As the Unitarian denomination should be ashamed of its antislavery conduct as a religious body, so it should be justly proud of the men and women who as individuals chose love of freedom over thoughts of expediency. — Douglas Stange, in "Patterns of Antislavery among American Unitarians,...

From the Unitarian Universalist Association archives.

From the Library of Congress.

From the Library of Congress.

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison. — Henry David Thoreau, "Civil Disobedience" In July of 1846, Henry David Thoreau was jailed for refusal to pay his taxes. Although he spent only one night in prison, this experience was the motivation...

Often, history is presented as a time line, highlighting the actions of extraordinary individuals and chronicling the events that shaped an era. However, not all change is effected in the same way. Even the most individualistic leader owes a debt to other people, communities, and ways of thinking.

Arthur Powell Davies did not start out as a Unitarian minister. He came to the United States in 1928 from England, as a minister in search of a "freer" strain of Methodism. Once he found his home in the Unitarian movement, he became one of the leading figures in the American Unitarian Association...

Margaret Fuller was born in 1810, at a time when women could not attend institutions of higher learning. Although brilliant, she was denied the educational opportunities enjoyed by her father and her male peers. She persevered in her education, on her own terms. She refused to accept the limited...

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Newsprint list of your congregation's social justice projects (Workshop 1, Alternate Activity 1) Preparation for Activity Create a chart on newsprint with three columns, titled Prophetic, Parallel, and...

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity This activity is designed to follow the Opening. After participants have shared their own names and named inspirational figures, invite each participant to find a partner with whom they have not worked. Invite them to share with their partner some...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Participant journals (Workshop 1) Writing paper and pens/pencils Alternate writing materials such as color pencils or markers Description of Activity Make sure participants have journals or writing paper, and something to write with. Invite...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Create a chart on newsprint with three columns, titled Prophetic, Parallel, and Institutional. Post the chart. Description of Activity Invite participants to reflect on the three strategies that...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story "A. Powell Davies" Leader Resource 3, A. Powell Davies, Photograph Optional: Computer and digital projector Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to read or tell it to the group. Make copies for participants....

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story "Margaret Fuller" Leader Resource 2, Margaret Fuller, Portrait Optional: Computer and digital projector Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to read or tell it to the group. Make copies for participants....

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Henry David Thoreau Leader Resource 1, Henry David Thoreau, Portrait Optional: Computer and digital projector Preparation for Activity Review Handout 2 and make copies for participants. Prepare to project Leader Resource 1, or print a copy.

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Prophetic, Parallel, and Institutional Voices Preparation for Activity Review Handout 1 and make copies for participants. Plan to invite three volunteers to read the definitions in the handout aloud....

Read biographies of Margaret Fuller and A. Powell Davies in the online Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography. Information about Thoreau can be found in...

Take a few moments right after the workshop to ask each other: What went well? What did not? Why? What do you think was the best moment of the workshop? Why? Did anything surprise you? Review the next workshop. Are there any questions to research or logistics to arrange between workshops? Make a...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Worship or centering table and chalice Participant journals Copies of Singing the Living Tradition for all participants Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Customize the Taking It Home section of this workshop and copy for all participants.

Description of Activity Take a moment to reflect on the diversity of approaches to social justice work in your own congregation. Do you feel indifferent about or uncomfortable with any of the social justice work in your congregation?...