Social Justice Council
The Social Justice Council at BUUF started in 2015 as a way to gather all of our social justice ministries, actions of immediate witness, and task forces under a broader umbrella.
Our vision is that we believe social justice work is a natural outgrowth of a healthy, nurturing church community as we seek to act out our Seven UU Principles in the world. We believe that social justice work should be reciprocal, and based on honored and dignified relationships in order that the good work be enduring, sustainable, and transformative for all involved.
Our mission, in conjunction with our minister, is to nurture our identity as a social justice congregation. To that end, we support, guide, and collaborate with existing and emerging groups of congregants who want to address a social justice need using the resources of the Church.
We will effect this:
- By engaging the congregation with opportunities to do meaningful justice work (systemic change) and mercy work (service/relief).
- By partnering with religious, social service, and advocacy groups to magnify our impact.
- By expanding, deliberately and strategically, the range of social justice ministries to which we commit.
- By reflecting on and evaluating our efforts so that the Fellowship keeps faith with its stated mission to “practice justice…as a congregation.”
How to contact the Council
If you would like to contact the social justice council, please email Jim Bigelow.
Please use sjc@boiseuu.org, to reach all the members of the council. This email address will send email to the following people:
| Member Name | Member Email |
| Jim Bigelow | jimbigelow51@gmail.com |
| Betty Van Gheluwe | vangheluwemonnier@gmail.com |
| Don Stepich | dstepich@cableone.net |
| Marni Odermann | marniodermann@yahoo.com |
| Sue Philley | suephilley@gmail.com |
| Rob Ham | rhamesq@gmail.com@gmail.com |
| Mark Bussolini | mjbussolini@aol.com |
Members Emerita and Emeritus:
- Kacee O’Connor, kacee.o@gmail.com
- Debra Smith
- Debbie Johnson
- Gary Wyke
- Sheila Ames
- and many others, whose many efforts are continually appreciated.
Statements and Resolutions
The Social Justice Council supports statements of conscience and justice resolutions. See these on the Social Justice Statements and Resolutions page.
Meetings
Meetings are held during the evening of the first Tuesday of the month and are open to all.
- 2019 – 2020 Program Year:
- July 2, 6 pm, BUUF Library, click here for meeting notes
- August 20, 6pm, BUUF Library, click here for meeting notes
- August 24, 9-12, Building Bridges for Social Justice
- Building Bridges for Social Justice Agenda
- Materials:
- Social Justice Ministry’s Reflections and Planning
- building bridges workshop evaluations
- September 17, 6 pm, BUUF Library, click here to see notes
- October 1, 6 pm, BUUF Library, click here to see the notes
- November 5, 6 – 7:30 pm, BUUF library, click here to see the notes
- December 3, 6 – 7:30 pm, BUUF Library, click here to see the notes
- January 14, 2020, 6 – 7 pm, BUUF Library, click here to see the notes
- February 4, 2020, click here to see the notes
- March 3, 2020
- 2018 – 2019 Program Year:
- August 21, Hosted by Sue Philley with a potluck dinner at 6 pm followed by the meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, notes.
- September 18, Meeting hosted by Cathy Sherman with a potluck dinner at 6 pm followed by the meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, notes
- October 6, Social Justice Summit, Rise Up, Idaho!, 9-1 at BUUF
- October 16, meeting 6 pm at BUUF, notes
- November 13, 6 pm meeting in the Library at BUUF, notes
- December 18, Social Justice Soiree, 6pm at the Black History Museum
- January 15, 6 pm in the BUUF Library, notes
- February 19, 6 pm, notes
- March 19, 6 pm in the BUUF Library, notes on how to plan and manage events, meeting notes
- April 16, 6 pm in the Raible room, click here for meeting notes
- May 21, 6 pm in the Channing room
- June 18, deferred
- 2017-2018 Program Year
- August 16, 2017, yearly planning meeting, click here to see meeting notes
- September 19, 2017, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, in the Raible Room (far end of the north classrooms) meeting notes
- October 17, 2017, Hosted by Kacee O’Connor with a potluck dinner at 6 pm followed by the meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, click here to see the meeting notes
- November 28, 2017, Hosted by Debra Smith with a potluck dinner at 6 pm followed by the meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, click here to see the meeting notes
- December 19, 2017 — cancelled
- January 16, 2018, Hosted by Jim Bigelow with a potluck dinner at 6 pm followed by the meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. meeting notes
- February 20, 2018, Hosted by Cathy Sherman, with a potluck dinner at 6 pm followed by the meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, meeting notes
- March 20, 2018, Hosted by Debra Smith with a potluck dinner at 6 pm followed by the meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, meeting notes
- April 17, 2018, Hosted by Kacee O’Connor with a potluck dinner at 6 pm followed by the meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, meeting notes
- May 15, 2018, Hosted by Betty Van Gheluwe, with a potluck dinner at 6 pm followed by the meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, meeting notes
- June 19, 2018, Hosted by Jim BIgelow, starting at 6 with a potluck dinner. Notes
- July — no meeting
See the BUUF Social Justice Council Blog for more information https://buufsocialjusticecouncil.wordpress.com/
Read the 2015-2016 Social Justice Council Report here.