If you have any questions, please contact UU Women and Religion, info@uuwr.org.
Main resources from the UUA: www.uua.org/reproductive
As Unitarian Universalists, we are the inheritors of a 50-year history of reproductive rights advocacy. We also share a firm commitment to racial and social justice. At the convergence of these interests, we are called to widen the current debate from “reproductive rights” to “reproductive justice.”
UU Women’s Federation and UU Women and Religion co-sponsored a webinar on September 26 to find out more about this issue, which is the newly-elected UUA Congregational Study/Action Issue (2012-2016).
Featured speakers included:
- Monica Simpson, Interim Executive Director, SisterSong
- Rev. Marti Keller, President, Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation
The UUA has also made available a Congregational Resource Packet on Reproductive Justice. Contents include small group ministry sessions, a faith development guide, a liturgical calendar, sample worship, sermon archive, materials for clergy, a list of 10 things your congregation can do, and more. You can sign up for women's legislative issues Action Alerts at the same time!
Unitarian Universalists (UUs) are called to answer the chilling political debate on reproductive rights with calls for reproductive ‘justice’ and respect for the fullness of every person’s reproductive and sexual life. The election of the 2012-2016 Congregational Study/Action Issue, “Reproductive Justice: Expanding our Social Justice Calling,” is a milestone opportunity for Unitarian Universalists to live into this call. This curriculum was written to help UUs take on this call to action: www.uua.org/reproductive/calling/curriculum
Learn more about the CSAI on reproductive justice here (including the text of the proposal, timelines, etc.): www.uua.org/reproductive/calling
January 22, 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade case which made abortion legal in the United States. Preaching on this topic would be a great way to launch the curriculum in your congregation. Ministers can sign up for the Reproductive Justice Clergy Caucus and find sermon resources at http://bit.ly/RoeSermonGuide
Both to launch their participation in the UUA’s new commitment to reproductive justice and to celebrate being the host city for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s annual Creating Change conference, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA), GA recently invited Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong, to be a very special pulpit guest. On Sunday, January 27, Monica spoke personally and eloquently about the imperatives of reproductive justice: to enable women to have children or not to have children, and to raise them in a safe and healthy environment. She addressed the intersectionality of racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, and other systemic oppressions that block access to the necessary services, supports, and full range of reproductive choices for all women. Read more on the Standing on the Side of Love blog and listen to Ms. Simpson’s sermon here.
THIS LIST COMPILED BY: The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, NJ: www.uuridgewood.org
ONLINE COMMUNITIES
UU’s For Reproductive Justice Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UUs_RJ/?yguid=277019049
Unitarian Universalists for Reproductive Justice Facebook Group
http://www.facebook.com/groups/156090434471073/
I’m sure you have heard of the Supreme Court’s decision on Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt by now, and I thought you would like to see what some of our UU organizations are saying about this decision.
UU Women’s Federation: http://www.uuwf.org
SouthWest UU Women: http://www.swuuw.org
