Racial Justice

Our congregation has made a strong commitment to being advocates for racial justice in Asheville and the wider world. In June 2016 the congregation adopted a Resolution in support of Black Lives Matter Movement  that calls us to educate about and deepen our understanding of white privilege and racially oppressive systems and to partner with local organizations to harness the power of love to combat oppression at all levels in our communities.

Our work in this area is currently being organized by the Liberation Collective. They promote education, building partnerships with anti-racist organizations in the community, and building relationships with the Black community.

Contact: Fredda Mangel*

Environmental Justice

UU Asheville is committed to helping our congregation and its members live more  sustainably upon the Earth. We were recognized as a  Green Sanctuary  in 2008 and are currently applying to be recertified in that status.  Environment Action Committee   (EAC)  meets monthly to coordinate our work for environmental justice. Also, we as a congregation have undertaken many projects to help us live lightly on the land, including installing rain gardens & native plantings and retrofitting our buildings based on energy audits. We recently completed a major project of installing 100 solar panels on our main building. Together we are working to reduce our energy consumption and to serve as a beacon of hope in our community.

Pride+: Gender & Sexuality Justice

Our congregation has long provided support and a welcome sanctuary for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. As long ago as the 1990s Rev. Maureen Killoran convened one of the area’s first World AIDS Day services, and helped start the local Pride celebration. We organized an Interweave group to support LGBTQ people and for a time provided space for a Metropolitan Community Church, which provided gay-friendly Christian worship, to meet here. In 1995 UUU Asheville was recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Welcoming Congregation, and with Rev. Audette’s leadership, we have joined those congregations which keep an ongoing practice of recertification, celebration, and action through the UUA’s Welcoming Congregation Pillars.

Economic Justice

Two of our Unitarian Universalist principles lead us to action in the area of economic justice. We believe that every person has inherent worth and dignity and we believe in justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. These values lead us to several of our congregation’s initiatives.

This team engages in actions to mitigate food and supply insecurity and homelessness. Below are a sample of their projects:

Pantry Project – UU Asheville has adopted a BeLoved Pantry on Charlotte St. providing easy 24/7 access to food and supplies where our neighbors in need live. Lots of volunteers are needed for this project throughout the year.

Other Partnership Projects: BeLoved Village Projects, Saturday Sanctuary, Free Fridge Project with Liberation Collective, Asheville Survival Program and Babies Need Bottoms.

For more information contact Anita Feldman or Jim Gamble.*

Reproductive Justice

Engages with the congregation and community partners to provide education, support, and advocacy for reproductive justice defined as the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities. It is about access and opportunities, not just choice. The team meets monthly, their newsletter has current programs, actions and meeting information.

Contacts: Melissa Heimlein, Kelly Wedell*

Community Plate

A commitment to justice and equity is a core value of our congregation, and one of the ways we live that commitment is through our Community Plate program. Nominations from congregants highlight local organizations that provide necessary services like housing, food, and legal assistance to in-need members of our local community. Representatives of that organization are invited to present the work they do to our congregation, along with opportunities for volunteering and further engagement. Each Sunday, half of all undesignated donations are earmarked for this community partner. Donations can also be designated to Community Plate. The Community Plate Committee of our Justice Ministry Council recommends the agencies or projects. Is there an organization you work with that you believe would be a good fit for Community Plate? Find the nomination guidelines and form below!

In recent years we have funded Peace Gardens & Market, WNCAP, Veterans Healing Farm, BeLoved, the UUAvl-Hetland Scholarship, Co-Thinkk, Bountiful Cities, Solarize, YTL-Youth Transformed for Life, and others. The Community Plate also funds the Ministers’ Discretionary Fund and Holiday Giving which benefits families in our own UU Asheville congregation.

Click below to learn more, including how to get involved or how to nominate an organization. 

Our team meets monthly. If you are interested in joining contact Linda Kooiker, Chair*.

UU the Vote

This team coordinates justice projects with the UU Justice Ministry NC which includes educational opportunities, the Friday Action Hour, and in-the-moment actions to address current justice-related actions in our community and state. UU Justice Ministry mobilizes congregations in our state leveraging the power of our collective voices. Details and recent actions here.

Animal Ministry

UU Animal Ministry (UUAM) is a group of concerned UUs who desire to express their faith, in part, through their compassion towards all beings.  UUAM chapters across the United States and Canada work to build justice and compassion for animals.  We believe in the worth and dignity of every being. 

Do you care about animals?  Does your spirituality connect to the more-than-human world?  If so, UUAM could be a good fit for you!

 “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Contact: Iris Williams*

Immigration Justice

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has made a commitment on a national level to support undocumented and other immigrants. Members of UU Asheville have engaged in this area, working with local community partners to advocate for the undocumented community here in Western NC.

On October 29, 2017, our congregation voted to provide physical sanctuary (or a safe living space) for a person or persons at risk of immediate deportation. The Sanctuary Steering committee, comprised of members from UU Asheville, Temple Beth Ha’Tephila, and Land of Sky Ministries worked within the larger WNC Sanctuary movement to educate themselves about the logistics, resources, and risks involved with this work. Our guests resolved their status and UU Asheville members Katie Winchell and Sharon LeDuc keep us informed about what is happening in the local immigrant community.

Currently, we are educating ourselves in partnership with Faith Communities for Immigration Justice and the Interfaith Action Network and exploring ways to support our immigrant neighbors being targeted for deportation without due process.

Contact Katie Wenchell*

The Liberation Collective

works to dismantle supremacy culture in ourselves, our Congregation, and our community. Our goal is Beloved Community which happens when people of diverse racial, ethnic, educational, class, gender, abilities, sexual orientation, and backgrounds/identities come together in an interdependent relationship of love, mutual respect, and care that seeks to realize justice within the community and in the broader world.

Come to a Liberation Collective meeting and help us determine the work ahead of us!

Meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month at 2:30 pm via Zoom, and new faces and ideas are always welcome!

For more information contact*: