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Social Action History
Our church has an active, involved history in Social Action.
- In 1986, we
sponsored refugee families from Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Malawi, and Nigeria.
- In 1986, our church members declared A2U2 to be a
nuclear free zone.
- In 1993, we declared A2U2 a
Green Sanctuary.
- In 1999, we endorsed
worldwide nuclear disarmament.
- In 2001, we began an ongoing relationship with ASERELA,
Portland refugees from Sudan.
- In 2003, we won the
national Bennett Award for our social action initiatives AND became a
Welcoming Congregation.
- In 2004, our church signed up for "
green electricity.”
- In 2005, we helped
defeat a referendum that would have removed rights of gays, lesbians, and transgendered persons in Maine. At the time we created and distributed hundreds of bumper stickers which read
- In 2006, we raised enough money to provide over $46,000 in
loan money for Maine Indians.
- In 2007, we received the
Faith in Action award from Equality Maine.
- In 2008, we were the first congregation in Maine to support the
Declaration of Religious Support for the Freedom of Same Sex Couples to Marry.
- In 2009, we committed to support
Iraqi refugees now living in the Portland area.
- In 2009, also our church received the
Golden House Award from Habitat for Humanity. See a picture of our members receiving the award on the Social Action home page. Scroll down to the section on Habitat.
- In 2011, we began a Prisoner Advocacy Group.
- In 2012, we won the Portland Citizen award from EcoMaine. Our refugee support is expanding to include immigrants, too.
New members are encouraged to write our next chapters by getting involved.
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