UU FA Office

UULMNJ Provides Testimony Supporting Racial Impact Statements

by UU FA OfficeJune 22, 2016

On Monday, June 20 the co-chair of our Dismantling Racism Group, Rohn Hein, provided testimony before the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee in support of SB-677 that would require a racial and ethnic impact statement for certain bills and regulations affecting sentencing. To learn more about the bill click here.

Senate Law and Public Safety Committee, Monday, June 20, 2016

S-677 Requiring Racial Impact Statement

My name is Rohn Hein and I represent the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey. I want to thank Chairwoman Linda Greenstein and the other members of the committee for allowing me the opportunity to say a few words in support of S-677, a bill that requires the development of a racial impact statement on bills before the state legislature.

The UU Legislative Ministry of NJ represents all of the UU Churches in the State of New Jersey and we believe as part of our seven principles – the inherent worth of every human being. Over the last forty years as our country has attempted to deal with the huge damage done to our society by the use of illicit drugs, legislation has been passed at both the national and state level with no regard to how disproportionately they would affect people of color. The main goal was to eradicate the problem and punish those we thought were the bad guys. The unintended consequences of these imprudent measures were a burgeoning prison population that is predominantly made up of blacks and Hispanics. As the bills were being discussed, no one even raised a question as to the final result of these actions. No one even raised their hand and said, “Let’s go slow and take a look at how this plays out.”

We at the UU Legislative Ministry are raising our collective hands and saying, “Let’s take our time and do our homework this time.”

Why we should be in such a hurry to pass legislation without a conclusive look at how we are acting racially. Too many people are saying that we live in a color blind society and that we don’t need this scrutiny. We say, if everyone believes that all sectors of our communities are being protected, what harm does it cause for us to make a rational, racial impact statement on each piece of legislation that this august body decides upon

Let’s not make a rush to judgment when patience and understanding could serve us better in creating an atmosphere of harmony and peace together.

Support S677 for Racial Justice in the Criminal Justice System

by UU FA OfficeJune 17, 2016

Challenge Racial Disparity in the NJ Criminal Justice System! Support Senate Bill 677!

A bill will be coming up for vote in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on Monday that would require a racial and ethnic impact statement for certain bills and regulations affecting sentencing. We are asking our supporters to write the committee members and urge them to move this important racial and criminal justice measure to the floor for a vote.

Racial disparities in the justice system have been shown to harm not only individuals in the system, but also their families and communities. A recent ACLU report found that black and Hispanic people, particularly men, were between two and 10 times more likely to be arrested for petty crimes than white offenders in four New Jersey cities..

ACLU-NJ’s executive director, Udi Ofer, says “Whether the cities were large or small, or in north, central or southern New Jersey, the data revealed a clear pattern of people of color bearing the brunt of police practices.”

New Jersey’s prison population has grown from 6,087 in 1980 to 21,590 in 2014. In New Jersey, African Americans represent 12.9% in the general population yet African Americans make up over 60% of New Jersey’s prison population.

S677 would challenge racial disparity in targeted ways:

S677 will govern a process for racial impact statements, a tool for lawmakers to evaluate the potential disparities of proposed legislation on persons of color prior to adoption and implementation. Analogous to environmental impact statements, they assist legislators in detecting unforeseen policy ramifications before the change is adopted, rather than once they have been implemented;
S677 would require the racial and ethnic impact statement to include a statistical analysis of how the change in policy would affect racial and ethnic minorities;
S677 would amend public distribution for notices to appear in the Register for adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule to include a racial impact statement.

In recent years other states – Connecticut, Iowa, and Oregon — have adopted similar legislation.
The passage of Senate Bill 677 is a step in the right direction to challenge racial disparity in New Jersey.

