As this year draws to a close, we pause to reflect on the love, justice, and care you have brought into the world. Your dedication and compassion have been a beacon of hope, and we are deeply grateful to be on this journey with you.

During this holiday season, may you find moments of rest and renewal. Whether you gather with loved ones, reflect in solitude, or engage in acts of kindness, may this time bring peace to your spirit and strength to your heart.

As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited to continue building a world rooted in love and justice. To grow our capacity for this work, we are thrilled to announce that Side With Love is searching for a Climate Justice Fellow! This temporary, part-time role (19 hours per week at $22-$26 per hour with benefits) will help deepen our Unitarian Universalist climate justice efforts through June 2025. If you or someone you know is passionate about faith-centered environmental stewardship, we encourage you to apply today.

While we continue this sacred work together, we invite you to take advantage of the resources we’ve created to support your journey. Our Community Resilience Hub offers tools to empower and equip your congregation or community in meaningful ways. Please also consider filling out our Community Skill and Asset Survey to help us map our collective strengths as the UUA community (email love@uua.org with your congregational affiliation to get the link to the survey.)

We’re also happy to offer two small gifts from the Side With Love Team to help you center yourself as we come to the end of a turbulent year. First, we invite you to listen to this Solstice Playlist cultivated by the SWL team, filled with songs to help you reflect and find inspiration in this season. We also have crafted this small Solstice Reflection Guide, offering you a few questions to sit with and reflect upon as we come to the end of 2024. 

May this blessing from Rev. Kathleen McTigue, former minister of the Unitarian Society of New Haven, guide you in your walk and work in the days to come: 

     “May you be blessed with good companions on the journey
Kindred spirits to uphold you in the face of challenges
And to share in your joy.
May you find in yourself the strength to rise above fear,
A commitment to do justice,
And the willingness to be enlarged by love.”

Let us carry this spirit into the year ahead, as we continue the sacred work of building the Beloved Community.

With gratitude and hope,

Side With Love Team 

As we enter the season of reflection and intention, I’d like to share some exciting news and deep gratitude for this community. This year was a stretch! Together we reached towards the highest aspirations of  our faith; modeling commitment, grace, partnership and adaptation to answer the call of love and justice. 

Side With Love’s power comes from our collective commitment to rise to the challenge and beauty of building Beloved Community.  Today, as the world around us continues to grapple with crises fueled by hatred and indifference, we have a moral mandate to embody the principles of justice and compassion in all that we do. Together, we can be the architects of a more just and equitable future. By rooting in our faith--embodying our values through care, political action, and deep learning--we can imagine a new world and call it into being. 

Like you, the Side With Love team at the UUA is growing our capacities to support the work for this long haul and that means growing our team. I am overjoyed to announce two new additions to our team. 

Welcome Rev. Brandan Robertson as the new Sr. Communications Manager!  This role is designed to help us keep our communities connected and informed, tell the powerful stories of our work, and build faithful and libertory narratives of the world we are building. I am overjoyed that Rev. Brandan Robertson has joined the Side With Love team at the UUA as our new Sr.Communications Manager. Rev. Brandan brings a wealth of strategic communications and advocacy experience from United Methodist Church, Faith in Public Life, and his award-wining work and ministry of LGBTQ inclusion. We are excited for all that he brings to our team in helping us articulate and connect with our values in the world. 

From Rev. Brandan:

As a progressive Christian pastor, activist, and organizer, I have long admired the work of Side With Love and the broader Unitarian Universalist Association. It is a true honor to now get the chance to partner with this incredible team to help share our vital work and message with the world in the days ahead. I look forward to all of the good work we will do together as we trouble the waters to bring healing, liberation, and justice to our world.

Welcome G Williams as the Special Projects Administrator. 

This is a part-time role that helps us respond to the emergent needs and opportunities of this moment. G will play a key role in supporting internal infrastructure building as well as rapid response work. G brings a variety of  technical skills and organizing experience from their work at The Trevor Project and justice work in Unitarian Universalism. Most recently they have co-founded Camp Ground, a multi-religious adult summer camp that provides a retreat for folks who do the work of justice in their day to day lives. G Is a seminarian at Starr King School for the Ministry and a member of the Trans Seminarian Cohort with The National LGBTQ Task Force. They are currently working on our asset map survey which will serve to mobilize resources and activate leaders to support bodily autonomy, and immigrant and gender justice work in the coming months.  If you haven’t completed it yet, please email love@uua.org to request the link.

From G: 

I have spent my life in service to the communities that nourished me into being, working not just towards the absence of oppression but for the presence of justice and the hope for peace. It is both an honor and a blessing to continue that work with the incredible Side With Love team and the broader UUA. At a moment when I am certain what awaits us will bring many challenges, I take heart in knowing that we are a people whose faith calls us to action, and that when I wade into the deep to meet each challenge, I will not be alone in the water.

At the heart of our work lies the profound power of love. Love serves as both a catalyst for action and a source of solace for our communities in times of need. In these times where we are told the lie that our individual thriving requires someone else's suffering, love is the promise of Beloved Community, where all of us are whole and worthy. 

Thank you for your support in the ever-evolving work and staffing of Side With Love. 

Love and courage,

Nicole Pressley 

Resources for continuing the work. 

Partnership is critical to work. I want to lift up some opportunities and resources to help our communities remain resilient and get ready for the work ahead.  

1. Watch: UUA President Sofía Betancourt’s Holiday Message 

2. Listen: Anti-authoritarian Playbook Podcast 

3. Join: Mijente Deportation Defense webinars 

4. Faith ERSN Digital Security 101 

5. Give: Donate to Pink Haven, National Network of Abortion funds, Side With Love

6. Complete: Community Care and Resilience Survey (email love@uua.org to get the link)

7. Take action: AFSC ceasefire action hour, 10 thing to do that are not voting or protesting  

8. Check out the new UUA Community Resilience Hub 

In these turbulent times, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary efforts of UUs across the country who contributed to our UU the Vote work during this election season. No matter the results of the election, your commitment to justice and strengthening our democracy has made a real difference. Together, we mobilized, educated, and inspired thousands of people across key states, demonstrating the transformative power of our faith in action.

A few highlights from UU democracy organizing across the US: 

Arizona: UU the Vote volunteers canvassed tirelessly, focusing on pivotal ballot initiatives, including Proposition 139 (expanding abortion care) and Proposition 314 (an anti-immigrant measure). Alongside local partners and out-of-state volunteers, we knocked on doors, educated voters, and grew relationships with grassroots partner organizations.

North Carolina: With legislative and judicial races on the line, UU volunteers and partners connected with over 12,000 voters, with a chorus that uplifted spirits at early voting sites, demonstrating that resilience and hope are powerful antidotes to intimidation and fear.

National Efforts: Phone-banking efforts in collaboration with State Action Networks in MI, NC, PA, and TX ensured voters were informed and empowered to make their voices heard. In Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Wisconsin, UU volunteers canvassed the weekend before Election Day.

Through every conversation, song, and step, you embodied our faith’s commitment to justice, love, and equity. Thank you.

As we reflect on these efforts, we also invite you to consider an essential question posed by UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt during a recent fireside chat with UUSC President Rev. Mary Katherine Morn: How do we make our interdependence faithful and value-driven? These two theologians and leaders discussed the UU theological grounding for climate justice, highlighting that interdependence is not always positive—someone upstream polluting has an interdependent relationship with those downstream. This question challenges us to align our interconnectedness with values of justice, compassion, and care.

You are invited to explore this conversation further by watching the UU Theological Grounding for Climate Justice Fireside Chat, a 32-minute recording that includes reporting from small group discussions across the UUA. 

3 Resources to Empower Your Community as We Move Forward

While the election is behind us, there is still much work left to be done. The challenges ahead demand that we remain resilient, adaptable, and deeply connected to one another. In response, we have three resources to empower your community as we move forward.

1) Tap into the Community Resilience Hub
The election may be over, but the work continues! The Community Resilience Hub is your go-to destination for tools, resources, and inspiration to help your congregation and community stay organized, advocate for justice, and heal together. Dive into everything it offers to stay grounded and connected as you move forward.

2) Contribute to the Congregational Asset Map Survey
Your congregation’s unique strengths matter! By filling out the Congregational Asset Map Survey, you’ll help us build a comprehensive view of our collective resources. Together, we can ensure that our movement remains strong and impactful in the years to come. (Email socialjustice at uua.org with your congregational affiliation to receive the link.)

3) Share Your Insights in the UUA Community Care and Resilience Survey
Let your voice shape the future! The UUA Community Care and Resilience Survey is an opportunity to share your perspectives and help us strategically address challenges and opportunities ahead. Don’t miss your chance to contribute before the end of the year! (Email socialjustice at uua.org with your congregational affiliation to receive the link.)

As we move forward, we will continue to provide you with information, updates, and resources to empower you to be a witness for love and justice in your communities and beyond. But until then, may this blessing ignite a spark within your soul that empowers you to press onward with faith and hope:

May the love that binds us together bring the healing we seek.

May the hope that ignites our souls keep our eyes fixed on the prize of collective liberation.

May the peace that comes from knowing we are each other's strengthen our resolve.

May the joy inspired by the vision of a more just world propel us into the work ahead.

May the faith that sustains us guide our path with courage and grace.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our collective liberation. Your efforts are a testament to the transformative power of our faith and the boundless possibilities of what we can achieve together.

In gratitude and solidarity,

your Side With Love team

2024 UUA Social Justice Award Nominations Wanted!

Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action

The Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action honors a Unitarian Universalist congregation that has done exemplary work in social justice and is accompanied by a $1,000 cash award.

Submissions must be received by April 25, 2025.  

Submissions consist of a short description form, and if applicable, a testimonial from a partner organization or community group, and any relevant media about the congregation's justice ministry, including news articles or photos. Learn more and submit your nomination.

Skinner Sermon Award

The Skinner Sermon Award honors Clarence Skinner, the late dean of the Tufts College School of Religion in Medford, MA. and a major voice of prophetic religious liberalism, and is presented annually to the preacher of the sermon best expressing Unitarian Universalism's social principles. It comes with a $500 honorarium. 

We particularly encourage and invite sermons that speak to one of our four intersectional justice priorities (bodily autonomy inclusive of reproductive justice and trans liberation; decriminalization; democracy and electoral justice; and climate justice). 

Submissions must be received by April 25, 2025. 

Submissions may be offered as a document of the sermon text and/or as a video recording of it being offered. Please be sure to include the author's name, address, church affiliation, phone number, email address, and indication of when and where the sermon was delivered in your email submission. Learn more and submit your sermon.

Tonight, the final votes will be cast in this election. As we await the results, many of us feel the weight of uncertainty. This moment brings tension but also invites us to lean into the steady presence our faith calls us to embody. Now, more than ever, your strength and leadership in your communities are essential. Together, we can be a grounding presence, steady and unwavering, whatever may come.

While the outcomes of key races are yet to be decided, we remain united by a shared commitment to our core values—values held by communities of all backgrounds, rooted in the freedom to shape our futures, protect our communities, and make our voices heard. In this moment, let us stay steadfast in our commitment to one another and to the common good, keeping our eyes on our ultimate goal: the collective liberation of all people.

As we move through this day, may this blessing spark hope within you:

On this Election Day,
One of us will joyfully cast a vote, hoping we are moving closer to a just world—
This act renews our inner strength,
Challenges closed minds,
And lifts our spirit with hope.

On this Election Day,
One of us will serve as a poll worker—
Guardians of democracy who show up with patience and courage,
Ensuring every vote is counted and every voice is heard.
A sacred act of love for every person in our country.

On this Election Day,
One of us will vote with our focus on communities in need,
Disrupting cycles of oppression,
Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
And seeking to bring peace to a world marked by division.

On this Election Day,
One of us will vote with righteous anger aflame within,
Encountering barriers to our right to be heard,
To share our sacred stories,
And feel the sting of ignorance working against our dignity.

On this Election Day,
One of us will show up as our fullest self, without fear, demanding recognition and affirmation—
Trusting in the power of “we the people,”
Believing anew in the promise of democracy,
And finding courage birthed within us once again.

As we embark on this sacred work today,
Let us release that which has made us afraid,
Hold close what stirs our spirit,
And renew our faith in the strength of the Beloved Community.
For as we bless the world with our voices and votes, we, too, are blessed in return.

As we continue forward together, here are essential actions that can support your communities during this time.

• Embrace Connectedness: Remain closely connected to your faith community, using this moment to check in on one another and nurture the deep relationships we’ve formed. Whether through emails, phone calls, virtual gatherings, or in-person meetings, ensure that no one in your community feels isolated during this time.

• Prepare for a Range of Outcomes: While we all hope to see a peaceful transition of power, it’s important to be ready for any unrest that may arise or the spread of misinformation. Utilize the resources we’ve developed to encourage calm and critical thinking in the days ahead.

• Support Our Community: We must prioritize care for those most at risk in our communities—migrants, trans and nonbinary individuals, queer communities, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Take time to reach out to trusted local coalitions and offer support where possible.

• Mobilize When Necessary: Whether through public demonstrations or behind-the-scenes support, remain flexible and discerning in the days ahead. Keep our organizing and accountability networks active for a coordinated, compassionate response should it become necessary. Resources on risk discernment, safety at protests and more can be found on the Community Resilience Hub.

The Unitarian Universalist Association, along with our Side With Love and Congregational Life teams, is here with you through this time of unknowns. We’ve developed a broad range of tools, resources, and events to help us move forward together, and we will continue to provide thoughtful updates and support in the days ahead with a steady commitment to our shared values.

