"St. John’s is committed to . . . working for peace and social justice . . . " and  "to support advocacy and outreach into the community . . ." and "to work diligently for justice, peace, and equity through nonviolent means."  (Mission and Covenant Statements.)

The 2011-2012 Service and Action Coordinating Committee (SACC) meets quarterly under the leadership of appointed Co-Chairs for Service, Jim Decker, and for Action, Howard Tolley.  Project Directors serve as liaison to the committee for

Service Projects:  Friends of Szentlaszlo (Tom Darner), Interfaith Hospitality Network (Chris Reed), People Working Cooperatively (Jim Decker), UUSC + Disaster Response (Claire Wagner).

Action Projects:  Advocacy and networking on the Death Penalty (Howard Tolley), Peace (Nina Tolley), worker's rights (Howard Tolley), economic rights (Cassandra Barham), voting rights (Rick Prairie), LGBT, Green Sanctuary (Mira Rodwan) 

Education:  including inspiring Music (Cathy Roma), sermons/worship, and Adult RE Classes on Social Justice and Ethics  (Carol Fencl}, study action on foreign policy Great Decisions (Dick Fencl) and special Sunday forums prior to service (Ethel Ingalls).  Friday night film series on ethical eating. (Bo Wachendorf and Greg Terhune).

2011 CONTRIBUTIONS:  SACC was allocated $500 for annual expenses from the regular church operating budget, but the Social Justice program contributed over $13,000 from fundraising events for different projects and special plate collections, including the Minister's Discretionary Fund. In 2011 the church raised over $3,000 for the Susan Montauk Memorial Garden in Over the Rhine, $1,800 in a World Service Bazaar conducted by the youth who made 3 grants to local, national and international recipients as well as $1,000 in plate collections for Pakistan flood relief administered by UUSC.  In kind donations included 132 canned goods at Easter, mittens and scarves at Christmas, 1,530 books for a Montessori school, Crayons to Computer school supplies and pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.

Friends of Szentlaszlo, a UU Partner Church program in Romania, has been St. John's most significant Social Justice project involving nearly 100 contributing members of the Congregation in fundraising lunches and an annual dinner that provided over $7,000 this year in grants for bread to the elderly, supplementary compensation to the minister and for church expenses.  Several years ago $9,000 was raised for a bus.  The Choir, St. John's ministers and many church members have all made group visits to Szentlaszlo,

2011 SERVICE VOLUNTEERS AND ACTIVISTS: Jim Decker organized eight members to winterize a home with People Working Cooperatively as well as others for a second home project in spring.  Chris Reed organized volunteers to assist at First Church for fall and winter Interfaith Hospitality Network service to the homeless. Nina Tolley coordinated our task force members with the Peace Church Network and participated with other members in the weekly Women in Black anti-war vigils.   The Fencls arranged adult RE educational programming on immigration and foreign policy great decisions, and there were forum programs on the death penalty and other social justice topics.  Green Sanctuary (Mira Rodwan) 

2012 GOALS: 

BUDGET 

 OUTREACH  The church has in the past allocated five per cent of prior year pledge income for grants of $500 to $2,000 to local organizations, but financial constraints led to a reduction to 3% in 2007 and nothing for the past four years when St. John's spending for Social Justice significantly declined.  The SACC goal is to have a minimum of 1% of prior year pledge income ($2,500) earmarked for Outreach in the operating budget as soon as possible in order to make two separate awards of $1,000 --one recognizing service and a second for action. A newly appointed Outreach committee of six should also consider how the $5,700 in the Outreach Endowment Fund that continues to accumulate interest could possibly be put to use.

UUSC  Contribute $1 per member to UUSC for James Luther Adams Award congregational recognition.

VOLUNTEER NEEDS

Drop Inn Center:  Barbara Hadden seeks support for resuming St. John's in serving food to the homeless.

Death Penalty Project Director or team member contact Howard Tolley

Instructors for Adult RE classes and/or forum leaders for Sunday programs on Social Justice (Carol Fencl)

Mission Council Director to succeed Francis May Brooks in July 2012. 

Outreach Committee Members

 Here is the list of some recent Social Justice project activity. Click on the name of a program for more information.

• Green Sanctuary
  Join with those guiding our church "lifestyle" toward more sustainable, earth-friendly choices.
• Interfaith Hospitality Network
  Help provide hospitality to some of the 2500 families that are homeless each year in Greater Cincinnati.
• Outreach Grants
  St. John's periodically awards Outreach Grants of $500 - $2000 to area non-profits involved in community action.
• Partner Church