May 5, 2009, E-News
Celebrate a Special Anniversary!
Let us honor the fifth anniversary of marriage equality in the first state to legalize same-sex marriage! On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts granted full legal rights for committed same-sex couples, followed by Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont over the last five years. We have much to celebrate—but our work has only just begun!
In keeping with the first principle of Unitarian Universalism, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is proud to support nationwide public witness and social justice work in support of same-sex marriage through the President’s Freedom to Marry Fund. Since its inception in 2004, the Fund has supported 37 grants to Unitarian Universalist congregations and groups across the country for work in lobbying, advertising and educating about marriage equality.
Celebrate this special anniversary by making a gift to the President’s Freedom to Marry Fund! Donate $1 for each of the 46 states that has not yet legalized same-sex marriage—or since the number of states with marriage equality has doubled in the last month, double this donation! You can make your gift of $46, $92, or any level.
Help Support the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act
Today, Representative Zoe Lofgren is expected to introduce the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act into Congress. This bill would create 100,000 prevailing wage jobs and training opportunities for local and displaced Gulf Coast workers, restoring infrastructure and the coastal environment with green building technologies.
You Can Get Involved!
Tomorrow morning, you’ll be able to send an email through a UUA online action campaign! (Please note: the online action campaign website will not be functioning until tomorrow morning when we have the bill number and list of co-sponsors!)
You can also download a letter & petition sheet (PDF) to collect congregation members’ signatures to mail to your representative.
Visit the Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign website to learn more about the bill.
And sign up for Gulf Coast Updates to receive bimonthly emails with more alerts and resources like these!
Your General Assembly Ribbons
Each year, we look forward to honoring your congregation’s generous contributions to the Annual Program Fund (APF) by distributing ribbons—corresponding to your giving levels—to your members in attendance at General Assembly.
To ensure that your congregation is properly recognized, please send your APF contributions by June 1st to:
Unitarian Universalist Association
Annual Program Fund
P.O. Box 843153
Boston, MA 02284-3153
Thank you for your generosity!
Discuss Stewardship Strategies for Congregations in Challenging Economic Times
Are you a Unitarian Universalist congregation leader interested in stewardship strategies for our times? Join Terry Sweetser, Vice President for Stewardship and Development, Wayne Clark, Director of Congregational Giving, and other panelists with experience in congregational stewardship and finance for a series of online discussions.
The first discussion will occur on May 13th at 12:00 noon (EDT) and will last for one hour. Read more and find out how to participate.
Connecting Congregations on Association Sunday 2009
Sign up to be a Connecting Congregation and get matched with another UU congregation as part of your Association Sunday 2009 celebration! By doing so, you will affirm that we are an Association of Congregations and that through Association Sunday, we are strengthening our real connection to other congregations all over the world to which we are already connected by faith.
See more information and suggestions on how to celebrate with your partner congregation on Association Sunday 2009—through chalice lightings, video conferencing, fundraising challenges and more!
Sign up to participate on October 4th and become a Connecting Congregation. As of May 5th, 2009, 215 congregations have already registered to help Grow Our Faith in Diversity.
And read more about the relationship between the Annual Program Fund and Association Sunday (PDF).
Last updated on Monday, August 24, 2009.