Resources

‘Extreme’ racial disparity in local N.J. arrests, ACLU report finds

The Color of Justice: Racial and Ethnic Disparity in State Prisons

A Reflection on the Orlando Shootings

by UU FA OfficeJune 14, 2016

Along with everyone else, my heart is heavy as I watch coverage of the Orlando shootings. On one level I am excruciatingly saddened by the aftermath. My heart breaks as I think of those fifty families and what they must be going through; as I think of those who must feel grateful, as odd as that sounds, that their loved ones were only wounded; as I think of the existing trauma for those who got out alive, physically unharmed, as they continuously relive the events of the night. And my heart is heavy for the LGBTQ community. Simply knowing that by gathering and celebrating life together can create a target for those who hate must instill tremendous fear.

My heart is heavy for the Muslim community, who once again is blamed in total for the acts of a lone, deranged terrorist.

In the midst of the horror, however, arises the human spirit – the invincible human spirit with the capacity to love in the face of hate, to extend a hand in the face of fear, and to live compassionately in the face of abhorrent acts. Our faith calls us to rise above the horror, to raise up the sanctity of life as we mourn the loss of young lives. Our faith calls us to raise up the right of all to openly love whom they love. As we denounce the violence in Orlando, let us cling to all that is loving and fair and decent and just in our world. It is the greatest protection we have.

In Faith,

Rev. Craig

Landmark Ruling Halts Unconstitutional Taxpayer Funding of NJ Yeshiva and Seminary

by UU FA OfficeMay 26, 2016

Article originally found on ACLU.org

May 26, 2016

Plaintiffs Rev. Craig Hirshberg and Gloria Schor Andersen

Court rules that Christie administration’s $11 million+ grant to religious schools violated NJ Constitution

In a groundbreaking victory against government sponsorship of religion, a New Jersey appellate court ruled that the administration of Gov. Chris Christie violated the New Jersey Constitution when it awarded more than $11 million to two religious institutions of higher learning. This decision (PDF) by the Appellate Division represents the first major state court precedent in almost 40 years concerning New Jersey’s prohibition on using taxpayer funding to support a religious ministry.

The ACLU of New Jersey, national ACLU, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State successfully challenged New Jersey’s grants of $10.6 million to Beth Medrash Govoha, an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva in Lakewood, and $645,323 to Princeton Theological Seminary, a Presbyterian seminary, both of which are dedicated to religious training and engage in discrimination. The yeshiva trains Orthodox Jewish rabbis, excludes women, and employs only male, Jewish faculty. The seminary “prepares women and men to serve Jesus Christ in ministries” and permits only Christians to be degree students or faculty.

“This is a victory for civil rights and a victory for New Jersey taxpayers, who should never have to subsidize institutions that discriminate or that exist to teach their particular religious doctrine,” said ACLU-NJ Legal Director Ed Barocas. “Everyone has a fundamental constitutional right to worship freely. At the same time, the government must respect the right of New Jersey taxpayers to know that their money will never be responsible for propping up particular sects’ religious ministries.”

The unconstitutional funding for the two schools has been on hold as a result of the legal challenge.

The New Jersey Constitution specifically forbids taxpayer funds from going toward the maintenance of a church or ministry, as the organizations argued before the court on April 11, 2016. This ruling sets the first New Jersey precedent regarding which religious institutions qualify as a “ministry.”

“New Jersey’s Constitution forbids giving state funding to divinity schools, and for very good reason,” said Alex J. Luchenitser, Americans United’s Associate Legal Director. “Tax dollars should go toward projects that benefit all the people of the state, not ones that aid only particular faiths.”

In April 2013, Beth Medrash Govoha and Princeton Theological Seminary stood out on a list the Christie administration released of 176 New Jersey colleges and universities set to receive funds for construction projects through a voter-approved bond sale. Both institutions train clergy, provide religious instruction, and engage in discrimination on the basis of religion or gender.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the ACLU-NJ, Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey, a former Hebrew school teacher, and two other New Jersey taxpayers.

“Today’s ruling sends a powerful reminder that the government shouldn’t be in the business of underwriting clergy training,” said Daniel Mach, Director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.

In the brief filed against Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks, the plaintiffs cited three violations of the state Constitution, which prohibits using taxpayer funds:

For the maintenance of any church or ministryTo subsidize or build facilities at which religious services or instruction will take placeTo subsidize private interests rather than the public interest

Although the court based its ruling solely on the New Jersey Constitution and state precedent, the groups also argued that New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination prohibits any place of public accommodation from discriminating based on religion or sex. While the yeshiva and seminary are private religious entities that are permitted to discriminate with their own resources, the state government cannot give special benefits that subsidize and support that discrimination.

“Although the court did not reach the plaintiff’s sex discrimination claim, its invalidation of the Christie administration’s $10.6 million grant to the yeshiva ensures that public dollars will not contribute to the exclusion of women,” said Galen Sherwin, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. “As a private religious institution, the yeshiva can limit its enrollment exclusively to men, but the state should play no role in supporting such discrimination.”

The New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education’s website identifies each school as a “theological institution.” The court’s decision ruled that in this case, there was no significant legal distinction between sectarian institutions of higher education and sectarian primary and secondary schools.

“Here, unlike other broad-based liberal arts colleges that received grants, both the Yeshiva and the Seminary are sectarian institutions. Their facilities funded by the Department’s grants indisputably will be used substantially if not exclusively for religious instruction. …

“We discern no principled distinction between the consumption of public resources that was invalidated under Article I, Paragraph 3 in Resnick and the payment of taxpayer-funded grants to the Yeshiva and the Seminary. The fact that most or many of the students at the Yeshiva and the Seminary do not eventually become ‘ministers,’ rabbis, or other clergy does not cure the constitutional infirmity, just as the fact that the adults and children who received religious instruction in Resnick were laypeople did not alter the Court’s analysis. Nor does the fact that the Department’s awards to these sectarian schools were part of a larger competitive grant process involving non-sectarian recipients solve the problem. The public school buildings in Resnick were also used by non-religious groups, but that did not eliminate the district’s constitutional violation in allowing religious groups to use them on a subsidized basis,” the opinion read.

Issue: Religious Freedom

« Marijuana Legalization Would Bring 100s of Millions to NJ in Tax Revenue, Says New Report by NJ Policy Groups

Laurice Grae-Hauck is the Outreach Coordinator of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ.

ACTION ALERT: Override Pay Equity Veto!

by UU FA OfficeMay 16, 2016

On March 26 we sent an Action Alert out, asking our supporters to write Governor Christie and ask for him to sign bill S992/A2750, the Pay Equity Act. You responded with overwhelming supporting, make this the most successful online advocacy piece UULMNJ has issued!

Unfortunately for the families of New Jersey, a week ago Governor Christie made national headlines (see articles linked below) when he conditionally vetoed the Pay Equity Act which passed with strong support in both houses – with a 28-4 vote in the Senate and 54-14-6 in the Assembly- in March. The Governor called the bill “nonsensical and makes New Jersey very business unfriendly. The former presidential candidate also worries that the Pay Equity Act “would make New Jersey a liberal outlier.”

We are asking you to now write your local legislators to urge them to stand with women and families by pledging their support for an override of Governor Christie’s veto.

Chris Christie Just Vetoed Equal Pay For Women, And You Won’t Believe Why

Governor Chris Christie Vetoes New Jersey Pay Equity Bill

Christie vetoes N.J. equal pay bill

Women leaders press Christie to sign pay equity bill

Laurice Grae-Hauck is the Outreach Coordinator of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ.

Meet Our New Executive Director!

by UU FA OfficeMay 9, 2016

Rob intro

We are pleased to announce our incoming (and first ever full-time!) Executive Director, Rev. Rob Gregson! Rev. Gregson’s first day of service with the Legislative Ministry will be on July 5. We look forward to an exciting future for the UULMNJ with Rev. Gregson at the helm!

