What Is Social Justice?
We know what injustice is – racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, environmental destruction – any systemic oppression that harms the body and spirit and constrains our potential. Social justice is about healing those harms and replacing injustice with equity; for example, replacing housing discrimination with housing access. The social justice ministry at UUCF takes our Unitarian Universalist values and attempts to express those values inside and beyond our walls. We are not only building community on Sundays, but acting every day to make a better world.
Social justice ministry is usually expressed through outward-facing action – advocating at the statehouse, rallying in the streets, or delivering food and other life necessities. That outward-facing action also carries us toward deep internal and communal transformation as we learn to work together and make a difference.
UUnite for Justice – UUCF’s Social Justice organizing team
UUnite for Justice works with Social Justice Coordinator Andrew Batcher to coordinate the various social justice ministries. Its main focus is assessing opportunities for action and impact and organizing congregants to take. The group generally meets on the third Saturday of each month on Zoom. All are welcome. Check the calendar for meeting dates.
Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved in social justice at UUCF. See below for a list of social justice ministries and direct action and advocacy opportunities that are great ways to make like-minded friends and contribute something meaningful to the world. Please also take a moment to learn about UUCF’s priority campaign, Teaching Truth: Putting Students First, which promotes inclusive history despite attempts at whitewashing, and access to books despite attempts at censorship.
Please email Social Justice Coordinator Andrew Batcher if you have questions.
Important Links
- Social Justice Ministries
- Direct Service & Advocacy
- Upcoming Actions & Meetings
- Share the Plate program – Each month, half the Sunday offerings go to a different nonprofit nominated by congregants and selected by the Social Justice Advisory Team.
- Congregational Resolutions and designations
- Social Justice Policy: Taking Public Positions on Social Justice Issues – helping congregants appropriately represent UUCF on justice issues to outside organizations and the media
- UU Affiliated Programs
Social Justice Ministries
Social Justice Ministries
- LGBTQIA+ Equity – contact Andrew Batcher
- Immigration Justice – contact Andrew Batcher
- Act for Climate Today! and Paris Pledge Initiative – contact Loretta Rowe
- UUCF Food Justice Project – contact Andrew Batcher
- UU Afghan Refugee Resettlement Team – contact Marcia Tugendhat or Ann King
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Direct Service & Advocacy
Direct Service & Advocacy
- Hot Meals (in partnership with FACETS) – contact Hannah Kim. UUCF partners with Fairfax-based FACETS to help provide more than 24,000 meals annually to unhoused individuals and families in Fairfax. Check for updated announcements at uucf.org/calendar.
- Monthly Food Drives – contact Andrew Batcher. UUCF holds food drives most months to provide food, money, and other necessities to support local food justice organizations in the DC area. Food drives are usually the third Sunday of each month immediately after the worship service. Check for updated announcements at uucf.org/calendar.
- ESOL teaching – contact Marcia Tugendhat. Check for updated announcements at uucf.org/events.
- Teaching Truth – supporting accurate history and LGBTQIA+ stories at the Fairfax County School Board – contact Andrew Batcher. Check for new events at uucf.org/calendar.
- Gun violence prevention advocacy – contact Andrew Batcher. Check for new events at uucf.org/calendar.
- February Hypothermia Shelter – contact Tom Hettenhouser. Check for new events at uucf.org/calendar.
- Beacon House – fall school supply drive and December toy drive – contact Kerry Fraser.
- Falls Church Health Clinic Positive Presence gatherings (counteracting regular anti-abortion protests) – contact Lisa Carroll. Check for new events at uucf.org/calendar.
- MLK Month every January – contact Andrew Batcher
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Upcoming Actions & Meetings
Upcoming Actions & Meetings
Upcoming Actions & Meetings