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The Seven Eight Principles
  1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

  2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

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

  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 in 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

  8. And Restoration's Eighth Principle... We affirm and promote the following 8th Principle:

    Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by building a diverse, multicultural Beloved Community that by our actions accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

Social Justice News and Events

Living the 8th Principle: Trevor Noah on George Floyd,
Amy Cooper, and The Uprising

This 18-minute video is a brilliant analysis of racism, white privilege, and the social contract, using George Floyd, Amy Cooper (who called the police on Black birdwatcher Christian Cooper - no relation to her), and the property destruction that came after them. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4amCfVbA_c

Terry W. 3rd-Degree Case Charges dropped!
Anne A. & Bernadette Visit Terry!

Anne A., Bernadette L., and Bruce P. visited UUCR member Terry W., currently incarcerated at SCI Phoenix (formerly Graterford), on February 1. Terry had just found out that the charges against him in his 3rd-degree case have been dropped! KYW had this report aired on the radio on January 29.

Terry's 1st-degree case is still pending (in PA Superior Court, with the possibility of a re-trial). He is currently serving life, but could potentially go free after 35 years if the re-trial is granted! If you would like to visit Terry, write to him, or be of help to him, please contact Bruce P. Here is a photo from the recent visit:

Terry W. is Interested in creating a 501-c3 Nonprofit Focusing on Domestic Abuse & Is Looking for Help

UUCR member Terry W. (currently incarcerated at SCI Phoenix, which used to be called Graterford prison, about 45 minutes from UUCR) is interested in starting a nonprofit organization focusing on domestic abuse. If you have any related experience or know someone who might be able to help in the process of applying for 501-c3 status, please contact Bruce P. Terry has also offered to help with our Caring Committee, and is hoping to start that work soon. If you would like to write to Terry, his address is: Smart Communications/PA DOC, SCI-Phoenix, Terry Williams AY3626, Post Office Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733. Communications must be on letter-size (8 ½" x 11") paper, and will be photocopied and sent to Terry - an example of the increasingly inhumane treatment of incarcerated people in this state. Since Terry is close to us now, if you are interested in visiting him at Phoenix, contact Bruce P. It could take a month or two to get on his visitor list, but he'd love to see anyone who wants to visit from his congregation! There is also an email system you can use to communicate with Terry - ask Bruce if you are interested.

Terry W. Meets Our Minister and Moderator!

UUCR member Terry W. (currently incarcerated at SCI Phoenix, which used to be called Graterford prison, about 45 minutes from UUCR) was able to meet for the first time our Minister, Rev. McKinley S., and our Moderator, Fern C., on October 27! If you don't know Terry's story, go to the UUCR website, select Words of Inspiration, and click on Reaching Through the Bars. If you would like to write to Terry, his address is:
Smart Communications/PA DOC, SCI-Phoenix,
Terry Williams AY3626, Post Office Box 33028,
St. Petersburg, FL 33733.
Communicationsmust be on letter-size (8 ½" x 11") paper, and will be photocopied and sent to Terry - an example of the increasingly inhumane treatment of incarcerated people in this state. Since Terry is close to us now, if you are interested in visiting him at Phoenix, contact Bruce P. It could take a month or two to get on his visitor list, but he'd love to see anyone who wants to visit from his congregation! There is also an email system you can use to communicate with Terry - ask Bruce if you are interested.

8th Principle Team Anti-Racism Survey
(May, 2019) Results

Many of you filled out the Anti-Racism Survey sent out by our 8th Principle Team last May - thanks so much! Of the 30 respondents (out of about 90 members), about half have taken a Jubilee (or equivalent all-weekend anti-racism) training, and about half (mostly the same people) have actively participated in other racial justice activities. All but 4 of the respondents have been involved at UUCR for at least 10 years, so the responses are biased in the direction of longer-term members.

For the complete results CLICK HERE

For an annotated list of recommended books, movies, shows, etc. that have been meaningful to the respondents CLICK HERE

We encourage all members and friends to look at this list for items that you might be interested in reading and seeing.

The following events have either been postponed or are available on Zoom until further notice. Black Lives Matter Vigil is still being held but is being held only outside.
Check this webpage for specifics.
Black Lives Matter Vigil, every
Thursday, 6-7pm
Because of social distancing guidelines, we are still holding our Black Lives Matter Vigils every Thursday evening, starting 6-6:30 along Stenton Ave. in front of the church, followed by a time of sharing on the lawn or under the portico in the rain. We aim to only have no more than 6 Vigil participants in person, but anyone is invited to join us via Zoom for the sharing portion – contact Bruce P. if you would like the Zoom link.

CommUUnity Potlucks, Wednesdays of Many Months, 6:30pm.
UUCR often holds a CommUUnity Potluck on the 4th or last Wednesday of many months to build community and talk about topics related to justice and to connect with our wider community. Because of COVID-19 social distancing, we may not have potlucks or meet at church for a while, but we may hold Zoom events. Keep an eye out for the weekly e-Newsletter for specific dates and topics. If you have suggestions for a focus (group or guest to invite, movie to watch, topic to discuss etc.) for a future CommUUnity Potluck, please let Fern C. or Bruce P. know (see the UUCR Directory and below for contact information)! Watch the weekly e-newsletter for specifics about these and other dates.