The Rev. Rob Gregson comes to the Executive Director position of the UU Legislative Ministry of New Jersey with years of experience in the fields of nonprofit management, social justice activism and the liberal ministry. A 1990 graduate of Amherst College, Rev. Gregson received his Masters of Divinity in 1999 from Harvard Divinity School. He worked for 3 years in the early 1990s in the Dept. of Social Justice/Office of LBGT Concerns at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston MA, a year as the first full-time interfaith chaplain at the Boston Alzheimer’s Center, and seven years as parish minister at the First UU Fellowship of Baptistown (Hunterdon County, NJ).

Rev. Gregson’s most recent professional experience was to serve as co-founder and first Executive Director of SimpleGifts: Unitarian Centre for Social Action in East London, United Kingdom. This innovative program, located in an area with the highest child poverty rate in the UK and facing intense public scrutiny as a majority Muslim immigrant community, served over 150+ children, parents, elders and recent immigrants each week through innovative after school parent/child clubs, Community Cohesion senior hot lunches, teen service groups, free English as A Second Language (ESL) programs and a Mums and Toddlers social enterprise initiative.

Writes Rev. Gregson, “I look forward to working alongside the many talented volunteers and affiliated UU congregations who make up the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey. I inherit a social justice ministry in the Garden State that is at once daring and forgiving, pastoral and prophetic, where the joy of being together in our congregations is also informed by our concern for the poor and all those living life on the margins. I invite you to join with me and many others as we raise our voices in Trenton and across the state in service to the larger mission of bringing ever more hope, ever more joy and ever more justice into this corner of the world we call ‘home.’”

Rev. Gregson and his two children make their home in South Orange, NJ.

Help us ensure Rob’s success by contributing to and sharing our Faithify campaign, “Growing Justice & Equality in New Jersey” today! We need $100 more dollars to make it to $2,000 and have until May 31 to raise the needed $8,000!

ACTION ALERT: Recovery Assistance for Drug Offenders

by UU FA OfficeMay 2, 2016

In December we asked you to write your legislators to urge their vote in favor of S2806, removing restrictions on general assistance for convicted drug offenders. Thanks to yUUr voices the bill (now S601/A889) has passed both houses! Passage of this bill will repeal this unfair drug war policy that prevents people from making needed changes in their lives.

The bill now heads to Governor Christie’s desk to be signed into law. He has previously shown support for recovery measures, telling an audience in New Hampshire “Everybody in life makes mistakes and we need to give people a second chance.” Tell Governor Christie to sign this bill and provide a second chance to all New Jerseyans.

The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ provided testimony in support of this legislation before the Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee in December. You may read the testimony below.

Providing Testimony in Support of S2806

Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey In Support of S2806

Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

December 10, 2015

Thank you for the opportunity to address this Committee in support of S2806. My name is Deb Ellis and I am testifying on behalf of Rev. Craig Hirshberg, Executive Director of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ), who unfortunately could not be here today. I represent Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout the State of New Jersey. As people of faith, we believe that the exclusion of people with drug convictions from the opportunity to participate in Work First New Jersey General Assistance program is a violation of a just and democratic society. The exclusions conflicts with basic Unitarian Universalist moral values including: the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice and equity; and compassion in human relations.

As Unitarian Universalists, the first principle of our faith is our belief that each individual has inherent worth and dignity. “Inherent” means that the worth of an individual does not have to be earned – it is present in each of us. As a consequence, we strongly believe that the General Assistance exclusion should be repealed because individuals who have been convicted of drug offenses have the same worth and dignity as all other people and thus should have the same opportunity to become productive citizens once they have repaid their debt to society. Under current law, people are disqualified from receiving General Assistance if they have been convicted of distributing even small amounts of marijuana. When we make mistakes, each of us deserves a second chance and the opportunity to rebuild our lives through participation in work programs like Work First New Jersey.

Second, we support S2806 because justice and equity are central to our Unitarian Universalist faith. Our belief that the “Beloved Community” must be realized through human effort requires our attention to how we share the wealth of our planet. We believe that there is a societal obligation to ensure that all people are able to obtain for themselves and their families the basic material needs of food, shelter, and safety. This Legislature’s action in 1997 to exclude from General Assistance benefits only those individuals who had drug convictions was part of the now discredited War on Drugs which resulted in mass incarceration and deprivation of civil and human rights for millions of U. S. citizens. Moreover, the War on Drugs extremely disproportionately focused on people of color. As people of faith, we believe that in order to have a just society, every part of the War on Drugs must now be remedied. Enacting S2806 is an important step in dismantling the injustices of the War on Drugs.

Our final reason for supporting S2806 is our Unitarian Universalist faith belief in compassion in human relations. As you know, S2806 would enable individuals with drug convictions to be eligible for the extremely low cash benefit of General Assistance (capped at $140 per month or $210 per month for those unable to work). Even though the amount is low, being able to receive General Assistance can literally be the difference between life and death, being sheltered or homeless. This is because recipients who are homeless or might become homeless can also receive Emergency Assistance, which can be used to pay for shelter stays and rental assistance. Without this help, many excluded individuals are forced to live in tent cities, abandoned buildings, or become institutionalized in hospitals or jails.

When the General Assistance exclusion was adopted in 1997, individuals with drug convictions were also excluded from food stamps and medical care. However, the rules for NJ’s Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program programs have been changed so that individuals with drug convictions have access to the life-saving assistance of food and health care. As the winter cold descends and in celebration of the holiday season, isn’t it time to also give these individuals access to shelter and the chance to rebuild their lives by participating in Work First New Jersey? As Unitarian Universalists, we believe so.

For all these reasons, I urge you to support S2806. Thank you for your attention.

Get Faithified for Progressive Public Policy

by UU FA OfficeMay 2, 2016

Thank you for raising yUUr voice in support of worht and dignity for all New Jerseyans! Together we can set a path for a new life for our re-entering citizens.

Share your commitment to protecting our planet by donating to UULMNJ’s first ever crowdfunding campaign then share your gift with friends on Facebook and Twitter with a message: “I just gave to UULMNJ to ensure that progressive public policies are a priority in New Jersey. Can you give a gift in honor of Criminal Justice Reform?”

Learn more about our first Faithify Campaign below.

FAITHIFY is a crowdfunding site where passionate people FOLLOW, SHARE, and FUND Unitarian Universalist ministries.

FAITHIFY’s purpose is to:

Inspire a culture of innovation that extends the reach of UU values
Lower the walls between existing congregation
Ignite ministries in new venues, formats, and communities
Bridge geographic and generational borders using 21st century technologies
Help passionate individuals invest directly in ministries that excite them
Help ministry innovators reach a passionate public

“We envision a people with renewed faith and a Unitarian Universalism that is more connected, relevant, and vibrant.”

The success of a Faithify campaign is entirely dependent on the energy and excitement behind it. NOW is the time to think about and get excited by the passion that drives you to be an active part of the UU Legislative Ministry of NJ.

Did you know that one in three online donations is made through peer-to-peer fundraising? P2P fundraising is great for smaller non-profits for several reasons. It eliminates the trust issue. It takes a long time to cultivate a relationship with a supporter and potential donor. Your friends and family already know and love you. They trust that if you are dedicated to a cause that it is worthy of their time of resources. You’re not asking them to make a major donation, put to make a gift in your honor.

Peer fundraising also gets around the lack of resources in a small organization. With only two part-time staff we can only reach so far, but by activating our 1000 emails subscribers and 700 Facebook and Twitter followers we can successfully reach thousands of people!

Do you not have a social networking account? Now’s the time to get active. For those not active online this may be an even more powerful way to say “HEY! This is important to me!” It’s easy, go to the UULMNJ page and click “share”. Not only is social media revolutionizing justice advocacy, its a great was to keep in touch with children and grandchildren (you can thank us later). It’s easy to setup and use. You can ask someone to help you set up your account and find people in your network or you can visit this great online tutorial for seniors.

Faithify is an all-or-nothing funding platform.

