Building the world we dream about requires ongoing relationship and collaboration. By working together, UU justice makers and leaders prevent the feelings of isolation and overwhelm that can lead to burnout, despair, and apathy. By strengthening our connections to each other, our context, our partners, and our collective imagination for the world, we can not only succeed in creating justice – we can celebrate and enjoy it.
Learn more about our trainings & programs for congregations.
Are you a justice leader in your congregation? Help us stay connected so your community can get updates and support from UUJMCA! Contact us at info@uujmca.org so we can keep in touch and support each other in the work for justice!
Trainings & Programs
Issue-Centered Trainings/Workshops
UUJMCA works alongside numerous grassroots organizations and statewide coalitions in our work for justice. In 2021, we are offering trainings on specific issues/movements related to immigrant justice, climate justice, and racial justice efforts in California. If you are interested in learning more about the efforts we are highlighting this year and bringing a free informational workshop / presentation tailored to your congregation, email us at info@uujmca.org or send us a message here.
Deep Roots & Soaring Wings:
Ancestor-Rooted Justice Workshop
Our work for collaborative justice is part of a generations-long movement and (r)evolution. So who are our ancestors in the work of justice and love? How do we connect our stories, values, and strategies to their efforts? How do we hold onto our deep roots in the stormiest of time? Led by Rev. Ranwa Hammamy, UUJMCA’s Executive Director, this “workshop worship” lifts up the stories of our ancestors and elders in justice, and encourages shared exploration of their importance to our own efforts for collective liberation today. Contact UUJMCA today to learn how to bring this free program to your congregation or community!
Community Action Circles
Looking for ways to engage in online actions that are grounded in your faith and connected to an active community? The UU Service Committee & UU College of Social Justice have developed strategies for hosting online “Community Action Circles,” to provide meaningful & engaging spaces for taking online action for justice. With faith-grounding & interactive tech, these online circles let you and your community take dozens of actions for justice in just one hour! Learn more about these circles and upcoming ones hosted by UUJMCA here. If you are interested in co-hosting one of these action circles with UUJMCA, contact us at info@uujmca.org and let’s craft something together for your community.
Congregational Discernment & Engagement Program
While each congregation’s needs differ, UUJMCA has identified key components that are critical based on congregations with healthy and effective justice ministries. We believe these steps will help congregations identify healthy, accountable social justice ministries which can be integrated into congregational life as well as a preliminary plan to begin to build such ministries. This is a fee-for-service program, and is somewhat customizable. The cost is $1,500 inclusive of all sessions and related expenses. A $100 discount is available for covenanting congregations. Find out more about the Congregational Discernment & Engagement Program and contact us if you’re interested in bringing it to your community.
Connections & Collaborations
Congregational Organizing with UUJMCA
Congregational Liaisons
As a core component of our grassroots organizing, we work to identify a Congregational Liaison in each congregation. This assists us in keeping congregations up-to-date on various issues and actions, with clear opportunities for UUs to get involved. Congregational Liaisons facilitate their congregation’s connection to UUJMCA programs, partners, resources, and other congregations. They receive training and ongoing support from UUJMCA to facilitate their congregation’s connections to justice opportunities, partners, and resources.
Cluster Co-Coordinators
Cluster Co-Coordinators work with key contact points in congregations in their cluster to support connection and collaboration on local and statewide justice efforts. By having Cluster Co-Coordinators for each of the geographic clusters in California, we can empower and enable congregations to work beyond their church walls, imagining and creating justice on a local and regional level beyond what each individual congregation can do alone.
Interested in serving as a Congregational Liaison or Cluster Co-Coordinator? Fill out our volunteer interest form here!
Covenant of Collaboration
UUJMCA knows that Unitarian Universalist congregations and communities do not all have the same justice priorities. We honor this reality, while also encouraging forms of communication, collaboration, and support that remind us that we are part of a larger network working to create justice in our world. UUJMCA’s “Covenanting Congregations” Program invites UU communities and congregations in California into an intentional relationship to strengthen our ministries of social transformation.
Those communities in who covenant with UUJMCA commit to 1) informing UUJMCA as to the justice priorities that are important to their congregation and its members, updating this information as priorities change, and 2) encouraging members of our congregation to participate UUJMCA-sponsored regional and statewide trainings, activities (related to congregational justice priorities), and cluster events.
Interested in learning what it means to be a Covenanting Congregation? Look at this sample “Covenant of Collaboration” and let us know if you’d like to collaborate. Send us an email at info@uujmca.org or fill out the form below.
Supporting and/or Covenanting Congregations
The following congregations have made a commitment to support and/or work with UUJMCA and other UU communities in California to collaboratively strengthen our justice ministries and to bring UU values more powerfully to the public square. (Updated April 2020)
- Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church
- UU Church of Palo Alto
- UU Church of Davis
- Start the process today to have your congregation recognized here!