In times like these, it is natural to feel overwhelmed. Yet we’ve prepared for this. With courage, clarity, and deep love, we will navigate this journey together—whatever the outcome.

In faith and solidarity,

Nicole, Amanda, Amarin, Audra, Brandan, Cathy, G., Jeff, Nora, Ranwa, and Rachel
the Side With Love staff Team

Our shared values of love, justice, and compassion call on us to respond to the many threats to our future of collective thriving and liberation. While we fight the many causes of climate disasters (extractive capitalism, racial injustice), we also commit ourselves to building communities of care and resilience. As the Southeast experiences the devasting loss from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we are grateful for the many who have taken up the sacred task of care. From spiritual support to life-saving rescue efforts to financial and material relief efforts, it is critical that we show up. If you can make a financial contribution to relief efforts, please support one or all of the vetted relief efforts at the end of this email. 

It is clear that mitigation - working to reduce the polluting emissions that drive climate change -  is no longer enough. We are called to expand our efforts to center justice and prioritize creating communities of care.

Our congregations must become places of refuge in the storms, hubs of resilience in times of climate disaster, and centers of nourishment when things fall apart. This, dear friends, is the work of our time.

We know that climate disasters do not affect all equally. Marginalized communities—including people of color, people with disabilities, low-income families, and unhoused neighbors—are often impacted first and hardest. Consider that people with disabilities are two to four times more likely to die or be injured during climate disasters. Or that Black disaster survivors receive significantly less government support than their white counterparts, exacerbating pre-existing inequities. This is a call to action.

As we reimagine a world where all communities thrive, we must also ground ourselves in the systems of oppression that worsen the climate crisis. Our work must include addressing FEMA accountability, the mental health crisis exacerbated by displacement, and the climate grief and anxiety that many are facing. We must not turn away from these realities but open our hearts to create a new world with this knowledge.

We encourage everyone to support efforts like the UUA's Disaster Relief Fund and mutual aid networks, such as those offered by Highlander, to uplift the most vulnerable. Additionally, the importance of voting for leaders and policies that prioritize climate justice cannot be overstated. Our collective action in these moments will shape the future.

Let us move forward with courage, faith, and an unwavering commitment to justice.

In solidarity,

Your colleagues at Side With Love

UU Theological Grounding for Climate Justice

UUs have been at the leading edge of climate action for decades, but how does our faith call us to the work of climate justice?

Join the Green Sanctuary 2030 Community on Wednesday, October 16 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET for a watch party of the UU Theological Grounding for Climate Justice Fireside Chat with UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt and UUSC President Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, hosted by Side With Love Climate Justice Advocate Rachel Myslivy.

How does your faith call you to this work? Join the conversation!

Climate Resilience through Disaster Response and Community Care

How can we center the inherent worth and dignity of every person in climate disasters? Check out our resource for congregations, Climate Resilience through Disaster Response and Community Care.

We can use our gifts to offer love, to work for justice, to heal injury, to create pleasure for ourselves and others. We can recognize our mutual independence with all life. We can take actions that are grounded in justice, guided by wisdom, and sustained with hope. We can learn, act, and reflect to cultivate the beloved community.

Every community is different, and climate impacts will vary at the hyper-local level. Some neighborhoods may be devastated by a hurricane while others experience only minor impacts. Adequate preparation and response for climate disasters must center the lived experiences and impacts of climate disasters on those most at risk.

Use our toolbox, worksheets, and recorded trainings to assess your community's climate impacts and mobilize for action. Start today.

UU the Vote: 2024 Mobilization

With just 24 days until Election Day, UU the Vote continues to invite UUs around the country to join us for these important events to engage with voters.  

If you are within driving distance of any of our in-person mobilizations, please join us! Each day includes spiritual grounding, training, lunch, and support (plus gas reimbursement if you bring a group!). Read about our in-person mobilizations in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Dallas! 

Drop into any or all of our upcoming phonebanks - we train at the beginning of each one and provide on-going support. Your personal information is protected as you make calls through our software. 

In-Person Canvassing

• October 25-27: Phoenix, AZ

• October 25-27: Raleigh, NC*

• November 1-3: Denver, CO 

• November 1-3: Orlando, FL*

• November 1-3: Milwaukee, WI

Virtual Phonebanks

• October 15 with UU Justice Pennsylvania

• October 22 with Texas UU Justice Ministry

• October 29 with Michigan UU Social Justice Network

Tell us about your congregation’s UU the Vote work!

Please update us about the work your congregation is doing on democracy with our Activity and Action Reporting Form!

