Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action
The First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester, MN, is the 2011 recipient of the Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action.
Following a 2007 Social Justice Empowerment (SJE) workshop sponsored by Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA’s) Office of Congregational Advocacy & Witness, First Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church renewed a “spirit of social activism within the church, reorganized lay leaders, and increased congregant participation.” As a result of the workshop, the congregation formed several Task Forces addressing the issues of poverty, racism, health care, the environment, international justice, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) rights, and people with disabilities. A year later, a follow-up SJE workshop was held and the congregation crafted a new mission statement for the social justice council and eventually, a new congregational mission statement that includes justice as a key tenet: “To be a Compassionate, Welcoming Community that Nurtures Spiritual Growth and Practices Justice.”
Congregational projects include the formation of a forty-five person Standing on the Side of Love (SSL) Rapid Response Team with a dedicated webpage and a written procedure for how the congregation decides to respond to local incidents. The congregation kicked off their SSL participation with Rochester’s Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade in Jan 2011 which garnered local media. Additionally, the congregation has joined with a local Gamelial Congregation-based Community Organizing (CBCO) affiliate, ISIAH, to participate and host one of many statewide ‘faith conversations’ for 10,000 Voices for One Minnesota in order to identify and address pressing local issues. Since 2009, the congregation has been working with Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA) on stopping a constitutional amendment in MN opposing marriage equality.
First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester, MN, was recognized at the 2011 General Assembly.
The Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action, instituted in 1999 by James Bennett to honor the congregation that has done exemplary work in social justice, is accompanied by a $500 cash award that is presented at General Assembly. Dr. James R. Bennett is professor emeritus of the University of Arkansas and he is the former director of the Gustavus Meyers Center of Human Rights in North America, founded in 1984. Dr. Bennett is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville, AR. Read about past recipients.
Nominations for 2012 are due March 15th, 2012, and should include:
- cover sheet with congregation's name and address, plus name, title, email address and phone number for person submitting nomination
- a 1-4 page report on the social justice action or program,
- a testimonial from partner organizations or community members where applicable, and
- any relevant documentation and media generated about the effort.
Entries may be submitted electronically to Audra Friend at socialjustice @ uua.org or mailed to:
Unitarian Universalist Association
Office for Congregational Advocacy & Witness
25 Beacon Street
Boston MA 02108
For more information contact socialjustice @ uua.org.
This work is made possible by the generosity of individual donors. Please consider making a donation today.
Last updated on Thursday, December 15, 2011.
Updated and Popular
Popular New Searches
For Newcomers
Learn more about the Beliefs & Principles of Unitarian Universalism, or read our online magazine, UU World, for features on today's Unitarian Universalists. Visit an online UU church, or find a congregation near you.
