As Unitarian Universalists, living our values is essential to our religious life. We seek out concrete ways to act that will bring healing to our world and hope to our own hearts and spirits.
Focus Areas
The UUFN Social Justice committee has three main focus areas: Racial Justice, Climate Justice, and Democracy.
Racial Justice: Dismantling racism and white supremacy is core to the UU belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person and our commitment to justice and equity. Activities include:
- Completed a racial justice pledge.
- Sponsored workshops, book discussions, and speakers on racism.
- Through our Share the Plate process, helped choose organizations that foster equity for contributions from UUFN.
- Creating a Land Acknowledgement that goes beyond words to accountable actions.
Climate Justice: The Social Justice Committee, with membership support, will be considering two organizations that could help channel our congregational interest in climate justice. Green Sanctuary, a Unitarian Universalist Association initiative, and Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light, a partnership with faith and spiritual communities devoted to addressing the climate crisis.
Democracy: Along with the UUA, UUFN is proud of our Unitarian Universalist legacy of fighting for democracy and voting rights. Access to the ballot and fair, transparent elections systems are fundamental for all citizens. Activites include:
- Sent out more than 1500 postcards since 2020 to targeted lists in highly populated areas of BIPOC residents, providing early voting information for the 2020 election, the Georgia run-off in 2021 in addition to recent 2022 midterms campaign
- Members have provided voter information at various local events in conjunction with the League of Women Voters.
Share the Plate
Each week we give half of our offering plate to a nonprofit working to advance justice and peace in the world. We alternate between local, national, and international organizations. These donations often relate to our worship theme for the month, underscoring generosity as a spirtual practice.
Side With Love
Along with congregations across the UUA, UUFN has participated in the Side With Love effort since it began in 2009. Each year we host at least one event that seeks to educate our congregation and the larger community on a critical justice issue. UUFN sides with love in the fight for of marriage equality, the movement to ensure that Black Lives Matter, Native American rights, transgender rights, and more. Watch for more info about upcoming events!
Our minister, Rev. Sara, is involved in the reproductive justice movement with other Unitarian Universalists in Minnesota. You can read more about Side With Love's Reproductive Justice campaign here. As Unitarian Universalists, we believe that all bodies are sacred. Every person has the right to determine what happens to their own body at all phases of life.
In addition, we host a booth at Northfield's annual Pride in the Park celebration. LGBTQ+ equality is foundational to our faith: Pride, not prejudice. Trans* people are divine. Love is love.
Uniting to End Racism in Our Communities
UUFN members have joined forces with the Cannon Valley Friends Meeting to help end racism in our community. Our first action was to table at the Faribault International Festival. Members of both congregations engaged in conversation with people from the community about the importance of addressing racism and offered various resources, including:
"Things We Can Do Now to End Racism in our Community!"
Resources on Police Conduct, Race and the Justice System,
Resources for Talking to Kids about Racism and Justice,
Resources on Protest, Social Movements and Community Visions for Racial Justice