UU FA Office

Monmouth Co: Sept 22, 29 Events

by UU FA Office

Rev. Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow, ‘evolutionary evangelists’ (www.thegreatstory.org), return to the UU Congregation of Monmouth County on Sunday, September 22 for service and then a workshop at 6:30pm (“Reality Is God: Inspiring Science, Evolving Faith, Saving Humanity”), to remind us that our actions now do affect the on-going web of existence and our part in it.

The next film in UUCMC’s Social Action Film Series, Living Downstream, will be shown on Sunday, September 29 at 5:00pm.  This film follows scientist, professor, author, and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber as she travels across North America, working to break the silence about cancer, its environmental links – and the urgent human rights issue therein.

East Brunswick: Environmental Film Screening

by UU FA Office

On Saturday, September 21 at 4:00 pm, the Unitarian Society in East Brunswick, along with the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club, will screen the documentary Last Call at the Oasis. This provocative documentary sheds light on the global water crisis. Scientists, activists and social entrepreneurs discuss ways to help conserve this vital and nonrenewable resource.

This documentary was inspired by the book, The Ripple Effect: The Fate of Freshwater in the Twenty-First Century, by Alex Prud’homme.  (Well worth reading.)

This event is free and open to the public. Discussion and a call for further action will follow.

Princeton: Support for Marriage Equality

by UU FA Office

Rev. Bill Neely, minister at the UU Congregation of Princeton, had a letter to the editor published in the Trenton Times on August 28, calling for marriage equality in New Jersey.

“My wife and 4-year-old daughter recently traveled to attend a wedding for a couple of friends we met at church about 20 years ago. They’ve been in love the whole time and are raising a wonderful child together. I stayed home with our baby, but I heard that the wedding was spectacular. It’s easy to imagine that; they’re a beautiful couple with a wide circle of wonderful friends.

They’ve waited a long time to get married. Because they’re both women, most states judge their relationship to be unworthy of receiving full marital status. Most states discriminate against them. But Maryland recently decided to treat equally all couples who make the promise of marriage. Fortunately for them, our friends live in Maryland, one of 13 equality states. Sadly, if they lived in New Jersey, their marriage would still be unrecognized….”

http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2013/08/opinion_gov_christies_veto_of.html

Morristown: Gun Violence Prevention Meeting

by UU FA Office

UU Meeting with Rep. Frelinghuysen on Preventing Gun Violence, Sept. 3, 2013

Rev. Alison Miller, Rev. Craig Hirshberg, Diane Finn, Bill Tyler, Jo Sippie-Gora, Kathy Allen Roth and Jim Stevenson met with U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen in Morristown on September 3, 2013.

After introductions, Diane presented more than 70 signed letters supporting legislation to reduce gun violence.  She said the letter campaign was initiated at a talk by Colin Goddard at the showing of Living for 32 at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in April of this year.

Alison started by noting Rep. Frelinghuysen (RF) said he would be able to support background checks at a prior meeting in February and she asked him if he would be a co-sponsor of HR 1565 (House version of Manchin-Toomey).  RF responded that he was not supporting any particular legislation at present and that no votes on gun laws were imminent in congress.

Craig said the gun violence debate needed to be reframed to consider people who do not own guns: they have a right to live in a community safe from gun violence.  She noted more than 80% of New Jersey crime guns are from out of state.  Craig asked for strong leadership on background checks.

Alison noted RF stated he was a moderate in a previous meeting, and asked if he would support background checks as did 97% of his constituents.  RF backed away from being “called a moderate” and said he was not ready to support any legislation.  In response to Kathy’s request for specific reasons, RF said he was “comfortable exactly where I am” on this issue.

Jim asked if RF could show that same leadership supporting background checks now that he did in 1999 following the Columbine shootings.  The current legislation closes the gun show and internet loopholes that hardly existed in 1999.

