Category: Uncategorized

Major Rally to Support Driver’s Licenses/Push Back Against ICE Immigration Regime

by Rev. Rob Gregson Leave a comment

Sept. Rally Save the Date – Thurs. Sept. 6th 2018

UU FaithAction, along with many of our immigration rights allies, faith and human rights groups, will come together at 12 noon on Thurs., Sept. 6 in front of the Statehouse in Trenton to protest the continuing harsh “crackdown” on undocumented immigrants in NJ and across the US.

One important protection we can offer here in NJ is legislating a legal process (as they have already done in California, D.C. and elsewhere) for people with limited documentation to prove who they are, take the driver’s exam, purchase insurance and get back out on our roads safely and LEGALLY.

With a valid license, residents with an otherwise unblemished (or very minor) record can’t be detained and deported–simply because of a routine traffic stop.

We hope many of you will join us on Thursday, Sept. 6th at 12 noon at the NJ Statehouse.  Buses will be leaving from various locations across the state to help make transportation there and back easier–more information on that will be forthcoming.

Mobilizing for Electoral Change: UU Association (UUA) Webinar

by Rev. Rob Gregson Leave a comment

From our “Love Resists!” partners at our denominational HQ, the Unitarian Universalist Association and UU Service Committee, this webinar series.

Please join us on Thursday, July 12th at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT for a Webinar on UUs Mobilizing Towards Electoral Justice: Strategizing for the 2018 Mid-Terms & Beyond.You will hear from Adam Eichen, democracy strategist and activist and co-author of Daring Democracy (Beacon Press 2017), one of this year’s UUA Common Reads. UUA justice staff, UU State Action Networks, and UUSJ (UUs for Social Justice: Your Voice in the Capitol) will join him. Please RSVP here. 

Red Hot UU Minute !

by UU FA Office Leave a comment
Introducing our new monthly e-newsletter: The Red Hot Minute.  Why “red hot?”  Because it provides our supporters with a short, focused overview of the hottest social justice issues facing New Jersey.

We hope you will scan through the article titles and short descriptions, following the links to go deeper on a subject that catches your eye.

Read More “Red Hot UU Minute !”

Gun Violence Prevention Bills Signed

by UU FA Office Leave a comment

gvp collage

Governor Phil Murphy signed a package of common-sense gun safety bills that make New Jersey among the states with the strongest and most stringent gun laws in the country. Annually, more than 2,000 shootings occur in New Jersey, resulting in approximately 500 deaths each year.  

UU FaithAction NJ was one of the loudest and most persistent proponents for the passage of these bills.  Executive Director Rev. Rob Gregson, UUFANJ Board president, Nick Lewis, GVP Task Force chair Jeannine Coyne, as well as Rev. Karen Johnston and Kathy Allen Roth, testified before the legislature.

The package of bills signed by Governor Murphy are listed below.  You can log-into the provided link for a more in-depth detail of each bill.

The Bills: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp

A.1181/S.160 Mental Health Professional Warning- Firearm seizure

A.1217/S.2259 ERPO of 2018  (amended)

A.2759/S.2245 Prohibit use of armor piercing ammunition

A.2757/S.2374 Private gun sales – require background check

A.2758/S.2376 Justification for need to carry – conceal carry of handguns

A.2761/S.102 Reduce Ammunition magazines from 15 to 10  bullets (amended)

A.3129/S.2465 Restrict production of untraceable firearms

UU FaithAction NJ Plenary Success!

by UU FA Office Leave a comment

Thanks to everyone who attended the 7th annual UU FaithAction NJ Plenary on April 21st! For those who missed out–not to worry, we have pictures and all the pertinent information passed out to attendees.

If you did attend and haven’t yet filled out one of our Plenary Surveys, please click on the Survey link here to access a *very short* questionnaire.  Thank you and much appreciated!

Read More “UU FaithAction NJ Plenary Success!”

