Justice

The Social Justice Circle brings together ten teams to ensure that we are coordinated, and to find opportunities for deepening connections. The Social Justice Circle teams include:

Animal Ministry
Racial Justice Team
Green Sanctuary
PADS Homeless Shelter
Prison Ministry
Reproductive Choice
Welcoming Congregation.

These teams work together with the UUANI, DuPage United, and UUPMI in connecting with other faith communities and partners to advance our values. For more detailed information, most teams are listed separately on this website.
At the root of our UU faith is that we are all connected; we are more ourselves, the more we connect with others. So join the work of the Social Justice Circle and see what we can accomplish together! For info, contact
socialjustice@hinsdaleunitarian.org.

Animal Ministries

Do you care about animals and the more-than-human world? Are you
into wildlife, dogs, cats, humans, horses, pigs, leafy sea dragons, Meatless Mondays, training service
animals, rescuing raptors, trying vegetarianism, volunteering at shelters, saving endangered
species, or protecting ecosystems? You’ve found a group of kindred spirits here, and you will want
to learn about Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry (UUAM). Contact: Tiffany Schafer
UCHAnimalMinistry@gmail.com

Racial Justice Team

Race Resources
Beloved Conversations
The Racial Equity Team works to make visible systems of racism and to create and follow pathways to substantive change. Our goals include inquiry and action to address systemic inequities around criminal justice, the environment, wealth/income and housing; and identifying ways to integrate our work into all aspects of church life. We support the Beloved Conversations program and other educational efforts, recognizing the importance of hearing the voices of persons most affected by these issues. Our monthly meetings include time to discuss and process ways to interrupt race and racism as experienced in our lives and communities.

Green Sanctuary

The UUA Green Sanctuary Program provides a path for congregational study, reflection, and action for today’s environmental challenges—including climate change and environmental justice. As a Green Sanctuary, UCH guides the members of the congregation in environmentally healthy practices in their own lives as well as in church facilities. In 2016 the team helped spearhead the UCH Green Home Initiative, which seeks to bring our campus infrastructure into the 21st century. Contact:
Lynn Rotunno or Dave Lloyd,

Reproductive Justice

Women's Health Escort Team
We work to keep women’s health and reproductive services available and advocate for reproductive justice. Volunteers accompany clients into clinics to make sure these clients have full access to clinic services. Contact: Mike Pabian

DuPage PADS Team

Prison Ministry

UCH staffs the interim overnight housing for people experiencing homelessness located at Redeemer Lutheran Church two weekends each year, usually May and September. Our members purchase and prepare food for Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast, set up the pads in the sleeping areas, staff the overnight shifts, and clean up afterward. Each weekend requires more than 30 UCH members to accomplish all that is involved. Contact: Mary Getty

Letter Writing
Parole Illinois
Prison Ministry Team UU Prison Ministry works within congregations to broaden an understanding of the criminal justice system by offering educational opportunities and working to transform unjust systems. Its goal is to restore the dignity and worth we know is at the core of every human being. We have an active pen pal program that affirms relationships between UCH members and those incarcerated. Contact:
Tracey Olson

Green Home Project

On September 25, 2016, the congregation voted “Yes” to proceed with funding and implementation of the Green Home initiative. We are now proud to say we have fulfilled this initiative. Here is our story. Thank you to everybody who supported this vision! As part of the project we replaced an aging roof, installed solar panels, purchased a low impact dishwasher to eliminate disposables, replaced storm windows on the church and installed new windows in the Religious Ed building, replaced ancient boilers with high-efficiency heat & cool pump mini-splits throughout.

Are you interested in powering your church or organization with solar? Here is an outline of the the process that worked for us, and a template you might want to use.

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