Social Justice Committee

Our Mission: As Unitarian Universalists,we strive to transform our spiritual principles into positive, peaceful action --making our church, community, and world better, more just places. We advocate civil rights and civil liberties as well as engage in local, national, and international activities that oppose oppression.  

The UUCQC has a proud and storied history of participating in social justice efforts in our community. Members of our congregation were influential in forming Quad Citians Affirming Diversity (QCAD, an education/advocacy group for GLBT), the Centro Maya Project (a humanitarian/educational project to benefit a rural Guatemalan community), Progressive Action for the Common Good (PCAG), and Planned Parenthood in the Quad Cities.

Social Justice Activities in Our Quad Cities

We have a long history of partnering with both the Edwards Congregational United Church of Christ and Temple Emanuel; this year we have done this with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. (see Judy Kasper) Funds from this program benefit refugee families through World Relief.

We also hold a blood drive on behalf of the Mississippi Blood Center (see LaDonna Anderson), and contribute to the Quad Cities’ annual Pride Fest, a community celebration of diversity (see Lucia Dryanski).

Members of our congregation assist with several activities administered by Churches United:

Community Meal: Every other month, the UUCQC prepares a community meal at one of the Churches United meal sites in Davenport. Volunteers help cook, deliver, and serve dinner (see Judy Teeple) 

HOPE: Helping Other People Eat / Second Sunday at Second Baptist: On the second Sunday of every month, the UUCQC collects food to be delivered to Second Baptist Church in downtown Rock Island: Volunteers collect, sort, and transport food. (see Diane Kinser and Religious Education). CROP Walk: This community-wide event helps raise funds to end hunger (see Marcy Doyle). 

In addition to the congregation’s efforts, our individual members are involved in numerous local, national, and international groups active in promoting social justice and community service. They are always eager to share their experiences and expertise. If you want more information about organizations supported by UUCQC members, contact our congregation’s Social Justice or Welcome Teams.  

Social Justice Efforts Linked to Our National Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA)

Green Sanctuary: The UUCQC is working to achieve recognition by the UUA as a Green Sanctuary—as a congregation that is committed to ecological sustainability and being a conscious steward of the Earth. Volunteers contribute to many aspects of this accreditation process (see Kathryn Allen and Ellen Kelley).

Partner church: In 1993, our congregation became a Partner Church to Parochia Unitariana, a Unitarian church in the tiny town of Janosfalva, Rumania, to provide much-needed support and resources for education and economic growth. (see Lloyd Kilmer)

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC): This international group promotes human rights and social justice through advocacy, education, and partnerships. As part of this effort church volunteers also make Fair Trade products available for sale and use products in our church kitchen (see Ann Hailey).

Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UUUN): The UUUN works to make our voices heard in the United Nations on issues such as human rights, women’s rights, disarmament, and climate change (contact needed).

Chalice Lighters a UUA initiative started by our minister emeritus Alan Egly in 1984, asks individual UUs if they'd be willing to contribute $10 or more up to three times a year to help a congregation in their district complete a special project linked to growth. (contact needed)

UUA Current Study- Action Issues: The UUCQC currently sponsors nationally designated programming on two study-action issues: Ethical Eating and Immigration as a Moral Issue. Programming builds on (but is not limited to) UUA-developed study guides, volunteer-coordinated lectures, discussions, films, and advocacy efforts that are open to the community at large. UUA study-action issues usually run on a four year cycle. Ethical Eating: (see Ashley Francis and Dee Oberle)   Immigration as a Moral Issue: (see Elaine Kresse).

2011 Social Justice Task Force Report