NJ Legislature considering rate hike for PSEG

by Nancy Griffeth Leave a comment

UU Faith Action NJ opposes Senate bill S-877, allowing PSEG to increase its rates in order to maintain the profitability of two nuclear plants. We have objected to the process, which excludes the Division of Rate Counsel from being involved in considering the necessity of the rate hike, and also to the willy-nilly addition of several environmental bills without adequate consideration of their provisions. The bill was scheduled for consideration on Monday, February 26, but was postponed. Here is a news story about it:

Nuclear Subsidy Bill Stalls in Senate 

Please call your legislator to oppose this very bad bill.

 

Our Staff

Rev. Charles Loflin

Executive Director
Email: execdir@uufaithaction.org
he/they

Rev. Charles Loflin, Executive Director

Rev. Charles Loflin, as Executive Director, serves as our organization’s principle link with congregations, volunteers, coalition partners and legislators in his capacity as policy director, chief administrator and advisor to the Board.

Rev. Charles joined UU FaithAction NJ staff in 2020, and he stepped into the role of Executive Director in 2021. As a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, he had participated in events and actions since the “Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey” days.

Rev. Charles received his Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary in 2021. He served as ministerial intern at the Morristown UU Fellowship 2020-2021. In addition to his experience in ministry, Rev. Charles brings to UU FaithAction NJ many years of technical experience as a developer of web applications and social media integrations. With all the tools of technology, covenant and grace, Charles is leading us in the Zoom age to come together as a faith movement in New Jersey to voice our values.

Rev. Rob Gregson

Executive Consultant
Email: rob@uufaithaction.org
he/him

Rev. Rob Gregson, Executive Consultant

Rev. Rob Gregson currently serves UU FaithAction NJ as Executive Consultant. Rev. Gregson previously served as the organization’s third Executive Director.

Prior to UU FaithAction, Rev. Gregson co-founded and directed SimpleGifts: Unitarian Centre for Social Action out of the Mansford St. Unitarian Chapel in East London, United Kingdom.  SimpleGifts served over 150+ children, parents, elders and recent immigrants each week at their innovative community center and also helped to create and run a national social justice training program for British Unitarian congregations.

From 2000-2007 Rev. Gregson served as the first settled minister to the rural parish of the First UU Fellowship of Hunterdon County in Baptistown NJ.  From 1999-2000 he served on a pilot program as the first full-time interfaith chaplain at the Boston Alzheimer’s Center.  Prior to entering Divinity School, Rev. Gregson worked for 3 years in the early 1990s in the Dept. of Social Justice/Office of LGBT Concerns at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston MA.

A 1990 political science graduate of Amherst College, Rev. Rob Gregson received his Master of Divinity in 1999 from Harvard Divinity School.

Emily Parker

Communications Director
Email: emily@uufaithaction.org
she/her

Emily Parker, Communications Director

Emily Parker, our Communications Director, crafts communications, manages congregational outreach, and seeks to support members at the speed of trust.

Emily grew up in the old stone walls of First UU Fellowship of Hunterdon County. As a youth, she served on her Religious Education Committee, Sunday Services Committee and on the Metro District Youth Adult Council. She also worked as a counselor at Murray Grove summer camp for four seasons. Prior to UU FaithAction NJ, Emily served as Outreach Coordinator for the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona.

Emily holds a Master of Divinity with specialization in Public Theology from Wesley Theological Seminary. She holds a B.A. in Spanish/Hispanic Cultures from Juniata College. She presented her undergraduate research, “Beyond the Bridge: A Study of Unitarian Universalist Emerging Adults,” at the 2018 UUA General Assembly.

Marlene Miller

Administrator
Email: marlene@uufaithaction.org
she/her

Marlene Miller, Administrator

Marlene brings to the position of Administrator experience with and passion for social justice and a deep commitment to our mission.

Marlene Miller has worked in education, the arts, and the nonprofit sectors. Her main area of interest is creating a culture of community and mutual support for all. She has two bachelor’s degrees in English and Music Composition, and lived and worked in Japan teaching English for two years before coming to work at UUFANJ.

She enjoys crafting and cosplay, thrifting, and anime. Marlene was born in North Carolina, but spent the majority of her life in Southeastern Pennsylvania, in the mushroom capital of the world! This is her first time living in New Jersey and she has been very impressed with it so far!