UPLIFT Access Monthly Accessibility Resource Webinars

Our loving faith calls us to honor the inherent rights and dignity of all people and to fight forms of oppression wherever we find it. However, disabled people (who make up 26% of the population) regularly find ourselves pushed to the margins, being denied our needs, and not receiving the radical welcome UU’s aspire to provide to all members.

Lay leaders, religious professionals, and allies are invited to join us for our monthly lunchtime webinars where you can learn how to be more accessible and inclusive of your congregation’s disabled members and visitors.

Join us for our next UPLIFT Access Resource Webinar on Thursday, October 17 at 12:00pm ET / 9am PT for a discussion of Voting and Disability Justice. Join representatives from Side With Love, New Disabled South, and Rev. Amanda Schuber, the UUA’s Disability Justice Associate.

• UPLIFT Access Monthly Webinar Registration

Check out last month’s recording: Sacred, Collective Care and Safe, Clean Air with CB Beal and Meghan Garvey

• UPLIFT Access Webinars - All Previous Recordings

UPLIFT Trans/Nonbinary+ Monthly Gathering

Join the UPLIFT monthly gatherings for trans, nonbinary, and other not-entirely-or-at-all-cis UUs and friends of UUism. Join us on October 22 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT to connect with other trans/nonbinary+ UUs and co-create support and community across our faith. All you need to bring is yourself (and other trans/nonbinary friends, if you’d like)! 

This is a drop-in space, where folks can come and go as works best for them, and where people can join us at any time. You can be a regular or someone new, someone who's been curious for a while but hasn't yet checked us out, somebody who is rejoining after time away, and all other ways of relating to this space! You are welcome here, and you are loved. 

Learn more: https://www.uua.org/lgbtq/transnb
Register: https://bit.ly/UPLIFTGathering

After the sale of their building, Newcastle Unitarians decided to donate their silver collection to Newcastle City Council. Read all about this generous gift here:

The post Newcastle Unitarians donate silver to the city appeared first on The Unitarians.

In these times, where the threats to democracy and liberty devastate our communities, we are fortified by the truth that throughout history, people rise to meet the moment. 

 In 2024, we are rising to the challenges we face in the world. 

 Transforming our Climate Justice Work  

 We are launching a first-ever faith-wide Climate Revival that will break down silos and springboard hundreds of congregations to a move beyond extraction into a wider climate justice movement—the Revival supports congregations with tools and training to equip us to take courageous and impactful action.  

 Growing our Organizing Power 

 We’re building response networks across the country for trans people, students, and the many folks targeted by state violence and legislative attacks. 

 Taking mass action for democracy 

 We are answering the call to show up boldly and be part of the moral majority that knows another world is possible. We are taking action right now towards that future with UU the Vote 2024. 

Side With Love is a public expression of our values, bringing our values to life through mobilizing leaders in congregations and our communities.

Today, it is urgent that we center love in all that we do, if we are to transform ourselves and our world toward liberation. That is the power of a liberating love. 

“Everything you touch, you change; everything that changes, changes you.” 

Octavia Butler, The Parable of the Sower

What happens when love is a force for change? Who must we become to embody that love?

 Help Side With Love build community and campaigns centered around liberating love. Let's harness our power in the urgent times. Thanks to generous donors, all contributions made by July 5 will be matched up to $75,000. 

The Mass Poor People's & Low-Wage Workers' Assembly & Moral March on Washington DC on Sat, June 29

The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is calling on people of moral conscience in the DMV area to join thousands on June 29th in Washington, DC to uplift and center the needs of the over 135 million poor and low-wage people and workers across the country. The UUA is one of the organizational partners for this event.

• Interested in joining in person?

• Watch the livestream on Saturday on our Facebook page.

Blessing for Queer Youth of Faith Day

Queer Youth of Faith Day is celebrated on June 30th.

According to Beloved Arise, "1 in 5 LGBTQ youth say their faith is important to them."

As a religious denomination committed to LGBTQIA+ liberation, Side With Love is pleased to share this blessing for queer youth of faith, penned by Side With Love Leadership Development Specialist Rev. Cathy Rion Starr (they/them/theirs).

General Assembly 2024

Side With Love Cohorts

During General Assembly 2024, Side With Love offered a cohort for attendees. Twice a day, GA attendees could drop into one of Side With Love's cohort sessions which offered theological grounding, a story of congregational action connected, opportunities for discussion, and moments of movement and levity.

