UUJO held its virtual Annual Assembly on Saturday, November 21. Samuel Prince’s opening words portrayed our democracy as being on fire and that only justice could put out that fire. He was followed by Rev. Connie Simon from First Church of Cincinnati. Rev. Connie spoke of the need to repair connections. How do we center the experience of the marginalized? How do we know what Justice looks like? How do we reach out to those so entrenched in a harsh conservative narrative they aren’t in a place to hear. We cannot speak only of racial justice because racial justice is climate justice, is economic justice, is criminal justice…
Following the business meeting Rev. Dr. Susan Smith, Crazy Faith Ministries of Columbus, Ohio spoke. Dr. Smith is a dynamic speaker. She said that like our infection with Covid 19, we are an infected nation. The seeds of racism were planted in our founding, in the Constitution, and like a virus, they never go away; they wait to spring up again. Dr. Smith’s latest book, With Liberty and Justice for Some: The Bible, the Constitution, and Racism in America, published by Judson Press, 2020 would be an excellent choice for a Hopedale book report. See links below for videoed speakers. You won’t be disappointed!
• Morning Opening and Rev Connie Simon, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOHaoWXrzuM
• Afternoon with Rev Dr Susan Smith, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ochb8ozAtSA
• Business meeting, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVRF6n9lf5s
Please visit https://uujo.org/ to complete the UUJO survey on justice priorities for Ohio.
– Submitted by Libby Earle and Liz Woedl.
Social Justice Committee, HUUC 