As Administrator, Marlene will support the many facets of our organization’s operations, with a particular focus on ensuring that communications are timely and organized, and that information is easily accessible.

Registration Open for *Free* Public Protest/Upstander Training Nov. 18

by Rev. Rob Gregson

Public Protest/Upstander *Free Training*

Have you ever given thought to how *best* to prepare for taking part in public protest?  Wondered what you could possibly do to help someone being harassed?  Ever considered taking part in an act of civil disobedience?

Knowledge = Power.  Come to find answers to these questions and more at our FREE two-part workshop on how to become a (better) social activist.

Date: Saturday, November 18th, 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Time: Part 1: 10 am–12 noon = Upstander Training

Part 2: 12:00 pm–2 pm = Protest and Civil Disobedience Training

 Working Lunch (Bring your own lunch & snack to share!)

Place:  Central Unitarian Church 156 Forest Avenue, Paramus, New Jersey 07652.  Parking is available on site; please consider carpooling to save space and Go Green!

Register: Registration required – Please indicate which training(s) you will be attending.  Space is limited to 60 participants per training so register now!

Click Here to Register

A two part training–come to both or choose the one that fits you best!  (You will indicate your choices on registration)

Part 1 10-12: How to go from being a “bystander” to an UPSTANDER!

What do you do if you see hate-based harassment?  Learn to better predict incidents *before* they happen; how to align with potential targets; de-escalation; safe escape, and much more.

Part 2: 12-2 (Working Lunch, see details above) Veteran activists and newly involved neighbors are invited to participate in an interactive training on how to be an effective and safe person of conscience in today’s political environment.  Topics include: Safety, safety, safety!; Rules of engagement; Finding the types of actions that are right for you; All the what-ifs; and yes, How to get arrested.  (Also, how NOT to get arrested!)

Hosted by UU FaithAction NJ, Central Unitarian Church in Paramus, Hudson Civic Action and American Friends Service Committee. Facilitated by Elena Waldman of Artemis Defense (www.artemisdefense.org) . Free will donations taken at the event.

Things Every UU Should Know About Reproductive Justice

by Rev. Rob Gregson

Things every UU should know about reproductive justice

Two Things Every UU Should Know About Reproductive Justice

1. “Reproductive justice” has a broad agenda, and is different than “reproductive rights”.

The understanding of reproductive justice has evolved over time, and there is no universally accepted definition. However, all definitions recognize that the need for access to resources goes far beyond abortion alone. These four principles are accepted by many as representative:

  1.  People have a right to have children.
  2. People have a right not to have children.
  3. People have a right to raise their children in safe and healthy environments.
  4. People have a right to health and self-determination regarding their bodies and sexuality, free from oppression and shame.

    Notably, reproductive justice is not simply a different phrase that is interchangeable with reproductive health or reproductive rights, and nor is it intended to replace these concepts. Instead, reproductive justice is a framework created by women of color that combines the fields of reproductive rights, social justice, and human rights. It is grounded in the particular experiences, values, priorities, and leadership of women of color.

    2. Reproductive justice has a different approach.

    It’s not enough to focus on reaching a set of end goals through any means possible. Instead, our approach must reflect the world we are trying to create. This includes:

    Constantly talking about the impact our personal identities (including race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, wealth, etc) have on our viewpoints and actions. In order to successfully change the culture, we must be open to growth and change ourselves.

    Centering the marginalized. Changing structures of power means that leadership must come from the groups most affected by the denial of access to rights and resources, including women and people of color, people struggling to make ends meet, and young people.

    Intersectionality. The work must be intersectional, which means engaging multiple identities and building coalitions rather than trying to keep people and issues confined in separate boxes. Changing structures of power requires that we view identities as linked and formulate solutions that are based on collaboration and solidarity.

    For people who support reproductive justice and are not already familiar with the framework, it is sometimes challenging but always important to seek relationships of accountability and leadership with women of color and organizations they lead. This is critical because it helps to avoid misappropriation, where people are claiming to do reproductive justice work without knowing what it means and without being accountable to the experiences and leadership of women of color.