Social Responsibility
Green Sanctuary
In May of 2009 our congregation voted to pursue Green Sanctuary Certification. We have established a steering committee that has already implemented the following initiatives:
- Led a Sunday Service titled "Everyone Can Do Something" sharing their personal journeys toward living a more "green" lifestyle
- Led a workshop teaching how to make non-toxic and inexpensive household cleaners
- Have volunteered to wash reusable coffee cups used for our fellowship time following the Sunday Service
- Organized a "local foods potluck"
- As of October 2009 are polling our members to determine their Carbon Footprint using the EPA website calculator. This will be used as a benchmark to see how much we can reduce our individual carbon footprints over the next few years
Welcoming Congregation
"Whoever you are, we welcome you. Whoever you love, we welcome you."
Our congregation has received certification as a Welcoming Congregation, a program for congregations that desire to become more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people. In a series of workshops we learned to reduce prejudice by increasing understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientation and identities.
Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression/Multi-Culturalism
Our Unitarian Universalist Principles call us to affirm:
•The inherent worth and dignity of each person.
•Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
•The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) encourages our leaders to learn, grow, and educate on behalf of our anti-racist, anti-oppression, multicultural (ARAOMC) mission so that we may champion the Association's commitment to meeting congregations where they are and assisting them as they grow into anti-racist, anti-oppressive and culturally competent religious communities. In keeping with Unitarian Universalist Principles we are called to take another step in this challenging work, to become an active, spiritually alive institution and to meet our ARAOMC goals.
In this spirit, we work with local organizations, such as Coming Together Stark County. We also host public discussions on issues of race, and engage with issues of race and oppression in our Sunday Services.
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
We actively support the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), designating two Sundays a year to highlight their social justice work.
In the fall we participate in the Guest at Your Table program. In the spring we host a Justice Sunday.
Trick or Treat for Unicef
Our children and youth regularly participate in the Trick or Treat for Unicef program around the Halloween holiday.
Community Christmas
Each year we sponsor several local needy families through the Canton Community Christmas program.
Monthly Special Collections
We encourage the stewardship model of “proportional giving.” This is a spiritual practice of generosity, not just to the congregation, but to the wider world as well. We suggest giving a percentage of household income to the congregation (3%-5%) and match it with an additional 3-5% to other social service and social justice organizations.
As a part this stewardship model of giving, we have a monthly special collection to support a specific social organization, including both local, national and international agencies. If you have an organization that you would like to be considered for this program, please submit this form to the minister or a member of the board of trustees.
Here is a list of past recipients:
April 2009 Stark County Hunger Task Force
June 2009 Coming Together Stark County
July 2009 Habitat for Humanity
August 2009 Friends of the Stark County District Library
September 2009 National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)
October 2009 The Domestic Violence Project
November 2009 Guest at Your Table
