Social Justice Gathering, 4/8/26

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Date/Time/Place: April 8, 2026 2: pm – 5:30 at BUUF  North Wing

Attending: Mark B., Jim B., Don S., Patti N, Linda S., John W., Diane E., Ed ?, Cathy S., Rev. Sara , Rick G., Diane D.

Agenda/Notes:

  • Click here to see the notes from the January 7, 2026 meeting
  • Reverend Sara has extended an invitation for anyone involved in any of our social justice ministries to attend and have a  deeper conversation about administrative and coordinating needs for social justice.
    • Survey results supported increased support for (from Don S.)
      • More communication in general and a revamped website that is up to date and easy to use
      • RE, kids and adults
        • Task Force recommended transitioning to full time Director of Family Education ¾ time
      • Social Justice: What are the highest  needs of social justice and how can the met
        • How are we communicating about Social Justice money
        • People want to know the teams  and how can they can get involved
        • Rev. Sara is working on a quarterly SJ newsletter
    • Changes in staffing and staff priorities
      • Additional 20 hrs of staff time – make Rachel communications coordinator & high level, offload/outsource bookkeeping, etc. 
      • Dawn will increase their hours food, building rental, other duties
  • Reparations
    • Reparations will most likely focus on work with our indigenous groups due to the long history of U.S. westward expansion that can be characterized as a sustained conflict between two incompatible views of land and sovereignty  driven by the ideology of Manifest Destiny, fueled by economic industrialization, and ultimately resulting in the systematic displacement and confinement of Indigenous nations. 
    • The reparations team presenting the congregation with a Reparations Resolution seeking to establish a commitment for the work of reparations
    • The reparations team is an outgrowth of the Racial Justice Ministry that may  morph a Reparations Ministry and as such will be part of our Social Justice Work and have rep
      • Given the RJM  change into Reparations Ministry we do not need to add another ministry to our Ministry list, which is:
        • Racial Justice
        • Refugee & Immigrant Justice
        • Climate Action
        • Pride/LGBTQ+ Ministry
        • Reproductive Justice
        • Housing/Food Insecurity
    • A reparations ministry will have an equal share in the social justice funds
    • Possible funding models for a reparations ministry
      • The Asylum Seeker project
        • Was hosted (so to speak) by the Refugee and Immigrant Justice Ministry 
        • raised significant funds to support a Asylee separate from the Social Justice Budget
      • The Carbon Neutral Project
        • Hosted by the Climate Action Team
        • Used a Special appeal to raise fund to reach specific goals laid out in the appeal
        • The funds were separate from the Social Justice Budget and the Social Justice Grant Fund
  • Social Justice Grant Fund
    • Background of the fund
      • The Social Justice Grant Fund was funded by special appeals in 2022 & refunded in 2025
      • The Social Justice Council met in 2025 to decide how to manage the fund
        • It should last for 3 years
        • This gives approx $8,000 per year for
          • $1,000 for each ministry
          • A balance to be used for  grants
    • Policies and procedures (revised 11/25)  help guide our stewardship of this fund,
    • Click here to see the Social Justice Grant Fund Tracking Spreadsheet
    • Balance as of 3/15/26: $25,848.18
      • This balance snapshot may not be accurate as several grants have been made that may not be reflected here 
  • Interfaith Justice Idaho
    • Rev. Sara introduced the new organization, Interfaith Justice Idaho, that  brings together two long-standing interfaith groups (Interfaith Equality Coalition and Interfaith Alliance) so we can work more closely together on justice issues impacting Idahoans, especially those on the margins.
    • We discussed paying  dues ($100/200) from Social Justice Budget) plus a larger grant from Social Justice Grant
  • 2026  – 2027 Plate Partner Discussion
    • Active social justice ministry teams
      • Racial Justice
        • Duck Valley – Linda
      • Refugee & Immigrant Justice
        • Agency for New Americans – Betty & Cathy
      • Climate Action
        • Community Solar – Jim
      • Pride/LGBTQ+ Ministry
        • Trans Joy Boise – Rev.Sara
      • Reproductive Justice
        • Pro-Voice – Rev. Sara
      • Housing/Food Insecurity
        • LIST – Mark
    • Congregational nominations
      • Boise Hive – Anne Marie Bussolini
      • City Of Good – Sheila Ames
      • Learning Lab – Janet MCClenahan
      • Open Arms Dance – Diane Doris & Carol Ogburn
  • Patti N.
    • Plate Partner Process
      • Would like to build a relationship with a PP
        • For example, City of Good just needs 1 or 2 but doesn’t build a larger relationship which doesn’t give the relationship building we’re looking for between BUUF members
      • Is it possible to engage more to build a stronger relationship rather than just give them money
        • A group tour
        • A group volunteer opportunity
      • Should we change the message to PP to not only
        • Hear from the PP at a service
        • Should we also ask them to think about the volunteer activities or a group tour
      • Mark: We could show check presentations picture on the screen, at least on Social Justice Sunday if not other Sunday
        • Staff has done this in the past but it ended because it 
      • Have the contact person for the plate partner available with PP name so that Rachel knows who to contact for the check presentation.
  • Social Justice resolutions