Representatives of the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church lobbying for reproductive rights in Richmond, Virginia, in 2006.
Members of the "Every Thursday Group" from Mount Vernon Unitarian Church volunteering at a homeless shelter in 2007.
Alexandria Congregation Honored Twice for Outstanding Social Justice Program
July 15, 2008
The Mount Vernon Unitarian Church (MVUC) of Alexandria, Virginia, was honored twice at General Assembly 2008 for their outstanding social action program.
At the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth’s annual meeting on Thursday, June 26, 2008, MVUC received the 2008 Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action. Given on behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Bennett Award recognizes a congregation for exemplary work for social justice. The Bennett Award is accompanied by a $500 cash gift and a certificate signed by Rev. Bill Sinkford, President of the UUA, and Susan Leslie, Director of Congregational Advocacy and Witness for the UUA. Bill Alsmeyer-Johnson, a member of the MVUC board of trustees, accepted the award.
Presenting the Bennett Award, Leslie praised MVUC for their “active and robust social justice program,…their leadership as a Green Sanctuary, and their advocacy on climate change.”
Georgeta Pourchot, Social Justice Coordinator at the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church, described the Bennett Award in earlier correspondence as a welcome recognition of the congregation’s efforts and a catalyst for further action: “In the day-to-day activities of a community like ours, it is easy to lose perspective and focus more on what does not work and try to fix it, than on what works and celebrate it. [The Bennett Award] gave us a chance to rejoice together and feel good about our work,” Pourchot remarked. “It also gave us new impetus to continue and expand our activities. New volunteers are stepping forward, the larger community of churches smiles at our achievement, and increasing numbers of visitors come through our doors.”
On Saturday, June 28, 2008, the MVUC was also awarded a certificate acknowledging their successful participation in the Green Sanctuary Program. An initiative of the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for the Earth, the Green Sanctuary Program recognizes those congregations that make a commitment to sustainable living.
MVUC has taken extensive action to protect the environment. They procured $60,000 from Fairfax County, Virginia, for storm water management on their grounds as part of a broad watershed plan. They conducted an energy audit with Washington Interfaith Power and Light. Green plans were incorporated into their building renovation and planned expansion. And the congregation held a town hall meeting on Virginia’s clean energy future with Congressman Jim Moran and others to discuss the “dirty legacy of Virginia coal” and the actions people can take to help move Virginia towards a clean energy future.
The social justice program at MVUC promotes not only environmental preservation, but also affordable housing, civil liberties, and women’s reproductive rights. Approximately half of the congregation, including children and youth, participates in social action initiatives.
MVUC’s thriving program carries on a proud tradition of social justice at the congregation, dating back to its participation in the civil rights movement and the movement against the Vietnam War. In 1962, MVUC and its then minister, Rev. Ernest Sommerfield, won the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Holmes Weatherly Award, which recognizes a life-long commitment to faith-based social justice as reflected in societal transformation.
In the upcoming church year, MVUC plans to continue its programming on homelessness, affordable housing, and civil liberties. MVUC will also organize a Living Green month, to help members implement green measures in their homes, as well as at church.
MVUC’s achievements have also received coverage in the Washington Post and the Mount Vernon Gazette.
The MVUC website has more information about the congregation, including an overview of its social justice programs and report from its Green Sanctuary Task Force.
Last updated on Tuesday, July 22, 2008.
