First Unitarian Church of Baltimore Joins UUSJ! May 2020

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Rev. David Carl Olson, First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, Maryland

“First Unitarian Church of Baltimore sees the UUSJ as a key partner in its work of building a better Baltimore. Through the Advocacy Corps, we bring our values to Congress.” – Rev. David Carl Olson

 

Baltimore’s First Unitarian is the latest congregation to join the 15 member congregations of UUSJ. The church, which opened in 1818, has “radical roots and a history as self-motivated spiritual people. UUSJ is delighted to welcome First Unitarian, a congregation known for its commitment to social justice in Baltimore and beyond.

Many First Unitarian members have been involved in UUSJ’s work of showing up for justice, including our Advocacy Corps. Kenneth Mitchell, First Unitarian’s representative to the UUSJ Board, is among them.

“I am very pleased and proud to be part of the UUSJ Advocacy Corps, Mitchell says. “I make the trip once a month

Rev. David Carl Olson, First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, Maryland

from Baltimore to Capitol Hill to do this important work. I certainly have enjoyed and been very satisfied with my experience of the program. I am also deeply pleased to be part of UUSJ’s mobilization program for social justice issues.

First Unitarian also holds a special place in our Unitarian Universalist history as the site of the famous “Baltimore Sermon,” preached by Unitarian pioneer Rev. William Ellery Channing in 1819. The church, with its distinctive dome, has been continuously operating in the same location for more than 200years.

Mitchell spoke about his experience with UUSJ at the May 24 service — “Thinking Locally, Acting Nationally” at First Unitarian along with Advocacy Corps member Moses Sumler.  UUSJ Board member Lavona Grow gave the sermon, “Thinking Locally, Acting Nationally” which focused on the value of story-telling in our advocacy for UU values. You can review the audio of the sermon HERE.

 

Members of the UUSJ Advocacy Corps visiting the office of Senator Warren D-MA. (From left: Carol Zachary, Kenneth Mitchell and Bob McCarthy.)

We Thank First Baltimore for Joining!

This spring the founding congregational members of UUSJ, have been joined by First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (FUCB). UUSJ now has 16 congregations on its board. We thank Moses Sumler and Kenneth Mitchell for participating in the UUSJ Advocacy Corps.