Approving special financial collections for community projects or agencies.

Each year we have approved four agencies for our quarterly collections.  The agencies for 2009-2010 are:
The Aware Shelter
The Brooklyn Food Pantry
The Jackson Interfaith Shelter
Planned Parenthood

For the 2008-2009 these agencies were chosen:
The Aware Shelter, the Brooklyn Food Pantry, the Jackson Interfaith Peacekeepers, and the Jackson Interfaith Shelter.
For the 2007-2008 these agencies were chosen:
The Aware Shelter, the Brooklyn Food Pantry, the Jackson Interfaith Peacekeepers, and Planned Parenthood.
For 2006-2007 these agencies were chosen:  The Aware Shelter, the Brooklyn Food Pantry, Jackson Interfaith Peacekeepers, & Fair Trade Coffee.
In Jan. 2006 these agencies were chosen:  The Aware Shelter, Jackson Interfaith Peacekeepers, & Jackson Interfaith Shelter.
 

Approving special social action or social service projects or programs that the congregation would support and members would be involved with.  The programs may be programs of other agencies, programs that the church will sponsor,  or programs that the church would lead.

Our church has voted to support the following agencies:

• AWARE SHELTER – Aware Shelter has been consistently chosen for our quarterly collections.  Individual members are involved.

• BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS – We worked with Big Brothers, Big Sisters for one commUnity forUm.  Individual members have had past involvement.

• BROOKLYN FOOD PANTRY – We have had special collections, food drives, and volunteers work at the Brooklyn Food Pantry.  Individual members are involved. 

• CHURCH WORLD SERVICE – CROP – We have had members participate in CROP walks as a group. Individual members are involved. 

• COALITION FOR ADOPTION RIGHTS EQUALITY – We have had a sermon on the subject with a guest speaker from the agency.  Individual members are involved.

• COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY (JACKSON COUNTY) – Individual members have worked for CAA, and CAA has participated in commUnity forUms.

• DISABILITY CONNECTIONS CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING – We have worked with disAbility Connections CIL for a church audit and for adult religious education.  We held a commUnity forUm with them in 2007.

• FAMILY SERVICE AND CHILDREN'S AID – Our minister has been a member of their board, they have participated in commUnity forUms, and presented a worship service at UUCEL.

• JACKSON INTERFAITH PEACEKEEPERS – We have participated at and advertised their events; they are also consistently chosen for quarterly collections.  Jackson Interfaith Peacekeepers has worked with us on commUnity forUms and co-sponsored voter registration drives with us.

• JACKSON INTERFAITH SHELTER – They were chosen for a level one quarterly collection and our 2007 Christmas Eve offering.  Minister & individual members are involved.

• PARENTS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF LESBIAN AND GAYS (PFLAG) – JACKSON – PFLAG awarded us an award, and we initiated an attempt to work together on a commUnity forUm (that was ultimately cancelled).  Minister & individual members are involved.

• PLANNED PARENTHOOD – JACKSON CLINIC – Minister & individual members are involved, and PP has been chosen once for a special collection.

• UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SERVICE COMMITTEE (UUSC) – We have had Guest at Your Table and Justice Sunday programs yearly.

• JACKSON FOSTER CARE GRADUATION PROGRAM - We have been donating goods for youth graduating out of the foster care system.

Approve public statements on particular social issues, such as supporting gay marriage, or approve actions which would be taken by the congregation and its members regarding a specific social issue, such as a public boycott, or creation of a "violence-free zone".

Actions our church has taken in this category include:
Becoming a Nuclear-Free Zone
Becoming a Welcoming Congregation (2004)
Voter Registration Drives (2004, 2005)
Opposing Proposal 2, an Anti-Affirmative Action State Constitution Amendment (2004?)
Endorsing the UUCEL commUnity forUm programs (2005)
Using only Fair-Trade Coffee (2006)
Support for the November 2008 Michigan ballot initiative on Health Care (2008)