Unitarian Universalist
CHURCH OF SPARTANBURG
CHURCH OF SPARTANBURG
Sunday Service at 11:00
Vespers Wednesday at 6:30
Vespers Wednesday at 6:30
Upstate Gay Pride March
OUR LOCAL
CHURCH
Our Newsletter
Unison
Social Justice
Blog
Humanists Blog
Bi-Lo Boosters
DENOMINATION
Sister Church in England website
CHURCH
Our Newsletter
Unison
Social Justice
Blog
Humanists Blog
Bi-Lo Boosters
DENOMINATION
Sister Church in England website
Green Sanctuary
What is it? A comprehensive program-a
journey-towards a more earth-aware and
earth-caring lifestyle for our church community,
bringing in everyone from the pagan to the tech-
savvy. Not just changing light bulbs (which is one small but worthwhile effort) but a UUA-developed program which encompasses both worship and action. As of summer 2009 there were 98 accredited churches and 118 in candidacy!
What is it? A comprehensive program-a
journey-towards a more earth-aware and
earth-caring lifestyle for our church community,
bringing in everyone from the pagan to the tech-
savvy. Not just changing light bulbs (which is one small but worthwhile effort) but a UUA-developed program which encompasses both worship and action. As of summer 2009 there were 98 accredited churches and 118 in candidacy!
Welcoming Congregation
The rainbow chalice logo indicates that a
church has been certified by the UUA as
a "Welcoming Congregation."
The Welcoming Congregation Program is a completely voluntary program for congregations that see a need to become more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgendered people. This program involves a series of educational events, organizational assessment, and community outreach.
Taken from the UUA website: We believe that our first Principle, respecting “the inherent worth and dignity of every person,” applies equally to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities/gender expressions. Unitarian Universalism has intentionally reached out to BGLT people and their families. Our Welcoming Congregations have completed a program to enhance their ability to welcome of all people.
The rainbow chalice logo indicates that a
church has been certified by the UUA as
a "Welcoming Congregation."
The Welcoming Congregation Program is a completely voluntary program for congregations that see a need to become more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgendered people. This program involves a series of educational events, organizational assessment, and community outreach.
Taken from the UUA website: We believe that our first Principle, respecting “the inherent worth and dignity of every person,” applies equally to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities/gender expressions. Unitarian Universalism has intentionally reached out to BGLT people and their families. Our Welcoming Congregations have completed a program to enhance their ability to welcome of all people.
Unitarian Universalism is
one of the few religions
that ordains openly
bisexual, gay, lesbian,
and transgender people.
Our BGLT clergy (who are permitted to partner or marry) participate fully in our faith community as pastors in some of our largest congregations.
one of the few religions
that ordains openly
bisexual, gay, lesbian,
and transgender people.
Our BGLT clergy (who are permitted to partner or marry) participate fully in our faith community as pastors in some of our largest congregations.
210 Henry Place
P.O. Box 1942
Spartanburg, SC 29304
864-585-9230
P.O. Box 1942
Spartanburg, SC 29304
864-585-9230
Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg
We are a Welcoming Congregation
Social Justice
SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES
UUA
PROGRAMS
PROGRAMS
The Green Sanctuary program honors our Seventh Principle (respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part), and teaches us to practice environmental stewardship and become better stewards of the Earth.
How does this issue/program relate to the church mission? It strives toward justice for people, animals, and the earth: Environmental problems like climate change affect poor people in the developing world and in developed countries more than they affect the middle class right now. They affect animals, plants, and eco-systems; they destroy our earth. Religious leaders from most of the world’s faith traditions have claimed that these envronmental crises may be the greatest moral challenge facing humankind in the twenty-first century.
Click here to see a Power Point presentation on Green Sanctuary. (You must have Power Point on your computer to view this.)
How does this issue/program relate to the church mission? It strives toward justice for people, animals, and the earth: Environmental problems like climate change affect poor people in the developing world and in developed countries more than they affect the middle class right now. They affect animals, plants, and eco-systems; they destroy our earth. Religious leaders from most of the world’s faith traditions have claimed that these envronmental crises may be the greatest moral challenge facing humankind in the twenty-first century.
Click here to see a Power Point presentation on Green Sanctuary. (You must have Power Point on your computer to view this.)
Fair-Trade Coffee and More!
UUCS joined the UU Service Committee (UUSC) Fair Trade Coffee Project in August 2011. This promotes fair wages and environmental preservation on coffee plantations, making it both a Green Sanctuary and Hunger project for us (“double-dipping”?). The second Sunday of each month, we offer four choices, all organic—French Roast, Breakfast Blend, Decaf, and a Special. We’ll occasionally have organic fair-trade tea and chocolate, also. This is NOT a fundraiser, although we expect to pay for our Sunday morning coffee with the program. Prices will be as low as possible for maximum participation for maximum benefit to the environment and coffee plantation workers!
Hunger
For our second issue during 2011-2012, we chose Hunger, an ongoing concern, also with both local and global efforts. As a church, we have filled our food barrel repeatedly, collected groceries for Park Hills School families, and donated monetary contributions to TOTAL Ministries. During 2010-11, our youth and adults collaborated in preparing meals for the SPIHN program (combating homelessness in Spartanburg) and participated in Mobile Food Pantry events, packaging and handing out food for 300-plus families.
Hunger is a heartbreaking problem. Why is there so much hunger in a world that has more than enough food to feed itself? This issue requires education and thought, as well as action, and lends itself to large and small-scale efforts for both youth and adults.
Social Justice History
UUCS has been active in many social concerns throughout its history. We have lent our church facility to groups who would not have been able to find another home. To mention a few examples, church members were active in founding the Spartanburg chapters of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Connection. We worked to found Upstate Pride SC and bring about the Gay Pride Festival (the first one was held on the church grounds). We had the first openly GLBT minister in Spartanburg. We have a strong focus on our home community and an understanding of our place in Spartanburg as a beacon of liberal religion.
UUCS joined the UU Service Committee (UUSC) Fair Trade Coffee Project in August 2011. This promotes fair wages and environmental preservation on coffee plantations, making it both a Green Sanctuary and Hunger project for us (“double-dipping”?). The second Sunday of each month, we offer four choices, all organic—French Roast, Breakfast Blend, Decaf, and a Special. We’ll occasionally have organic fair-trade tea and chocolate, also. This is NOT a fundraiser, although we expect to pay for our Sunday morning coffee with the program. Prices will be as low as possible for maximum participation for maximum benefit to the environment and coffee plantation workers!
Hunger
For our second issue during 2011-2012, we chose Hunger, an ongoing concern, also with both local and global efforts. As a church, we have filled our food barrel repeatedly, collected groceries for Park Hills School families, and donated monetary contributions to TOTAL Ministries. During 2010-11, our youth and adults collaborated in preparing meals for the SPIHN program (combating homelessness in Spartanburg) and participated in Mobile Food Pantry events, packaging and handing out food for 300-plus families.
Hunger is a heartbreaking problem. Why is there so much hunger in a world that has more than enough food to feed itself? This issue requires education and thought, as well as action, and lends itself to large and small-scale efforts for both youth and adults.
Social Justice History
UUCS has been active in many social concerns throughout its history. We have lent our church facility to groups who would not have been able to find another home. To mention a few examples, church members were active in founding the Spartanburg chapters of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Connection. We worked to found Upstate Pride SC and bring about the Gay Pride Festival (the first one was held on the church grounds). We had the first openly GLBT minister in Spartanburg. We have a strong focus on our home community and an understanding of our place in Spartanburg as a beacon of liberal religion.