UULMNJ is seeking an intern to help task forces in their work and develop educational materials. If you know a college or law school student who might be interested, please have them contact Rev. Craig for details.
Category: UUFANJ News
Welcoming Congregation Bulletin – New From UUA
The Welcoming Congregation Bulletin (http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/welcoming/230747.shtml) is a new monthly newsletter published by the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Ministries.
It will keep readers connected to the work of building a Beloved Community where all people can bring their full authentic selves. Each two-page issue offers a tool to increase your welcome, an action to live it loud and proud, a story for inspiration, and news to share.
Be Part of the Marriage Equality Task Force
UULMNJ wants to overturn the veto on marriage equality in New Jersey. We need a strong task force to make this happen. We have a task force chair if it appears that there will be enough people willing to work with the group on this issue. If you would like to be part of the team, contact Rev. Craig at director@uulmnj.org ASAP.
June 23: Join UUs in Sending a Message From Justice GA
At General Assembly in Phoenix, UUs from across the country are sending Sheriff Arpaio a message tonight. See how you can join them.
Tonight: Tent City. Thousands strong, we will lift our voices against the inhumane conditions at this place that Sheriff Joe Arpaio himself calls a “concentration camp.” What is Sheriff Arpaio’s response to our peaceful candlelight vigil at Tent City? To put Maricopa County jails on lockdown, and prevent inmates from receiving visits from friends or family for 24 hours. Indeed, Arpaio plans to punish those who are already subjugated.
Friends—it’s time for us to raise our voices together, all across the country, and demand, unequivocally, that the federal government Shut Down Tent City! Tent City represents the worst of a culture of cruelty perpetrated in the name of the U.S. government and is a shameful component of the federal system of mass detention and deportation. Help us shine a light on these egregious human rights abuses here in Arizona and across the nation!
Read more from the national Standing on the Side of Love campaign manager Dan Furmansky.
Justice GA Begins June 20
Justice General Assembly (GA) 2012 begins June 20 in Phoenix AZ. Some 3800 UUs are expected to attend. Read more. For those not able to attend GA 2012, 16 events will be covered by live streaming video, including the opening and closing celebrations, plenary sessions, a moderator candidates forum, the Service of the Living Tradition, the Ware Lecture, and several worship services.
ALEC Action Alert
UULMNJ’s Economic Justice Task Force as been looking at the corporate influence of ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) in our legislative process. The laws ALEC promotes stand in stark contrast to several of our Unitarian Universalist principles. For example, they have drafted the following legislation:
- SB 1070 and its anti-immigrant copycats violate the spirit of “The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
- Voter I.D. proposals that disproportionately disenfranchise minorities fly in the face of “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.”
The UUA’s Standing on the Side of Love campaign has created an electronic petition to discourage corporate membership in ALEC. In the past days alone, McDonald’s, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Kraft, and Wendy’s have all agreed to cut ties with ALEC due to pressure from consumers like you and me. Let’s keep up the pressure.
Please join the leadership of our denomination in asking Amazon, Visa, Federal Express, and UPS to cut their ties with ALEC. For more information and to sign the petition, just click on the link below:
Petition from the Standing on the Side of Love campaign:
http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/blog/join-me-in-standing-for-what-we-believe/
Environmental Justice Council Meeting – April 28
It seems that the date for our next Environmental Justice Council meeting is problematic for a significant number of you. We’ve heard from more than half of you, and nearly every response was telling us that you have a conflict. It would seem that there are a few other District-wide events happening at the same time. I’m glad that we’re all so engaged in the life of our District! Frances Sink and I have decided to change the date for the Environmental Justice Council meeting. We will meet on Saturday, April 28th. We are still meeting from 10:30-1:30 at the First Unitarian Society of Westchester in Hastings on Hudson, NY.
We hope this means you will be able to join us!
Rev. Peggy Clarke Minister
First Unitarian Society of Westchester, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Racism and Social Justice Consultant, UU Metro NY District
Co-Founder, InterGenerate
GreenFaith Fellow
This meeting was originally rescheduled for April 14. It would be great to have a representative from each New Jersey UU Congregation in attendance.
UULMNJ Annual Plenary – April 14, 2012
ANNUAL MEETING 2012
Saturday, April 14, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Hosted by the UU Congregation of Monmouth County
1475 West Front Street, Lincroft NJ
(see www.uucmc.org for directions)
Featuring a keynote address by Ingrid Reed:
“How Does New Jersey Measure Up: Citizens United and the Fairness of Our Elections”
Ingrid Reed recently retired as a Policy Analyst and the Director of the New Jersey Project at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers, and is a member of the UU Princeton congregation. The New Jersey Project is an initiative designed to reinforce and expand the contributions of Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute of Politics to the governance and politics of New Jersey. Among its initiatives are research and programs on campaign and election activity, ethics administration, and governance issues. Reed’s work focused on campaigns and elections from the point of view of the citizen.
Please join us at the 2012 UULMNJ annual meeting:
- UUs from all over New Jersey will be gathering to discuss past and future actions on key issues.
- Delegates from Affiliated Congregations will be voting on the new budget and members of the Board of Trustees.
- A great opportunity to meet in person with justice leaders from other congregations.
Check-in starts at 8:300am with coffee and bagels; the meeting will begin promptly at 9:00am.
There will be a working lunch provided. We rely on your donations to cover the cost of food and materials for this event.
Download a flyer for your congregation.
REGISTER NOW!
Register online at https://www.formdesk.com/uuforms/UULMNJ
or Contact us at 609-672-7331 or workshop@uulmnj.org
Check back for more details, coming soon!
The Impact of Citizens United on the Democratic Process – Video Now Available
Channing Hall, UU Congregation of Princeton
50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton NJ
Sponsored by UU Legislative Ministry of New Jersey
A video has been made of the program for use in NJ UU congregations and by individuals to support understanding these issues. A study guide is also available. Links are at the end of this article.
How has the Citizens United Supreme Court decision and laws on financing elections influenced the electoral process?
Are there other options for financing elections?
What are related NJ developments, specifically Pay to Play reform?
How can you influence the process?
Program: Join us to talk about the impact of Supreme Court decisions and legislation governing elections financing on the electoral process.
What has been the impact of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision which allowed unlimited corporate and union spending for political advertising? What has evolved in the post Watergate reforms such as disclosure, contribution limits, expenditure limits and public financing? What has been the impact of public financing and super PACs? Is there a way to pay for election campaigns which is not biased in favor of the wealthy? What is happening in NJ now? And how can each person become involved?
Speakers:
Greg Nagy is a recognized expert in electoral financing, published author, lecturer and longtime Unitarian Universalist. Greg Nagy retired in 2001 after almost 25 years as the Legal Director of the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission, where he received its lifetime achievement award. He currently practices law in the area of campaign finance, lobbying regulation and ethics.
Heather Taylor is the Citizens Campaign Communication Director, serving as spokesperson and lobbyist. Heather serves as coordinator of the NJ Online News Resource Group, providing resources and assistance to reporters and citizen journalists to improve local government media coverage.
Download the Study Guide
Internship(s) Available
The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ) is seeking a par time intern(s) to begin no later than April 1. Duties of the position include but are not limited to:
- Research assistance in specific areas of New Jersey Public Policy, which may include Environment, Health Care, Economic Justice, Immigration and other emerging issues as they develop
- Develop educational materials for local congregations
- Assist Executive Director with implementation of research work
Qualifications:
- Good research skills
- Commitment to social change
- Knowledge of Unitarian Universalism and congregational life
Must be able to work independently and to meet once a week in Summit, NJ.
Compensation: TBD
Duration: 1 year
Applications should be submitted to:
Rev. Craig Hirshberg, Executive Director, director@uulmnj.org.
Contact: 609.672.7331
Deadline: March 20, 2012
The Unitarian Universalist Ministry of New Jersey, a statewide network of the 21 New Jersey Unitarian Universalist congregations, provides a comprehensive structure, network and resources to empower the moral voice and actions of our Unitarian Universalist principles and values in the public arena. UULMNJ engages in impacting social justice and public policy issues important to our state through Education, Research, Advocacy, Witness, and Service. UULMNJ works to facilitate communications among the NJ UU congregations and aims to be a resource to encourage and strengthen their social justice programs. UULMNJ is an equal opportunity employer. www.uulmnj.org.
Supported in part by a grant from the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility.