Objectives of a Training Program in a Local Congregation
Below is a list of the issues that a social justice facilitator may address in a weekend workshop.- Create an in-depth conversation among the members of the congregation
concerning the congregation’s role in creating a more just and caring world.
- Inspire a congregation with a vision of their potential to be a social
justice community.
- Make explicit the social and ethical values which are operative in the
congregation.
- Enable the members of the congregation to assess the current status of their
social justice program. This involves determining the strengths of the
program and what needs to be improved.
- Develop a deeper understanding as to what makes an effective social justice
program. Of special concern here is the ways that people can put their
faith into action: service, education, witnessing, advocacy, and community
organizing.
- Clarify the roles and objectives of the congregation, the board of trustees,
the social justice committee, and task groups in doing social justice
programming.
- Provide methods for how to integrate the social justice program into the
larger life of the congregation including worship, religious education, and
adult programming.
- Help the members of the congregation strategize how they will increase the
number of people involved in the social justice program.
- Provide information about the resources of the thirty five Unitarian Universalist Association social change
organizations, especially funding possibilities. Develop linkages with
other Unitarian Universalist congregations in their district and region.
- In those situations where there is more potential for doing significant
programming, encourage the group to take on significant projects. This
includes methods for picking projects and developing an action program.
- Before the end of the session, create a follow up action plan with the next
steps. What will the congregation as a whole do? What will the board
do? What will the social justice committee do? What will the task
groups do?
- Get people to act!
For more information contact socialjustice @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