Regular Justice Council Meetings: 2nd Sundays, after the Church Service via Zoom.
If you would like to help decide the recipient of our monthly Change for Change or find out about our other justice-related activities at UUCR (including updates on POWER and UUPLAN, as well as planning and scheduling book discussions, CommUUnity Potlucks, Welcoming Congregation activities, special trips, etc.), please join us on the 2nd Sunday of each month!

Contact Bruce P. at 215-848-6246 if you would like to be on the Justice Council email list. Occasionally we meet on other Sundays or at other times – these should be announced in the weekly e-newsletter and the Order of Service on Sunday.

Trans Inclusion Workshop, 4th Sundays through June, 3pm, via Zoom
A number of members of the Justice Council and other members and friends of UUCR have been participating in a Trans Inclusion Workshop, to help us become more deeply inclusive and welcoming to people who identify as transgender, nonbinary, gender queer, etc.

The workshop exists as a webinar offered by the UUA, are watching each of the 6 sessions as a group, and discussing them afterwards. Justice Council scheduled these sessions for the 4th Sundays of January through June, to be held after the service on those Sundays, via Zoom, to watch the videos and discuss the content together. The timing is planned to be roughly 3:00-4:30. We have viewed and discussed 4 of the sessions so far. About a dozen people have participated, the videos are excellent, and the conversation deep and meaningful. The next one will be on June 28; feel free to join us, even if you couldn’t make it to the first sessions (contact Bruce if you would like transcripts of, or links to, the first four videos). Watch the e-Newsletter for any changes in the schedule or location. If you are interested in participating, please contact Bruce P. at 215-848-6246. We see this as part of our desire to renew and maintain our updated Welcoming Congregation (welcoming to LGBTQIA+ people) status as a congregation.

Terry W.s’ Death Row Stories Episode viewed & discussed by 12 UUCR Members & Friends!
UUCR member Terry W. (currently incarcerated at SCI Phoenix, which used to be called Graterford prison, about 45 minutes from UUCR) had an episode of the series Death Row Stories focused on his story on Headline News Network (HLN) in April. The Justice Council, with the help of Rev. McKinley, was able to arrange a livestream of the show, and about a dozen Restoration members and friends watched it and got together on Zoom afterwards to debrief. If you don’t know Terry’s story, go to the UUCR website, select “Words of Inspiration”, and click on “Reaching Through the Bars”. If you would like to write to Terry, his address is:

Smart Communications/PA DOC, SCI-Phoenix, Terry Williams AY3626, Post Office Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733.

Communications must be no larger than letter-size (8 ½” x 11”) paper, and will be photocopied and sent to Terry – an example of the increasingly inhumane treatment of incarcerated people in this state. Since Terry is close to us now, if you are interested in visiting him at Phoenix (soon, remote video visits will be possible!), contact Bruce P. (see above for phone). It could take a month to get on his visitor list, but he’d love to see anyone who wants to visit from his congregation! There is also a special prison email system you can use to communicate with Terry – ask Bruce if you are interested.

POWER Achievements in 2018

Dear POWER friends,

As we welcome 2019, a moment to say thank you for all the work you did last year to create a more just society. You have been diligent, and as a result POWER celebrated many successes in 2018. We:

  • Saw the election of a progressive district attorney in Philadelphia;
  • Eliminated cash bail in Philadelphia for 25 major offenses;
  • Reduced the prison population from over 7,000 to under 5,000 for the first time in many decades;
  • Saw Rep. Christopher Rabb introduce PA House bill 2501 to put 100% of school dollars through the fair funding formula, a bill that gained 28 cosponsors and the governor's support;
  • Formed the biggest rally yet on school funding in Harrisburg in June, which included a wide representation of Pennsylvanians;
  • Helped return Philadelphia schools to local control;
  • Forced Starbucks to change its nation-wide bathroom policy, institute an all-day anti-racism training, and issue a report on itself suggesting the company raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour;
  • Held 20,000 live conversations in our voter engagement work in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties;
  • Saw PA Sen. Art Haywood introduce a statewide $15 minimum wage bill;
  • Stood with Marriott workers when they demanded fair treatment;
  • Helped pass the Fair Work Week bill to provide predictable hours to 130,000 Philadelphians;
  • Saw the introduction of a community solar bill in Harrisburg;
  • Created a statewide table of allies around climate justice;
  • Helped fight off the attacks on the Affordable Care Act;
  • And continued to expand our work in Pennsylvania, organizing in Philadelphia's surrounding counties, and Lancaster, York, Lebanon, Dauphin, and Lehigh Valley.
On top of all of this, we finished the year with a major victory for economic justice in the passage of the 21st Century Living Wage bill. When the bill was first introduced we were told it would be dead on arrival, and on December 20 it was signed into law with the full support of Mayor Kenney and a unanimous City Council. Tens of thousands of workers will be affected. In addition, Jefferson Health System heard our call to "Lead by Example," and raised their minimum wage to $15 per hour.

Rally for Immigration Rights

Following, are several links important to our congregation's Social Justice program:

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