Friend,

As we prepare for 2022, we hope to visit you! We are busy scheduling visits to UU congregations to learn how the South Carolina UU Justice Alliance can support your justice work, and to introduce the new Alliance. Here is the schedule so far:

• Jan 2: UU Church of Spartanburg
• Jan 30: UU Congregation of Columbia
• Feb 6: UU Fellowship of Clemson  
• Feb 6: Clayton Memorial UU Church
• Feb 27: Unitarian Church in Charleston
• Mar 20: Aiken UU Church

The list will grow as we continue to schedule visits (email info@scuuja.org to schedule). We hope to join you in-person or on-line during one of these visits as we build ways to act together for justice in South Carolina! 

- Pippin & Jean, South Carolina UU Justice Alliance 

This project is funded in part by the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility

Rick Hahnenberg

SCUUJA Board Chair and Member of the UU Church of Spartanburg

Profile of a UU Social Justice Leader

How do you tell your UU story? I joined my first UU congregation in Ohio in 1979, after the birth of my twins. When we moved to SC, we joined the Greenville UU Fellowship and later the Spartanburg UU Church as we moved again. Over the years, I have enjoyed serving in religious education, Sunday services, fundraising, finance, social justice, and three times as President of UUCS. 

What is at the heart of your social justice passion? Church-State Separation. I was founder and Chapter President for Americans United for Separation of Church and State Upstate SC Chapter for 13 of the 15 years that the Chapter was active. We closed our Upstate SC Chapter in February, 2021 due to structural changes in the national organization.

What excites you about the new SC UU Justice Alliance? First, the leadership abilities of both Rev. Dr. Pippin Whitaker and Rev. Dr. Jean Heriot. I am also excited about the potential to unite UU social justice programs with our 10 Congregations in South Carolina!

Clemson UU Works to End Racism and Reduce Polarization:

In a time of ever-increasing polarization, the UU Fellowship of Clemson is an active leader in anti-racism and inclusion in the Upstate of SC. They initiated and have been working on the Clemson Area Pledge to End Racism (CAPER) for over three years. Learn about CAPER here.  

In the spring, Clemson UU’s social action committee will hold Braver Angels workshops for the congregation. Braver Angels works to reduce political polarization between groups such as liberals and conservatives, red and blue political groups, and rural and urban divides. Once the workshops conclude they will use small group work to spread the message further. 

Clemson UU will also begin the process of renewing their Welcoming Status with the UUA. Find out more about Clemson UU’s community building and service of justice here!