The Social Justice Council

Although our “First Church” has been active in serving community needs since its founding in 1836 (e.g. during Civil War, after the Chicago Fire, city’s first soup kitchen, 1950’s Urban Renewal) the present Social Justice Council [SJC], one of three semi-autonomous church councils, was not established until about 1990. The central purpose of the SJC is to provide opportunities for church members and like-minded associates to “live out our shared values in the larger world” as affirmed in our Mission statement. The Chair of the SJC is elected annually by the congregation and its monthly meeting attendees include its officers (Chair & Secretary), Task Force Chairs (or designates) and others who are actively involved in community organizations with a strong social justice outreach, e.g. The Hyde Park Interfaith Council. Task Forces [TF] are groups of three or more members engaged in action or study in specific areas, either on a continuing basis or to accomplish a time-limited task then disband.  Current task forces [and their chairs] are: Environmental TF [Ellen LaRue and Jon Rice] Nine/Eleven Study Group [Elvira Pelliterri and Jim Proctor] Peace Action TF [Christen Morrow] Racial Justice TF [Finley Campbell and Allan Lindrup] Social Mission TF [Lara Tushla] a Board Task Force Other Task Forces from the recent past or “pending” are Labor Rights, Criminal Justice, Health Care, Youth Employment, Legislative Ministry and Katrina CAREvan (active in 2006, planned and implemented two weeklong trips to New Orleans for church members & friends, including several from other UU churches, to participate in compassionate reconstruction and establish ongoing ties with the recovering UU churches there.) The Social Justice Council also sponsors other special church wide events (a First Forum each month, the annual Unity Party, an Emancipation Proclamation Pageant), arranges the Sunday Service preceding Labor Day, and contributes to the Children’s/Youth Religious Education program. The council welcomes all members and friends of the church to support its mission by joining an existing task force, forming a new task force, sponsoring a special social justice event, connecting us with other social justice groups in the larger world, and volunteering to assist in church activities carried out by the Council. Ken Schug, Chair of the Social justice Council November 2007

 

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