 Recommended Resource: Collaboration is a relationship that starts with knowing what you have to offer and what you hold. See what your congregation can offer and what your congregation is currently holding:

• Skill Up Workshop: Asset Mapping: Leveraging Congregational Resources for the Movement

• Green Sanctuary Team Meeting: Engaging Marginalized Communities

• Skill Up Workshop: What Do Impacted Communities Need? How Would I Know!?

Join Slack - our virtual field office! Slack is our primary online community for Side with Love - let’s connect!

Social Witness Statements for 2024

These statements were affirmed at General Assembly and are undergoing review by UUA legal counsel. Final text will be posted at UUA Statements by July 15th. 

• AIW: Centering Love Amidst the Ongoing Impact of COVID-19

• AIW: Solidarity with Palestinians

• AIW: World on Fire: Humanitarian Work and Climate Change

Additionally, during General Assembly, the UUA Business Resolution: Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values was adopted as well as Responsive Resolution: UUA General Assembly Support for October 7 Hostages. 

It is that time again. PRIDE Month! Every June, many of us celebrate PRIDE, honoring LGBTQ+ people, our lives, accomplishments, and resilience. As you read this, the streets in your hometown may be lined with banners announcing the upcoming PRIDE parade; storefront windows are abundantly decorated with affirming messages like “love trumps hate” or “love is love.” From logos to curated book displays at our local library, we can find PRIDE deeply affirming and celebratory. 

Pride is beautiful! It is life-affirming to be celebrated and declare your love for yourself and your beloved. Whether it is joining an affirming community in a parade or a gentle reminder of your worth and dignity on a rainbow t-shirt, PRIDE month can bring revolutionary joy and healing to our community. Our existence and our resistance is beautiful and worthy of celebration. 

We know this PRIDE month may feel different. Maybe your school has removed books that include stories with LGBTQ+ characters. Maybe the PRIDE flag that used to fly outside your church’s door or in front of City Hall has been vandalized or stolen. Perhaps you and your community are grieving the loss of a loved one, the loss of a community member who has moved for their safety, or the loss of hope that things will get better. Maybe your PRIDE celebration includes a memorial or dedication. 

PRIDE is complicated. The love, grief, and unbridled joy moves through us 

It is a time when many of us hold our partners, our chosen family, and our beloved close because we know that “love is love” is not just a slogan. It means offering housing to someone whose home is no longer safe. It means cards and celebration on Nonbinary Parents Day. It means learning and celebrating new names, pronouns, and bodies. Love is embracing the joy in becoming who you know you are and the humility and care of being one who may be invited to witness this transformation. 

Today, it is important that we remind ourselves that the first PRIDE was a riot and lift up the legacies of Marsha P. Johnson and Silvia Rivera. In June, we witness new cycles of “No Police in PRIDE” campaigns. Some LGBTQ+ organizations will inform us of all the corporations that churn out PRIDE-themed advertisements while donating millions to legislators who vote to ban trans children from sports and trans people from bathrooms, vote for discriminatory policies that leave many in our community without homes or jobs, or healthcare, spread pinkwashing messages that worsen the genocide in Palestine, abandon disabled people to an ongoing pandemic, and use the carceral system to police our identity. 

PRIDE is political. PRIDE has never represented one cohesive and aligned community. Just as Silvia Rivera gave voice to a gay liberation movement that ignored the needs and contributions of trans and non-binary people, PRIDE continues to be an important site of political struggle that calls us into accountability and the work for collective liberation. 

PRIDE, like our LGBTQ+ community, is so many things. For Side With Love, PRIDE is an opportunity to faithfully continue the work of LGBTQ+ liberation and gender justice. It is an opportunity to reflect on where movements have fallen short of our highest ideals and recommit to centering BIPOC, trans, disabled, and other marginalized LGBTQ+ people who are still marginalized due to multiple and intersecting oppressions. It is a time when we honor our legacy of protest and disruption by affirming protest and disruption when communities are struggling for their liberation. PRIDE is an invitation to root in a radical history so that we may reach a liberatory future. 

This month, we will share short reflections from UUs on what PRIDE means to them this year. Find these posts on our Instagram at @SideofLove. 

Happy PRIDE!

In faith and solidarity,

Nicole Pressley 

Resources

• Donate to the Pink Haven Coalition

• Watch our webinar, The Body Politic: Faithful UUs Showing Up for Trans Justice

• Support TransLash: telling trans stories to save trans lives

New from inSpirit: UUA Book and Gift Shop!

T-Shirt: Every Body is Sacred

T-Shirt: Create Climate Justice

T-Shirt: Promise of democracy

See all merchandise available for Side With Love and our campaigns at InSpirit!

June Programming from Side With Love

Monthly Mixer

Monday, June 10 at 8:00pm ET

We know that these times ask a lot of us and that we need one another to stay in the work with hope, joy, impact, and accountability. Join us if you are doing the work on the ground, if you are showing up for and with Side with Love, and/or if you are just learning about Side with Love. Come connect with one another, build community across issues, and have some facetime with our staff. Register now.

Climate Justice Revival Info Session

Thursday, June 13 at 1:00pm ET

Are you excited for the first-ever UU Climate Justice Revival ...but...still have so many questions? Is it on zoom or in person? Can kids participate? Is it a regional or national event? When we do new and different things, questions are expected! Come to the UU Climate Justice Revival Info Session and get all your questions answered! Register now.

Stop Cop City Monthly Huddle

Thursday, June 13 at 2:00 PM ET

We’ll review what’s happening and what you can do with Stop Cop City more broadly. Join us to get activated or to jump back in. Register now.

Blessing for Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We are grateful to share with you a blessing to honor all of you, from Side With Love Disability Justice Associate Rev. Amanda Schuber.

Spirit of Life, Source of Hope and Healing,

We open our hearts to the boundless love that surrounds us. Each of us is touched in different ways by the complexities of mental health. Today, and every day, let us remember that wholeness is our birthright, and each of us is a precious part of the vast tapestry of existence.

May we embrace a theology of hope, one that celebrates the wholeness within each soul, beyond any perception of brokenness. Let us acknowledge that our struggles and pains are not signs of failure, but threads in the intricate weave of our humanity.

In times of struggle, may we find the wat forward. May we hold onto the truth that we are never alone; we are part of a loving community that supports and uplifts one another. Together, we can accompany each other in this life, offering compassion and understanding to ourselves and to others.

Let us affirm that every person is deserving of care, dignity, and respect, and may we create spaces where mental health is spoken of openly and without stigma, where seeking help is seen as a strength, and where every story is heard with empathy.

Spirit of Love, guide us to be beacons of hope. May we find strength in our shared journey, knowing that we are interconnected, and that together, we can foster a world where every mind and heart can thrive.

Blessed be. Amen.

• Coverage in The Scotsman   
• There was a good photograph of Rev Maud Robinson and Rabbi Mark Solomon of Liberal Judaism at the press conference 
• A Press Association article released before the event was carried on several websites  
• And from BBC Scotland   
• Derek McAuley's response

James Martineau

James Middleton (Kate Middleton's brother)

 

Are they by any chance related? Yes they are. James and Kate Middleton are descendants of the Martineaus, a prominent family of Unitarians.

Communication – Communication – Communication

The Rev Alex Bradley, of the Unitarian Christian Association, said: "Different people see Jesus in different ways. Everyone to some extent has an image of Him, and writers and artists should be free to form their own interpretation.

"Religious freedom remains indivisible, and freedom of expression remains a core value of democratic civilisation."

I was talking to some fellow Unitarians on Sunday and we all said how much we are looking forward to reading Philip Pullman's new book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, as the ideas in it sound very Unitarian. We also remarked that the Unitarian concept of God is far closer to Dust than to the Authority, since many Unitarians are pantheists or panentheists who believe that the Divine is immanent in the world.

from Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism Organizing Collective

We get it. You want to feed your faith and grow spiritually without being shamed or shunned. Maybe you miss attending regular religious services and the community it can provide, but you just can’t stomach the nastiness that some faith leaders espouse. You’re just out here, trying to make your way in the world and contribute to the larger society without being demonized for your commitments to justice — making or marginalized for your identity.

We’ve gotcha covered! Here are some cool, accessible and mostly free resources to deepen, grow and fortify your faith without the damaging and harmful rhetoric that can often come along with it:

1. The Churched Feminist: This increasingly popular blog by Kimberly Peeler-Ringer is a must for those looking for insightful, accessible commentary on contemporary topics through a Biblically-sound, decidedly inclusive lens. Peeler-Ringer is a licensed minister with graduate degrees in biblical and religious studies and over 20 years of preaching and teaching experience. Check her out on social media under #AlignYourselfWednesday and read her most recent blog post about *that* eulogy at Aretha Franklin’s funeral here.

2. Our Bible App: With a mission to “support the belief that we are each trying to understand our place in this grand universe,” Our Bible App is quickly becoming a favorite resource to find “devotionals highlighting pro LGBT, pro-women” and “interfaith inclusivity.” You can download Our Bible App for free and begin using this wonderful resource today to support your meditation and prayer needs!

3. The Millennial Womanism Project: Just passing their first anniversary, The Millennial Womanism Project “is an enterprise committed to enhancing the wellbeing of Black millennial women of faith and justice.” Follow their work on social media under #MillennialWomanism and check out their website for profiles showcasing folks “doing incredible work in ministry, the academy and in social justice.”

