The Justice Ministry supports and energizes First Unitarian Church’s social, environmental, and immigration justice activities. 

Members of this ministry work with partner organizations in the areas of Reproductive Justice (KRCRC-Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice which also has its office in the Education Building of First U), Environmental Justice (REAL – Renewable Energy Alliance of Louisville), Immigration Justice (ICIJ – Interfaith Coalition for Immigration Justice) , and Black Lives Matter and Racial Justice (LSURJ –Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice). With the unjustified killing of Breonna Taylor by police breaking into her apartment in the middle of the night, our racial justice efforts have moved into the forefront [image above is of congregants rallying on the church sidewalk on May 31, 2020] as the entire nation was rising up against police brutality and racism.

First Unitarian is proud to be a founding member of Central Louisville Community Ministries ( CLCM) which helps low-income people in the 40203 zip code who need help paying their rent or their utility bills and are risk of being evicted; their office is located on the second floor of the First U Education Building.

More recently First U joined CLOUT (Citizens of Louisville Organized and United Together) to promote and work for legislative and policy change in our local area. We believe that by combining energies with the 20+ other justice-oriented religious congregations in Louisville, we geometrically increase our effectiveness, most recently in the areas of affordable housing for low-income folks, restorative practices in JCPS schools, supportive housing for the mentally ill and addicted, plus working to create a citizens’ review board (with teeth) to ensure de-escalation policies are followed by the Louisville Metro Police Department.

First U Women’s Alliance also provides free home-cooked meals to the Hope Village (a homeless community outreach program) once a month.

For more information, or to become part of any part of this work, contact [email protected].

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK

Louisville is fortunate to be the home of THREE Unitarian Universalist congregations — Clifton Universalist Unitarian Church, First Unitarian Church, and All Peoples Unitarian Church (formerly Thomas Jefferson). The social justice committees of the three congregations have individually and together endeavored to amplify our justice work.

Examples of Justice Ministry work

Examples of the diversity of our work include sponsoring a refugee family, funding the Solar Array Project on First U’s roof, and raising money for the Louisville Bail Project. See the following for more information on specific efforts. Together, with representatives from All Peoples Unitarian Church and Clifton Universalist Unitarian Church, we have done prison ministry at Luther Lucket Correctional Complex; we march each June in the Pride Parade; we participate in social action demonstrations; and we work to Answer the Call of Love in the Louisville/Southern Indiana area.