Our work for justice is based on the principles of equality and solidarity. How we live matters; our living can make a positive difference in the world. We honor the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and honor all life. We have a long tradition of involvement in work for social change.

To get involved, contact sjcouncil@firstuniversalist.org.

• Provide opportunities to grow and be transformed through action and service.
• Educate others and invite the wider community to join us in living our seven Unitarian Universalist Association Principles.
• Be a community leader in social justice through the active participation of the members and in coalition with other justice-seeking organizations.

Within our congregation, the Social Justice Council leads our efforts, and provides vision, direction, and organizational support for our growing involvement in social justice activities.

Compassion in Action

Most weeks out of year, the congregation gives 100% of the donations collected during the Sunday Offering to organizations doing work for social justice and equity in the local and global community. Compassion in Action is our congregational tithe shared to improve our world. The other Sundays (approximately one Sunday a month) the collection stays within our congregation to support our church and the work of its ministries.

Participating Compassion in Action organizations are nominated by members of the church and approved by the Social Justice Council.

To nominate an organization for Compassion in Action, click this link to go to our simple online form. Questions? Reach out to office@firstuniversalist.org.

Ethical Eating and Animal Welfare

The Ethical Eating & Animal Welfare Task Force was formed in response to the Unitarian Universalist Association’s 2011 Statement of Conscience on Ethical Eating. The Task Force works to raise awareness of where our food comes from and its true cost, not just what we pay at the market. Industrialized food production can exploit low wage workers, pollute the air, land and water, force indigenous populations off their land to make room for cattle grazing and contribute to health problems in humans such as heart disease, Diabetes and cancers. Our goal is to educate and allow people to make their own dietary choices. We also work to advance strong animal protection laws. The Task Force is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry.

Resources:

Green First Task Force

We embrace and promote the seventh principal of Unitarian Universalism: “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” The Green First Task Force pursued, and achieved certification as a Green Sanctuary Congregation in 2010. Since then we have continued to work on environmental issues both within and beyond the walls of the First Universalist Church of Denver.

Minimizing our footprint on the environment is our first goal, but we want to leave a trace and have a positive impact on the earth and all living beings around us. Our building was built to be carbon positive, putting more energy back on the grid than we use. Through a combination of geothermal heating, solar panels, energy efficient lighting, and reclaimed and environmentally sustainable building materials, we have built a church home that reflects our commitment to making positive impact.

Interested in joining us or finding out what First Universalist’s Green First task force has been up to? Meetings meet the second Tuesday of each month, year round, and are open to everyone.

Habitat Interfaith Alliance

Housing for Denver Metro Neighbors in Need

One of our longest-running social justice projects at First Universalist, our Habitat Task Force has led our work over the last two decades to help build 19 homes in the Denver Metro area. Through Habitat, we continue to:

• Share leadership in the Habitat Interfaith Alliance, with whom we build a new home every year.
• Partner with Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver to address the affordable-housing shortage in our area.
• Strengthen interfaith ties so that we continue to become a recognized force for justice by the various faith groups in our community.
• Provide opportunities to participate in activities which increase the availability of decent, affordable housing.
• Volunteer for HIA Here

Homelessness Task Force / Safe Parking Program (SPP)

The First Universalist Church of Denver’s Safe Parking Program has been approved by the City of Denver. Through the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative, people can apply to be admitted to our program. Once we accept people, they may park and sleep in their vehicle until they find housing, or until program expires.We welcome First Universalist members to volunteer as opportunities are available. To volunteer to support the program or to learn more, please contact safeparkingteam@firstuniversalist.org.

Integrated Family and Community Services (IFCS)

Integrated Family and Community Services (IFCS) has been meeting the basic needs of families and seniors for over 50 years. First Universalist has participated in a partnership with this non-profit for over three decades.

Food insecurity is a national crisis. We are in concert with IFCS in the devotion to their mission to prevent the downward spiral of poverty, hunger and homelessness. We act out this commitment through donations of food, clothing and financial assistance. We also encourage volunteering and awareness of the need to sustain and interact with our local communities in this endeavor.

Racial Justice Task Force

Our Racial Justice Task Force facilitates opportunities for education and advocacy in our congregation, as we work to identify and overcome implicit racial biases. We are exploring this together in a series of virtual “Faithful Conversations about Race” hosted via Zoom. We are hopeful that by listening and sharing with each other we will gain some insight and clarity about all that we are seeing and hearing and find some comfort and reassurance in each other’s presence. Conversations about race and violence can be uncomfortable; we will provide structure to make sure that people are listened to carefully, and that it feels safe to speak up and speak from your heart.

Reproductive Rights Task Force

As Unitarian Universalists we believe that having the ability to decide whether and when to have children is a fundamental right. Few rights are more central to individual freedom than the right to control one’s own body. A woman who lacks autonomy over her own body can never be equal. Our faith has a long legacy of advocating for safe, legal, and accessible abortion care and First Universalist Church of Denver has helped provide financial support to women in need of abortion care going back to 1984. Although the majority of Americans support the legal right to abortion, the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade has now allowed many states to severely restrict, or in some cases, ban abortion. This threat to reproductive health inspired us to create the Reproductive Rights Task Force (RRTF) to investigate and evaluate ways in which we can work toward reproductive justice for everyone.

Our goals include establishing partnerships with like-minded organizations, engaging in community actions which address reproductive injustice and an ongoing effort to encourage and inspire our Congregation to advocate and support healthcare that encompasses sexual and reproductive care.

Contact: reproductiverights@firstuniversalist.org.

World Gift Market

Our congregation’s sponsorship of this annual market embodies many of our UU principles. By offering space in our church to small non-profit organizations selling their fair-trade and earth-friendly handcrafted goods we are supporting humanitarian aid groups throughout the world and in our Denver community. Local groups such as Earthlinks and the Women’s Sewing Circle assist refugees and help homeless individuals learn job skills. These groups help the men and women they serve develop the skills and confidence to participate in the economic and social/political life of our community. The market also features vendors who make eco-friendly gifts.

We are so thankful for the many individuals who have already volunteered to help over the past 20 years—and we will have many opportunities to do so again this year. We hope you will join us, either by volunteering or coming to shop and meet our artisans and vendors—find lovely gifts that give twice.

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