4. Rev. Wil Gafney + #BriteBible: Speaking of womanists, we are smitten with the work of Rev. Wil Gafney, an Episcopal priest and Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at the Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth Texas. You can follow her “Intro to Interpreting the Hebrew Bible” course on twitter under #BriteBible, check out her brilliant blog here and deepen your knowledge of women in the Hebrew Bible and related topics by purchasing her books here.

5. Father Lenny Duncan + Jehu’s Table/ Rev. Leslie D. Callahan + St. Paul’s Baptist Church: These faves bless folks regularly across the country thanks to the magic of technology! If you need weekly worship but distance is an issue, check out Father Lenny Duncan + Jehu’s Table on FaceBook Live! Jehu’s Table is a Brooklyn-based mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, rooted in the worship styles and cultural traditions of people of African-descent and living out their faith as a community for all marginalized people. We are also grateful to Rev. Leslie D. Callahan + St. Paul’s Baptist Church for their regular livestream and archive of past worship services that you can access on-demand at anytime! St. Paul’s Baptist Church is a historic fellowship in Philadelphia, PA that “strives to be a progressive Christian congregation proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ through vibrant worship, committed discipleship, and active community ministry.”

6. Tripp Fuller + Transform Network: Tripp Fuller has been in these streets for over a decade with the very dope and insightful Homebrewed Christianity podcast. Now, Fuller and others are droppin’ blessings through the Transform Network, whose mission is “to be a resource for people and communities of faith seeking to express their love through justice and ministry that heals, restores and innovates.” You can sign up for the “pay what you can” ($20 is suggested) 4-week Theologies of Resistance course, cosponsored by Transform Network and Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza here.

7. Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza Activist Theology Project: Dr. Espinoza is a badass Queer Activist, Latinx Scholar and Public Theologian. They are a part of the Activist Theology Project, “a collaborative team of public theologians, practitioners of restorative practices, and strategy-minded people situated in the hybrid space of church, academy, and movements.” Check out Dr. Robyn’s soundcloud page for sermons and other recordings, follow them on twiiter @iRobyn and learn more about the Activist Theology Network here.

8. Vahisha Hasan + Movement in Faith: Vahisha Hasan is the architect of Movement in Faith which provides “training, organizing, infrastructure, resources, and long-term support for faith community-led efforts in justice work.” Through Movement in Faith, Vahisha “supports communities of faith to identify their intersection in social justice as well as be a positive faith presence in justice movement.” Support and learn more about Movement in Faith’s goals and holla at Vahisha for speaking engagements here.

9. Bishop Yvette Flunder + The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries: Committed to “creating, sustaining and celebrating community on the margin,” The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries is a “multi-denominational group of primarily African American Christian leaders and laity representing churches and faith-based organizations from the USA, Africa, and Mexico.” Lead by Presiding Bishop Yvette Flunder, TFAM supports religious leaders and laity in moving toward a theology of radical inclusivity. You can find TFAM affiliated-congregations here and learn more about Bishop Flunder’s church, City of Refuge, here.

10. Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) Organizing Collective + #BLUUBox: If you’ve read this far, allow us to include a *shamless plug* for our work! Established in 2015, the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) Organizing Collective works to provide support, information & resources for Black Unitarian Universalists and to expand the role and visibility of Black UUs within our faith community. We’ve recently launched the BLUU Spiritual Subscription Box (#BLUUBox,) a one-of-a kind, innovative way for individuals, small group ministries and congregations to inform, grow and deepen their faith. You don’t have to be a UU to subscribe to #BLUUBox — We are proud to say that #BLUUBox is for everyone! Learn more about BLUU, download free sample content and subscribe to #BLUUBox here.

We know our list isn’t exhaustive and doesn’t wrap around every religious identity. Our hope is that you’ll be inspired by these inclusive, multifaith and interfaith resources and encouraged to find ways to feed your faith beyond the boundaries sometimes imposed by religion or even consider building your own dope resources!

More from Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism:

• Website: http://blacklivesuu.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/blacklivesuu
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackLivesUU/
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/blacklivesuu
• #BLUUBox: http://www.blacklivesuu.com/subscribe

When Dr. Uhlenbeck found out she’d won, she was leaving her Unitarian Universalist Church when she received a text message from a colleague telling her to look out for a call from Norway. “I pressed the button and called [the Abel committee] back and they told me I’d won—and I had to sit down,” Dr. Uhlenbeck told Glamour.

Read the whole story…