Kathy asked about RF’s “terror gap” vote in which he and several other congressmen voted not to allow the attorney general to add the names of terrorists barred from flying to the gun denial list.

Diane asked why background checks already in place for store sales cannot be extended to gun shows and the internet. The HR1565 prohibits gun registration.  The anti-background check rhetoric is fantasy.

To each of the group’s questions or requests (above), Rep. Frelinghuysen generally responded with a remark of marginal relevance or cited standard pro-gun arguments e.g. lists riddled with errors, enforce existing laws first, congress too busy, 2nd amendment rights, etc.  The group pointed out several times that 97% of the voters in the 11th congressional district support background checks

In response to Craig’s question on how to make communities safer, RF cited sheriffs and police chiefs, particularly Cathy Lanier, DC police Chief.  See http://mpdc.dc.gov/page/cathy-l-lanier-chief-police.

The meeting ended with thank you’s and handshakes as people entered for the next meeting.

In an impromptu UU meeting on the sidewalk outside the office building, we concluded the UU group had presented its case well and that the congressman’s “comfort” level with inaction was much too high.  We decided that each of us would write a separate thank-you letter to Rep. Frelinghuysen on a particular topic of the meeting.

The conclusion of the group is that Rep. Frelinghuysen will not likely alter his position before a vote is taken in the house.  At that time, additional meetings with the congressman may be useful to remind him of the broad support for background checks in his district.

– Jim Stevenson

UULMNJ Fall Issues Conference – October 19, 2013

by UU FA Office

FALL ISSUES WORKSHOP 2013
Saturday, October 19, 9:00am – 2:30pm

Hosted by the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield
724 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ
(see www.fusp.org for directions)


This gathering will be a working session to:

  • Discuss the determine UULMNJ focus issues for the coming year
  • Learn how you can work with UULMNJ in your home congregation
  • Meet with justice leaders from other congregations

Special Guests

  • Keynote speaker, Sue Fulton, a 1980 West Point graduate and part of the first class to admit women, and a key player in the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy
  • Giving Voice, a women’s a cappella chorus founded by Penny Gnesin, will provide musical inspiration

Who should attend?

  • People who want to make a difference by putting their faith into action
  • Anyone interested in the work of UULMNJ
  • Congregational liaisons, action team members, leaders and staff
  • Task Force members

Liaison and Volunteer Training

  • Immediately following the conclusion of the workshop – stay for an hour and learn how to use UULMNJ resources to take action in your congregation.

Check-in at 9:00am with coffee and bagels; the meeting will begin promptly at 9:30am.

There will be a working lunch provided.  We rely on your donations to cover the cost of food and materials for this event.

 Please reigster by October 16.  Click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Download a flyer to post in your congregation.  Bring a friend!

 

Keynote Speaker – Sue Fulton

Brenda S. “Sue” Fulton is a 1980 West Point graduate, part of the first class to admit women. She was commissioned in the Army, served for five years in Germany, and was honorably discharged at the rank of Captain.

Sue Fulton is a founding Board member of Knights Out, an organization of LGBT West Point graduates, and helped found OutServe, the association of actively-serving LGBT military members.

As the Executive Director and co-founder of Knights Out, and Communications Director for OutServe, Fulton was a key player in the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

In 2011, President Obama appointed her as the first openly gay member of the West Point Board of Visitors. She married her longtime partner, Penny Gnesin, at the Cadet Chapel at West Point on December 1, 2012.

Sue and Penny live in Asbury Park, NJ.

Job Announcement – Faith Organizer for Marriage Equality

by UU FA Office

The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey in collaboration with New Jersey United for Marriage, is offering a full-time 3-4 month organizing position to bring about Marriage Equality in New Jersey by the end of this legislative session (January 2014).  The position description is below, and may also be downloaded here.  Priority will be given to applications received by Sept. 6.   Please distribute as widely and as quickly as you can to anyone interested.  For more information, I can be contacted below.

Thank you for your help,
Rev. Craig Hirshberg, Executive Director
Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ
director@UULMNJ.org
(609) 672-7331

Job Announcement: Faith Organizer

New Jersey United for Marriage, the coalition of local, state and national organizations working to win the freedom to marry for all New Jersey families and the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ, a non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy network of Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations of New Jersey which upholds UU values of justice, equality, and compassion by championing human dignity in public policy and legislation, are collaborating to offer the following position. Position Description

This is an immediate opening for a full-time Faith Organizer. The Faith Organizer will work as part of a dynamic field and outreach team and will be responsible for helping to manage the faith engagement program of NJUM. The Faith program focuses on work that builds strong relationships with clergy, people of faith and faith communities, supports organizing initiatives, and manages volunteer teams of people of faith. The Faith Organizer will work under the supervision of the Faith Director of NJUM and the Executive Director of the UULMNJ and will work closely with field staff to set goals, show broad support across denominations, and activate clergy and people of faith to lobby the legislature.

Qualifications:

  • Grounding in the Unitarian Universalist faith and experience in faith organizing with the ability to understand UU social justice values, and be able to speak with authenticity in the UU faith community; affiliation with a UU congregation a plus.
  • Demonstrated experience in recruiting, motivating, and training volunteers and/ or paid staff.
  • Attention to measurable results. Grassroots lobbying experience, especially working with volunteers to produce constituent contacts is strongly desired.
  • Ability to be a team player and work in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment.
  • Experience in grassroots organizing strongly desired, preferably within the faith community, including event production, 
coalition management and direct voter contact through door-to-door canvassing and phone banking.
  • Curiosity about all aspects of the LGBT community. Prior experience working in LGBT community is strongly desired.
  • Top-notch “people skills,” including excellent oral and written communication skills, are a must.

Specific responsibilities include:

  • Work with the UULMNJ Marriage Equality task force and through UU congregations and volunteers to expand marriage equality support in local targeted communities.
  • Work with local faith leaders to lobby elected officials around marriage equality through constituent meetings, phone calling, visibility events, etc.
  • Work with Faith Director to implement a multi-faith outreach strategy designed to engage people of faith and increase support for marriage equality with legislators.
  • Accurately track and assess leader and volunteer engagement.
  • Help field team research and understand elected officials faith concerns regarding marriage equality, work with Faith staff, faith volunteers and field staff to address these concerns through constituent meeting, visibility events, faith specific communications strategies, etc.

Other requirements:

  • Ability to work evenings and weekends
  • Valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation

Send cover letter and resume electronically to: Amelia Nugent at amelia@NJUM.org.
Priority given to applications received by Sept. 6, 2013.

The position is open to all qualified applicants regardless of race, age, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, partisan and religious affiliations, etc. Women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.

March on Washington – August 24

by UU FA Office

From Standing on the Side of Love

On Saturday, August 24th, activists from all over the country will gather in Washington, DC to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic I Have A Dream speech.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down part of the Voting Rights Act and the acquittal of George Zimmerman for Trayvon Martin’s death, it has become clear that our work for racial justice and equity in the country is far from finished. Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III have called this “National Action to Realize the Dream” to galvanize the American people to take action.

Exploring a Renewable Energy Coalition

by UU FA Office

A meeting was recently held at the Princeton UU Church regarding the proposed formation of a coalition to push for renewable energy in New Jersey. Led by Bill Potter, a new member at Princeton, who was once the Public Advocate for the State of NJ, the group is seeking supporting organizations that would contact legislators to sponsor a bill that would require that the state achieve 80% Renewable Electricity by 2050, with an intermediate requirement of 30% Renewable Electricity by 2025. The collation would also seek 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 task force believes that this is an exciting prospect that would provide a vehicle for advocating for Environmental Justice as was a key goal of the 2013 UU General Assembly.  The task force will continue to gather more information about this effort.