Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing

The Unitarian Universalist Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ) held its first annual Plenary Meeting on February 7, 2009. Hosted by the UU Congregation of Montclair, the meeting was attended by about 70 UUs representing fifteen congregations. The first Board of Directors was voted in, and bylaws and a budget were approved. Caucuses focused on four issue areas met, as did a fifth caucus concerned with developing congregational action models. To date, 12 of New Jersey’s 21 UU congregations, including the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing, have affiliated with UULMNJ.

In the Economic Justice, Health Care and Environment caucuses, the issues were discussed as they related to upcoming legislation and the next steps for advocacy. In the Emerging Issues caucus, criteria were established for the network to consider advocating for issues in addition to the three above, which were determined as priority issues through a survey conducted last summer. The Congregational Action Models caucus discussed elements that would facilitate advocacy actions, increase participation in the Network, foster communication among NJ UU congregations, and strengthen their social justice programs.

Rev. Dr. Richard Gilbert, nationally known author, religious educator, and career long social justice activist, gave the keynote address. He is involved with New York’s legislative ministry, Interfaith Impact (www.interfaithimpactnys.org), and said that they are told by legislators that it is good it is to have progressive religious advocates making their positions known. He noted that this is particularly important on controversial issues such as reproductive rights, GLBT rights, sexuality education and others.

Rev. Gilbert commended to UULMNJ the philosophy of social transformation primarily focused on systemic change. With this public policy network we can expand on the direct service in which congregations are engaged. He stated that at Interfaith Impact they engage in advocacy, they do not lobby; as lobbying is for self interest and advocacy is for the common good. He quoted Martin Luther King, Jr., “The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state.” And also Robert Fulghum, “I do not want your sympathy for the needs of humanity. I want your muscle. I want to know what you will work for.”

Keep tuned in to UULMNJ via the web site at www.uulmnj.org (in the process of being updated) and add your name to the contact list to receive periodic bulletins and alerts via e-mail. There are many ways to participate in the network, including being part of your congregation’s action team, UULMNJ’s rapid response network, letter writing, attending hearings, talking to your legislators, planning future workshops, etc.

The next step at UUCWC will be to form a congregational action group, similar to what was done for our work with the New Jersey Regional Coalition. If you are interested in UULMNJ, please contact Lynne Quinto, and/or complete a volunteer sign-up form, also available in the lobby. And please note – there is a statewide UU legislative ministry in Pennsylvania, the UU PA Legislative Advocacy Network; for more info see www.uuplan.org.

Life matters;
People are precious;
Deed is more important than creed;
Love is the spirit of our church;
Existence is our gift;
Meaning is our quest;
Service is our prayer;
Freedom in community is our way;
Responsibility for others is our obligation;
Reverence for life is our practice.
In the love of beauty and the spirit of truth,
we unite for the celebration of life
and the service of humanity.
All the rest is commentary. Now go and learn it.

- Rev. Dr. Richard Gilbert