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Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church CELEBRATE LIFE. NOURISH THE SPIRIT. COMMIT TO JUSTICE. |
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Introduction to Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church Meet Our Director of Worship Music Church
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Reflections on Social Justice from Rev. Dave From women's suffrage to marriage equality, our church is a force for justice. In the 1950s, we were holding forums with Jewish and African Americans
who testified to their experiences as victims of injustice. In the
1960s, we were pivotal in the creation of the Central North Side Neighborhood
Council (CNNC) as a way of giving neighbors a powerful voice to make
sure local service providers were providing appropriate, dignified
service to our blighted neighborhood. In the 1980s we were the first church to
open our doors to people living and dying with AIDS, including offering
the sanctuary as a place to hold services when even funeral homes were
refusing victims of the disease. In the 1990s we advocated (successfully)
for a local needle exchange program and worked (unsuccessfully) for
living wage legislation. We have held peace vigils for probably every
war since Korea. We were instrumental in establishing the North Side
Common Ministries and the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network, ensuring
that both of those groups had a foundation that was truly inter-faith
and inclusive.
The legacy of justice lives on through our serving local youth, testifying to the power of love by marching with Pittsburgh Pride or witnessing to the lost lives of victims of gun violence, advocating for common-sense gun legislation, supporting BGILQT families, testifying to the realities of homeless and hungry citizens, or organizing with other congregations to bring more justice, equity, and compassion, our church reaches out beyond our walls--even as we are inspired and empowered by the spiritual nurture we create for one another within those walls. Social justice is a calling beyond social service. Addressing the needs of our fellow human beings through direct service is important, but it's only one step toward justice.
All along the way of this process, take time to connect and reflect. Effective leaders in justice work often refer to the Action/Reflection model. Act and then reflect. Lead the people in a trek across the desert, then go up the mountain to stand on holy ground. Feed the people with loaves and fishes they thought weren't enough, then go away from the crowd to pray. Those who fail to reflect and are obsessed by damn-the-torpedoes action simply can't sustain the level of energy and enthusiasm (in the original sense of that word) needed for the long haul. And work for justice is a long, long haul. So action AND reflection are necessary components of any effective social justice effort. The trail of social justice is littered with those who didn't know how to nourish their spirit and who fell away out of exhaustion or despair and were never able to recover. Or worse, with those who remained in the struggle beyond their ability to not only bring justice, but beyond their ability to themselves be just. After a decade of ministry, I've found I need to add another step. My model is Act/Connect/Reflect. All of the above bullet points are actions. Those who act without taking time to connect soon become numbered among the well-intended, self-righteous, and ultimately ineffective. Connect by being with those with a need in their distress. Connect by reaching out when you see an injustice and discover "Where does it hurt?" and "What do you need to heal?" Connect with those efforts or institutions who are already working on behalf of the people in need you want to serve with, and ask them "How can I be of use?" Connect with the people to whom you are testifying by asking them, "What did you hear?" "How does that make you feel?" or "What do you need to be of use to others in need?" Connect, most importantly, with your own inner life, with the God of your understanding. Doing Justly Together Allegheny's Social Justice Council works to balance direct service with effective witness, learning, testimony, advocacy, and better organization in an urban community that is full of challenges and opportunities for growing a soul through serving one another. All these acts of social justice build the common good and the equitable and compassionate world we seek. If you seek a more just, peaceful, and healthy world, please join us. Blessings, Rev. Dave |
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| Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church's mission is to be a welcoming
urban congregation that puts Unitarian Universalism into action by
celebrating life, nourishing the spirit, and inspiring a commitment to
justice. Together with Rev. Dave we are building a community of justice,
equity, and compassionate service to others, the neighborhood, and the planet.
Sunday worship starts at 10:30AM. We are
located across from the National Aviary at 416 West North Avenue in
Pittsburgh’s North Side (15212) and are served by bus lines 15, 16, and 17,
with 54 nearby. For further
information, call 412-322-4261. | |||
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website is maintained by webmaster <at> alleghenyuu <dot> org. |