All-or-nothing funding means that projects are only funded if they reach or surpass 100% of their funding goal within the duration of their campaign. No funds will be collected from donors unless the goal is reached.

All-or-nothing funding has a number of advantages:

It’s less risk for everyone. If you need $5,000 but only raise $1,000 the project will not work.
It motivates. If people want to see a project come to life, they’re going to spread the word.
It works. Projects either make their goal or find little support. There’s little in-between.

So now that you know about Faithify, how do you engage and help UULMNJ have a successful campaign? We’ve come up with an easy four step plan.

Create a personal story:

Why do you support UULMNJ? What cause is nearest to your heart? Do you have a personal story to share about why this issue is so important to you? Family member in prison? Housing crisis? Healthcare issue?

Reach out to friends and family, NOT JUST UUs:

Send an email ask to your friends and family members who are likely to donate because they care about you, not the organization. You’ll be provided with basic language. You fill in the specifics. Faithify and You(1)

GET SOCIAL:

Do you have a Facebook or Twitter account? Write a short blurb asking your friends to give up a cup of coffee or a beer (you know your friends) in support of social justice. Ask them to share it, too.

Ask your friends why they care about social justice. Ask them to share a personal story about why they support UULMNJ. Pictures are worth a thousand words! Give the organization faces and souls to connect with.

Talk about it! Bring up UULMNJ’s first Faithify campaign in conversations. It’s pledge season in most congregations so you’re already talking about money. Why not talk about this great way for UUs to give back to causes that are important to them.

Stay active! Share updates, donations, issues and more.

ACTION ALERT: Renewable Energy Legislation for Earth Day!

by UU FA OfficeApril 19, 2016

In a 2006 Statement of Conscience the Unitarian Universalist Association stated:

“Earth is our home. We are part of this world and its destiny is our own…. As Unitarian Universalists, how can our faith inform our actions to remedy and mitigate global warming/climate change? We declare by this Statement of Conscience that we will not acquiesce to the ongoing degradation and destruction of life that human actions are leaving to our children and grandchildren. We as Unitarian Universalists are called to join with others to halt practices that fuel global warming/climate change, to instigate sustainable alternatives, and to mitigate the impending effects of global warming/climate change with just and ethical responses. As a people of faith, we commit to a renewed reverence for life and respect for the interdependent web of all existence.”

Along with other members of the coalition NJ FREE, the UULMNJ Environmental Task Force has helped to write the Renewable Energy Tranisition Act, or RETA. The bill would require 80% renewable electricity by 2050, with an intermediate requirement of 30% renewable electricity by 2025. It also seeks a requirement that the total electric usage in New Jersey be reduced by 20% by 2025 relative to 2012 usage, and be reduced by 30% by 2050 relative to 2012 usage. The bill passed the senate on March 14 by a vote of 23-15.

Is 80% Renewable Electricity by 2050 feasible? This question is already being answered in the real world. Many European countries have already adopted requirements that are as ambitious or even more so. Denmark’s goal is 80% of overall energy by 2050. Germany, on the other hand, has a much lower solar resource than New Jersey, and has adopted a requirement of 80% renewable electricity by 2050 and 30% by 2025. Furthermore, it is well ahead of schedule, achieving 26% renewable electricity in the first half of 2012. Germany’s rapid transition toward renewables and equally rapid phase‐out of nuclear power has not hurt its economy. According to the country’s top economic research institutions, Germany’s “Renewable Energy Transformation” has been a net benefit to the economy, and has created 370,000 new jobs.

RETA (A1759) was referred to the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee on January 27, 2016. We are calling for the Chairman, Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo, to move the bill to a vote in honor of Earth Day, which will be celebrated around the globe on Friday, April 22. Please write Chairman DeAngelo and ask him to move this landmark legislation through to a vote in the Assembly.

Watch the Senate bill’s sponsor, Sen. Bob Smith, discuss the legislation with NJTV news.

Earth Day and Faithify!