Social Justice Committee

Habitat for Humanity Build 2011

The Social Justice Committee is going through an exciting metamorphosis. Please check below to see what’s happening currently.  For more information, you may contact us at socialjustice@firstuunashville.org.

We also have a listserv that you may join to learn more about us. Please write an email telling us who you are and a little something about your interest and send it to:




Current Announcements

  • DO Say Gay!
    I recently had the pleasure of hosting a screening and discussion of the documentary “For the Bible Tells Me So”, which is an exploration of the intersection between religion and homosexuality in the U.S. and how some have used their interpretation of the Bible to stigmatize the gay community. For two Sunday mornings, I was proud and honored to share laughs, questions, experiences, and tears with 23 others in our FUUN community. Many of them would like to continue meeting, as would I, to try to pick up again on the good work that our GLBT+Friends group did in past years. Now is the time. There were two recent suicides in Middle Tennessee that were the result of gay bullying. We Unitarian Universalists have a role to play in helping to see that “it gets better”. Our legislature is debating the Don't Say Gay bill which would prohibit the use of the word "gay" in schools (until eighth grade). How will children who are gay be able to talk to a teacher or guidance counselor about themselves? How will those with gay parents be able to talk with friends about their families? How will other children know that it is not okay to bully these children? And as always, marriage equality is still an issue, as are adoption rights, and HIV/AIDS has not gone away. We have work to do, and now is the time. We cannot do this work without the support and fellowship we find with each other in this beloved community. If you would like to be a part of the work, please join me on Sunday, February 19, at 10:15 (or when the first service ends) in the Thoreau Room. If you have questions or would like to offer your support but are unable to attend the meeting, please contact me at my phone number or email address in the church directory, or via socialjustice@firstuunashville.org. In Faith, Greg Miller
  • Share the Plate - February
    February's Share the Plate recipient is Project Return, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on the successful reentry of ex-offenders from incarceration to free society. Our mission is to provide a broad range of assistance and support to anyone with a juvenile or criminal record, aid in the transition from incarceration to the community to ensure a chance for success, and education to the community and clients that offenders are human beings first and offenders secondly. Founded by five Nashville ministers back in 1979, PRI has developed a holistic case management approach that addresses the unique challenges faced by the ex-offender, with a paramount focus on job readiness and retention. For more information, see http://www.projectreturninc.org/
  • New Social Justice Committee
    A new Social Justice Committee is being formed, and we are looking for seven to nine committed folks who like to work through process and oversee projects. If you prefer the hands-on work, out in the field, there will be plenty of opportunities going forward. But if you would like to be involved in oversight for social justice issues, and can commit through June 2013, please contact socialjustice@firstuunashville.org  
  • Social Justice Discernment Team
    The Discernment Team is wrapping up its work and will be presenting its new process for FUUN Social Justice to the congregation in the coming weeks. Watch for more information, and be prepared to join in discussions about where our efforts should be directed. There is an infinite number of possibilities for our future actions. We look forward to hearing your views, so stay tuned!
  • Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program Needs Volunteers
    The Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program needs healthy, uninfected adults (ages 18-50) from all walks of life to help find a vaccine to prevent HIV infection! There is no risk of HIV infection from the vaccines. Volunteers must be available locally for 12-24 months. Volunteers will be compensated. For more information, visit the Vanderbilt table after both services on Feb. 5, or call 322-4673 or email vic.sorrell@vanderbilt.edu
Sub-Committee Activity
Hunger & Homelessness
Room in the Inn Feed and shelter homeless one Friday per month during the winter.
Safe Haven Volunteers stay overnight and bring food for homeless families.
Guest at Your Table Family giving program sponsored by the UU Service Committee.
Aid & Support
Fall Hamilton School Our Pencil Partner. Tutor in reading and act as pen pals to 4th graders. Award T-shirts for perfect attendance and participants in 6th grade trip. Help in campus beautification projects.
Mending Hearts A transitional residential facility -- owned and operated by two First UU members -- committed to providing support to women who are seeking to overcome diseases of addiction and their results.
Habitat for Humanity Assists other congregations in providing the life-changing opportunity for people to purchase and own quality, affordable homes.
Justice & Issues
Safety Net Work in a positive way to effect change in the policies, procedures and attitudes surrounding clergy sexual misconduct in Unitarian Universalist congregations.

For more information about any of our social justice activities, please contact us at SocialJustice@firstuunashville.org.


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