or more of the following UU Principles:
UU Seven Principles: We covenant to affirm and promote:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
- Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregation.
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Justice Teams
Gun Violence Prevention –is based on Principle 2. We are seeing an increasing danger in our state and country, with gun sales, mass shootings, and inner-city violence growing at record rates. We recognize that gun violence affects lower-income communities disproportionately. We support the Black Lives Matter movement and we abhor unnecessary gun violence in all forms. We advocate for common sense measures to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and look to build and work with a coalition of groups to spread the message of peaceful solutions to conflict. (Monthly meetings on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 PM, except July & December.)
Environmental Justice – is based on Principle 7. Our focus is on the urgent need for environmental and climate action. We strive to live our lives in harmony within ecological limits and to lobby elected officials for sound environmental policies, commensurate with Article 1, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. We support local, state, and national environmental coalitions that focus on critically reducing our carbon footprint while also protecting our land, air, and water for this generation and future generations. (Monthly meetings on the first Thursday at 7 PM.)
Good Government – is based on Principle 5. We work to increase awareness and take action related to PA legislation that relates to having an open and honest government that represents everyone. We have a special focus on:
- redistricting reform
- increasing voter participation
- minimizing money’s role in government (Every other Month. Meetings begin in February on the first Tuesday at 7 PM.)
Criminal Justice Reform – is based on Principles 1 and 2. We work to end:
- mass incarceration, especially of people of color, due to unjust drug laws;
- mandatory minimum sentences;
- unfair administration of justice including over-policing, cash bail, and prosecutorial overreach;
- educational apartheid;
- substandard education;
- poor access to employment (Monthly meetings on the first Monday at 8 PM, except in July and December.)
Reproductive Justice – is based on UU Principles 4 and 5. We work to support and advocate for legislation that gives people the right to have or not to have children, improves maternal and child health, provides for safe and healthy environments in which to raise children, and supports the rights of individuals to express their sexuality without fear of oppression. (Monthly meetings on the third Wednesday at 7:30 PM.)
Economic Justice – is based on UU Principles 1 and 2. These principles call us to extend the principles of justice into the economic sphere. We join in the struggle to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have the basic means of survival, access to living wage work, health care for all, robust public education, and the right to organize for justice and dignity on the job. (Monthly meetings on the second Tuesday at 7 PM.)
LGBTQIA+ Justice – is based on UU Principles 1, 3, and 6. As Unitarian Universalists, we:
- value diverse gender and sexualities as part of our faith and world communities.
- represent a community of Pennsylvania UUs who will advocate for legislation and other policies that support LGBTQIA+ inclusion and justice in Pennsylvania.
- seek to collaborate with communities and organizations that share our values and interests, highlighting the concerns and voices of those whose lives are most impacted by interlocking systems of oppression. (Monthly meetings on the first Monday at 6 PM.)
Team Meetings: Teams meet separately and are invited to occasional All Team Meetings. All meetings use the same link.
- To join a team meeting on Zoom go to: https://zoom.us/j/7132347624
- Or by phone: 1-408.638.0968 or 646.558.8656
- Meeting ID: 713-234-7624
UUJusticePA: To learn more about UUJusticePA click HERE. The Justice Teams are under the Resources heading.
