Pictures of Peace from Children of First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, NM.
2008 December's Action of the Month
Pictures of Peace
Status: completed
In December of 2008, we invited congregations to begin discussions of peace by making pictures of peace. Congregations from all over the United States sent their pictures to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Beautiful and inspiring drawings and collages showed a world where all living beings are respected and cared for and where airplanes dropped food and supplies to the ill instead of bombs and bullets.
We also encouraged congregations to participate in the congregational poll on the Draft Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking. An amazing 81% of congregations participated in the poll. Over 40% of the UUA supported the measure to send the Statement of Conscience to General Assembly 2009 with less than 1% of the denomination opposing the measure.
Introduction
There are people actively working for peace together. Unitarian Universalists, along with other people of faith and conscience are working for a better world where we can imagine peaceful resolutions to conflict and equal access to resources. People are working for a world where every child is loved and every elder is honored. People are working for a world of justice and peace for all.
This work is difficult. By imagining a world of peace, we help ourselves make the first step toward creating that world.
Now is also a crucial time for Unitarian Universalism as a movement. As we continue to grow in size and scope as a religious community, we ask ourselves "how can our faith promote peace and justice?" Together we explore the many paths to peace and the different dreams of justice. Participating in arts and crafts is a way people of all ages and abilities can imagine and discuss a world of peace.
We encourage your community to create pictures of peace and share them with each other. Some congregations and communities have used these pictures to reach out to their elected officials. Below are some resources on how to host a Pictures of Peace Event and how to plan a lobbying visit with your local or national lawmakers.
Take Action
Make Pictures of Peace
- Churches and fellowships are encouraged to host intergenerational arts and crafts time to imagine a world of peace and justice.
- Download the curriculum guide for Pictures of Peace (PDF).
Deliver Your Pictures of Peace to your Member of Congress
- Have your minister draft a cover letter introducing your congregation/community (PDF).
- How to Organize an In-district Lobby Visit (PDF)
- The UUA's Legislative Objectives for the 111th Congress (PDF)
- Contact the Washington Office of Advocacy so that we can visit your Member of Congress in DC and make sure their DC staff know what is happening in their district/state.
Identify your Members of Congress and their in-district offices at:
Time for Reflection
What drives your congregation to work for social justice? What history does your community have surrounding the work for peace?
The UUA has a long tradition of making a stand for peace and social justice. You can explore the social justice statements for peace from the past forty years on our social justice website.
For more information contact peacemaking @ uua.org.
Last updated on Wednesday, February 4, 2009.
