First UU Columbus

Here is the proposed JAM section of the church Standing Rules:

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Justice Action Ministry (JAM): We attract others to our faith movement by actively and publicly modeling our principles and Mission Statement. Our spiritual lives are inseparable from the struggle for equal access to food, clean air and water, housing, education, employment, health care, and legal defense as well as respect for the rights of women, people of color, immigrants, religious minorities and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered humanity. This is based on our belief in inherent worth and dignity of every human being and in the interdependent web of life.
Toward this end, the Justice Action Ministry (JAM) is organized to be a ministry of the entire church body. For purposes of church governance, it will be treated as a Committee.

JAM

• is the unified work of the Board of Trustees, committees, youth, choir members and musicians, covenant groups and staff of First UU, and
• will boldly engage the justice issues of the day and will provide church members ample opportunities for public witness of their faith.

Responsibilities. The responsibilities of JAM include:

1. At the annual meeting every other year, present a slate of six justice areas (for example, anti-poverty, immigration reform, women's rights including reproductive choice, criminal justice system reform, and so on) out of which the congregation will select four to focus on during the following two years. The focus will allow us to pool our resources better and is not intended to affect church members' support for justice issues that fall outside these four justice areas.
2. JAM leadership will consist of two co-chairs and four JAM coordinators, each representing the four justice areas selected by the congregation.
3. Create and maintain a JAM volunteer database that will allow us to contact church members interested in congregation-selected justice areas.
4. Review proposals and select social justice projects proposed by church members or friends that require financial resources or volunteer support.
5. Disburse funds contributed by church members and from other sources to support social justice projects of the church. Funds received in support of JAM will be accepted through the normal approved receipt process.

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee: JAM is charged with promoting and publicizing the work of the UUSC. It has the responsibility of raising funds for the UUSC using materials as the UUSC may offer. It shall not conduct any sort of general solicitation within the congregation without specific approval of the Board of Trustees.

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Thanks to a record-number of volunteers and excellent team work, our church organized a great "We ALL Belong" Rally on Oct 31st. Many of the attendees thought it was a spiritually uplifting experience for the Columbus community. We are proud of our church for standing up for all humanity with no exceptions--regardless of race, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or immigration status. We are also grateful to live in a nation where such diversity and unity are possible.

The video of the highlights 1 of 2 is here.

The video of the highlights 2 of 2--including the March to the Statehouse and interviews is here.

Click here for more pictures from the rally [We All Belong Photo Gallery]

Columbus Dispatch covered the event with a good-size article (here).

 The proposal for the creation of the task force

Recommended books:

• Dr. Beverly Tatum's book, Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria.
• Tim Wise, White Like Me (be sure to check out Tim's blog for some really interesting reading... http://www.timwise.org/) 
• Leslie Takahashi Morris, James (Chip) Roush, Leon Spencer, The Arc of the Universe Is Long: Unitarian Universalists, Anti-Racism and the Journey from Calgary, Skinner House Books, 2009.
• Rich Benjamin, Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America, 2009.
• Thandeka, Learning to be White, 2000.

August 23rd, 2009 "Breaking Bread Together" interfaith potluck and sing-along. Please see the poster for this event here. Breaking Bread Together Flyer