Many of our local congregations have women’s groups with social justice goals. All our members are invited to share ideas from their groups in our ICUUW newsletter. I’ll start…
Around 15 years ago, at EUUC in Edmonds, Washington, just north of Seattle, a group of members read and discussed the book Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. This journalist couple wrote about several major types of oppression of women and girls, particularly in Africa and Asia, for example sex trafficking, neglect of health, and exclusion from education. They outlined some effective solutions and suggested ways people could raise money to help.
Inspired by the book, the women formed a committee they named Advocates for Women, meeting once a month at the church, to educate the congregation about women’s issues and raise money for specific organizations that are making positive contributions, alternating between local and international organizations. Often the benefiting organization supplied a speaker to explain the organization’s mission. Committee members prepared an especially delicious meal and invited congregational members to enjoy and contribute according to their budgets. Each dinner raised around $3000; an effort was made to select organizations for which this small contribution would have a significant impact.
Over time the committee has expanded activities into various subcommittees concentrating on sharing information through book and movie discussions and special presentations. We crafted a congregational stand on reproductive justice, and we created a “faceless dolls” exhibit to increase awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. We regularly raise money through our congregation’s share-the-plate, with a subcommittee that researches possible beneficiaries that are then selected by the committee as a whole to recommend to the congregation. (Each month donations collected are given to a particular charitable organization whose mission aligns with ours.)