Activism Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington

cornerstone of church

like other unitarian congregations, uuca liberal church has been active in social justice causes , interfaith dialogue throughout history. when uuca founded, church leaders wrote our church unitarian churches, dedicated progressive transformation , ennoblement of individual , social life through religion, in accordance advancing knowledge , growing vision of mankind. in 1949, time when local organizations segregated, church operated children s summer camp open races. during 1950s, church 1 of few places in northern virginia black , white individuals met discuss race relations , ways improve society. in 1951, uuca minister ross allen weston founded community council social progress, interracial, interfaith group promoted full development of democratic principles in human relationship . uuca s members active during civil rights movement of 1950s , 1960s, protesting against segregation , other unfair treatments of minorities. uuca minister weston, president of unitarian fellowship social justice, received letter of gratitude martin luther king, jr. following landmark 1954 supreme court decision, bolling v. sharpe, made segregation in washington, d.c. s public schools illegal, virginia governor thomas b. stanley sought input state s citizens. uuca virginia church spoke out in favor of integration.

in october 1958, church received bomb threat morning of sermon rabbi emmet a. frank of temple beth-el. part of larger effort american nazi party, headquartered in arlington, intimidate synagogues , other institutions affiliated or friendly towards judaism. bomb threat condemned area churches , arlington congregation released statement saying not intimidated, harassed, or coerced change way practiced religion. church continued support civil rights causes in 1960s, registering black voters arlington county, , renaming 1949 building (now demolished) reeb hall in honor of james reeb, souls minister killed segregationists while protesting in selma, alabama. since 1970s, church members have continued advocate social justice causes including, not limited to, environmentalism, women s rights, lgbt rights, , affordable housing. 1 of uuca s prominent projects culpepper garden senior center, nonprofit retirement housing community low-income senior citizens, opened in 1975 , has expanded since then. 1990s until demolished in 2011, reeb hall rented out nonprofit groups including northern virginia chapter of habitat humanity , arlington street people s assistance network. since 1990s, kol ami, reconstructionist jewish community, has met @ uuca in library , fellowship rooms.