Social Justice
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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to UPLIFT Action’s Congregational Reproductive Justice Guide. UPLIFT Action is the Unitarian Universalist Association’s LGBTQIA+, Gender, and Reproductive Justice campaign, and is one of the campaigns associated with Side With Love’s four intersectional justice priorities. This guide was created by Side With Love staff in the summer of 2022 as a resource for congregations that are discerning their role in the Reproductive Justice movement, especially in light of the recent Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which eliminated federal protections for abortion in the US. The guide was created to accompany and supplement a three-part online webinar series for Unitarian Universalist congregational teams, with the intent of sharing the document widely with congregations and spiritual communities of other faith traditions. We have intentionally published this guide as a digital resource and a living document because the legal and political landscape is shifting rapidly. We will update this document frequently, and note the date of update at the top. If you are going to download this guide for use, we recommend making sure that you are using the latest version. If you have questions or suggestions about other resources or content to include in this guide in the future, please email Side With Love. CURRENT CONTEXT In June 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) overturned Roe v. Wade, which for nearly fifty years protected the right to access an abortion in all 50 states. This highly ideological decision is the culmination of decades of organizing by the radical right, and was made by the regressive 6-3 SCOTUS supermajority that includes five justices who were nominated by Presidents who lost the popular vote. Polling at the time of the decision reflected that 61% of Americans believe abortion should be legal, and 59% disapproved of the ruling. The immediate impact of Dobbs is to return decisions about regulating and banning abortion to the states. This has led to several states immediately outlawing abortion entirely, and many others already have or are beginning to implement restrictions on abortion access. Nearly all states are anticipating some form of legislation or ballot initiative about abortion access (either expanding or restricting) within the next year or two. For state-by-state details, the Guttmacher Institute maintains a map of current restrictions on abortion, updated regularly. In addition to these immediate impacts, however, many legal scholars affirm that Dobbs opens the doors to a wide array of other rollbacks related to privacy and bodily autonomy, ranging from access to birth control to marriage equality to antiquated “sodomy laws.” Test cases are already beginning to be litigated, and SCOTUS has signaled that they are prepared to revisit a wide variety of precedents that have provided protection for civil, human, and religious rights. Charlotte Pontius Board President Oaklandon Unitarian Universalist Church Share the Plate
We share half the cash and coins in our Sunday offering with designated charities. Recipients are selected by the Social Justice Team about every three months. This quarter, we are using our Share The Plate funds with ACLU Indiana (see below). Recent past groups we have supported include the Community Cupboard of Lawrence, Planned Parenthood, Hancock County Hospice and Family Voices Indiana. Share the Plate Donations
Our current STP is the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana. We are very excited to support this very important organization as they work to ensure the rights of every individual. As Unitarian Universalists, we share this belief as evidenced by our first two principles.
The OUUC Board approved the STP funds to be directed towards the work of ensuring protections for the trans community who are being unjustly targeted right now in our legislatures. The work of the ACLU of Indiana isn’t about one person, one party, or one issue. It’s about all of us, we the people, coming together and daring to create a more perfect Indiana. Through advocacy, education and litigation, our attorneys, advocates and volunteers work to preserve and promote civil liberties including the freedom of speech, the right to privacy, reproductive freedom, and equal treatment under the law. We stand in defense of the rights of women and minorities, workers, students, immigrants, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, and others who have seen bias and bigotry threaten the rights afforded to all of us in this country by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We hold the government accountable by filing lawsuits against government entities that are violating Hoosiers rights. We work with Hoosiers in their communities and in the Statehouse to defend individual freedoms including free speech, women’s right to access abortion, racial justice, LGBTQ rights, and disability rights, as well as protecting human rights for people who are incarcerated. Join us in the fight to defend Hoosiers' rights by subscribing to our action alerts. Indy Pride 2022
Daily Suggestions (click on Day link) Black History Month Challenge 2021 Day 1 - February 1, 2021 Day 15 - February 15, 2021 Day 2 - February 2, 2021 Day 16 - February 16, 2021 Day 3 - February 3, 2021 Day 17 - February 17, 2021 Day 4 - February 4, 2021 Day 18 - February 18, 2021 Day 5 - February 5, 2021 Day 19 - February 19, 2021 Day 6 - February 6, 2021 Day 20 - February 20, 2021 Day 7 - February 7, 2021 Day 21 - February 21, 2021 Day 8 - February 8, 2021 Day 22 - February 22, 2021 Day 9 - February 9, 2021 Day 23 - February 23, 2021 Day 10 - February 10, 2021 Day 24 - February 24, 2021 Day 11 - February 11, 2021 Day 25 - February 25, 2021 Day 12 - February 12, 2021 Day 26 - February 26, 2021 Day 13 - February 13, 2021 Day 27 - February 27, 2021 Day 14 - February 14, 2021 Day 28 - February 28, 2021 
Original 21 Day Challenge 2020 Day 1 - June 21, 2020 Day 12 - July 2, 2020 Day 2 - June 22, 2020. Day 13 - July 3, 2020 Day 3 - June 23, 2020 Day 14 - July 4, 2020 Day 4 - June 24, 2020 Day 15 - July 5, 2020 Day 5 - June 25, 2020. Day 16 - July 6, 2020 Day 6 - June 26, 2020. Day 17 - July 7, 2020 Day 7 - June 27, 2020 Day 18 - July 8, 2020 Day 8 - June 28, 2020 Day 19 - July 9, 2020 Day 9 - June 29, 2020 Day 20 - July 10, 2020 Day 10 - June 30, 2020 Day 21 - July 11, 2020 Day 11 - July 1, 2020 Masks by Bonnie
Long-time OUUC member, Bonnie Rose made over 1,500 masks to help stop the spread of COVID-19. She shared these masks with fellow OUUC members, neighbors, local businesses, nursing homes and hospitals. She charged nothing for her masks. Thank you Bonnie. You've kept us all healthy and made us proud!
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The Oaklandon Unitarian Universalist Church welcomes and celebrates the presence and participation of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer.
Connect with Social Justice
A deep dedication to social justice is rooted in the heritage and principles of Unitarian Universalism, and in our congregation. The Social Justice Team helps to guide the congregation's social justice activities. The congregation also frequently supports the passions and interests of individual members and families, as well as local and regional multi-church initiatives such as those sponsored by the Central Indiana Unitarian Universalists. In addition, Sunday morning services frequently feature speakers on various social justice topics. Social justice activities in recent years have included food drives, adoption of a family at Christmas time, advocacy for GLBT rights including marriage equality, support for Kiva Project (small loans to people in developing countries), and support for the Interfaith Hospitality Network. If you are interested in participating with the Social Justice Team, contact socialjustice@oaklandonuu.org. 
Participation in Kiva
As part of its efforts to alleviate hunger and food insecurity, the Social Justice committee has participated in food-related loans through Kiva. Kiva Microfunds is a 501c non-profit organization that allows people to lend money via the Internet to low-income / underserved entrepreneurs and students in over 80 countries. Over our five years as a Kiva lender, we have made 70% of our loans to women who spend 80% of their income on their children. The reason that so many of our loans are to women is that microlending began as an effort to empower women who were unable to participate in local economies because of gender bias. Additionally, the food-related loans are more likely to be held by women as well. The committee continues to look at which loans best match the mission of the group and is reviewing the gender imbalance with the loans. Our newest loans:
Our lending history has been impressive.
We have joined the UU lending team, which has 825 members who have collectively loaned over $650,000. --March 2015 |
