1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person.

2. Justice, equality and compassion in human relationships.

3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregation.

4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and society at large.

6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.

7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION LEADS TOWARDS ANTI-RACISM.

In August 2022, we completed two 2-hour workshops that allowed us to build trust and community by identifying our shared values and beliefs, assess shared concerns and root causes, but also identifying why “pain points” exist and how to address them using our community’s assets, and create a new story we would like to tell about our church community– That we are part of the Beloved Community centered in Restoration, Education, and Direct Action.

We plan to focus our work in the coming months around restoration through restorative justice practices. Restorative justice is a philosophy and set of practices, rooted in Indigenous teachings, that emphasize our interconnection by repairing relationships when harm occurs while proactively building and maintaining relationships to prevent future harm. Restorative justice is like preventative medicine that teaches us how to be in dialogue with one another.

Beginning in January 2023, our team will host a series of Restorative Justice workshops to the entire congregation that will help us all learn about ourselves in moments of conflict, how to collaborate with each other to create solutions, and begin to see conflicts, not as something to run from, but as opportunities for growth and transformation.

At this moment, we are focusing on “moving at the speed of trust” and not when we plan to vote on adopting the 8th principle.

Check out these resources below:

• UU 8th Principle

• Youth Service 8th Principle at SMUUCh

• Paula Cole Jones

• Black Lives UU

• Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries

• UU Allies of Racial Equity

• Virtual escape room advocating for the 8th Principle

• 8th Principle Song Playlist

“Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other’s welfare, social justice can never be attained.” — Helen Keller

Read the Entire Social Justice Charter

SMUUCh is actively involved in these social action initiatives:

AFTER THE HARVEST
Starting in May, we help After the Harvest glean farmers’ fields of excess produce and deliver it to food banks, pantries and kitchens. Gleaning usually continues through November. For more information, click here.

DONATE-THE-PLATE
Once each month, we donate our Sunday offering to local organizations that serve the community. Many local and national nonprofits have received our monthly collections. In 2022, the children and youth of the church vote each month to choose the recipient from a list of potential charities.

DRUUMM
Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries is a Unitarian Universalist People of Color Ministry and anti-racist collective of lay and religious professionals. Together, we work to overcome racism through resistance, and to transform Unitarian Universalism through our multicultural experiences. DRUUMM has a growing membership of UU People of Color from every district and region in the Unitarian Universalist Association. SMUUCh has created a Midwest DRUUMM Chapter that meets every other Thursday. With members all over the Midwest, we meet on ZOOM at 7 p.m. DRUUMM is a collective of people who identify as People of Color. Allies are welcome and are organized as "White Allies". Together we are open to all people. We are grounded in the Unitarian Universalist tradition, and maintain a close relationship with the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Please contact Patrice Gonzalez to get involved.

• DRUUMM webpage

• UUA DRUUMM page

GIVING GROVE
The SMUUCh Giving Grove is an edible tree and shrub garden tended by SMUUCh and other community volunteers in partnership with Giving Grove and Kansas City Community Garden. Once the trees and bushes mature, the harvest will be used to help the food insecure in our local community. Volunteer opportunities for weeding, watering, pruning and general tree tending are available throughout the year. There are also opportunities to assist in other Giving Groves around Kansas City. For more information, click here.

SHAWNEE MISSION UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH FUUD PANTRY
The FUUD pantry is an affiliate of the Harvesters Food Bank. It is open every Tuesday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. and is located around the back of the church. For more information see www.fuudpantry.org

JOHNSON COUNTY INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK
IHN is a nonprofit organization serving homeless families in Johnson County. Its mission is to unite and enable the faith community to provide homeless families with emergency shelter and meals, as well as compassionate assistance with social services and relationships with caring people in the faith community. Our church serves a support church, meaning that once every two to three months, we provide support to a hosting church. During our week, church volunteers provide meals for the families and stay with families nightly. For more information, click here.

SUNFLOWER HEAD HUGGERS
Sunflower Head Huggers is the local satellite group of a national organization, Head Huggers, started in 2001 by a fellow UU with the mission to provide soft, warm hats for people who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. Sunflower Head Huggers creates, collects, and distributes caps and hats through the University of Kansas Hospital and Cancer Centers.

ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES

• Dismantling White Supremacy: UUA Resources

• 10 Common Things Well-Intentioned-Allies Do That Are Actually Counter-Productive

• Habits of White Supremacy Culture, Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun

• Stories of Bystanders in Death of George Floyd:

  • Nine year old Judea Reynolds

  • Darnella Frazier, Teen Who Filmed The Death

SMUU Church welcomes bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people in our church. As a Welcoming Congregation, we have posted the Human Rights Campaign's equality symbol on all entrances to our church home. Additionally all are welcome to use the restroom which best fits their identity. We also have a gender neutral restroom in Fellowship Hall.

Our church is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association's Welcoming Congregation program. To learn more about the UUA Welcoming Congregation program, visit the UUA Welcoming Congregation web page.

Our church is a peanut-free zone. There are members of our congregation who have a life threatening allergy to peanuts. SMUUCh has adopted a practice of being a No Peanut Environment. Please do not bring any peanuts, or foods containing peanut ingredients to SMUUCh, and understand that if an item brought to SMUUCh is found to contain peanuts it will be removed. In addition, clearly label ANY foods that may include tree nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.) as these may pose a health hazard to our congregants as well.

Our church is accessible to all with mobility issues. Our building is ADA compliant.

Assistive listening devices are available for our sanctuary.