Change the World
First Unitarian Church of Oakland received the Moral Beacon Award from the Pacific Central District of UU Churches in April, 2007. This award recognizes our "extraordinary courage and commitment in the work of creating a better world" through our many Justice programs and through our generosity (of time, spirit, and money). We are proud to have been recognized on behalf of all the church members and friends who work to make our community and our world a better place -- both through programs at the church and in their own lives.
Justice Council
Develops church policy with respect to justice activities, approves projects and training budgets. Co-ordinates activities with other church ministries such as worship, community life and religious education. The council is comprised of representatives from other groups in the church that have a stake in justice activities. Note: Anyone interested in inter-faith community organizing is invited to email Ben Thompson at oaklandben@sbcglobal.net or call him at 510-420-8864.
Justice Associates
Justice Associates are church members who lead volunteer projects that engage the church in service, education and advocacy in the larger community. For more information, email Cathy Rion at cathyrion@yahoo.com or call her at 510-459-7048. Current Justice Associate Projects and their Associates are:
Declaration of Peace - Micky Duxbury, 510-848-2674
Earth Justice Programs - Andy Lee, 510-839-3927
Lafayette School Mentoring Project - Joan Poulter, 510-482-5918
Marriage Equality – Open
Public Policy - Open
California Clean Money Campaign – Arlinda Befort, 510-547-2045
Two Justice Associate Projects (Lafayette School Mentoring Project and Gotcom) are projects of the Center for Urban Life (CUFL), a tax-exempt nonprofit organization affiliated with the church. Read more about them and the Center for Urban Life.
Related Ministries
Journey Towards Wholeness (JTW)
Journey Towards Wholeness is a program helping us with our commitment to becoming an anti-racist, multi-cultural community.
Charles Williams, 510-865-9325
Dan Wright, 510-528-7775
Welcoming Congregation (WC)
We have officially adopted a UUA process designed to ensure sensitivity among all our members to Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning concerns, to include those of all orientations, and to confront homophobia and heterosexism.
UU Justice Action: State, Nation, and World
UUA Action Issues: We are called to be united with UUs throughout the USA in making and acting on Statements of Conscience (SOC) in a grassroots process that begins in our congregation and ends at our General Assembly each year. Please consider joining study-action groups to work on these UUA SOC, and related social justice actions. Issues: Threat of Global Warming; Moral Values for a Pluralistic Society; Peacemaking -- Action of Immediate Witness: Join the Declaration of Peace to stop the war in Iraq . Ad Hoc: Darfur and Immigration Policy. Coordinator: Darlene Pagano, 510-595-7726.
UU Legislative Ministry, California
Current lobbying efforts - Marriage Equality, Water Justice, Health Care Reform, and Clean Money for Fair Elections. Coordinator: Vacant.
UU Service Committee
The UU Service Committee works with grassroots partners in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa and the United States to: eradicate economic injustice, promote environmental justice, defend civil liberties and respond to disasters in which human rights are threatened. Program areas include ensuring equitable access to water, defending labor rights, ending US-sponsored torture and advocating for social change.
Coordinator: Kim Van Eyck, 510-292-6744.