Living our faith in concern for all

Social justice work and community-based actions are cornerstones of the United Church of Gainesville family. We organize and take action locally while working towards systemic and cultural change. Much of this work is accomplished through dedicated committees that enable church members to express their convictions and faith through coordinated, communal activities.  

We are here to empower you to help your community. We honor the Timucua, Seminole, and all other Native people who lived on this land and cared for it long before us. The church values the human diversity each individual brings to the congregation, including racial identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, and religious background.

Take a moment to learn about our approach to social justice, and consider lending your talents to a common cause. Contact any committee by calling or emailing info@ucgainesville.org with the committee name in the subject. 

Justice & Advocacy Program Details

Creation Care and Climate Justice

We share a deep concern for nature and for the entire planet, and we practice the mantra of “think globally, act locally.” We earned recognition in 2023 as a Creation Justice Church.

Compassion in Action

Compassion in Action is a benevolent arm of UCG that enables our congregation to reach beyond the walls of our church to assist people in need. We collect and distribute goods and provide financial assistance to a wide range of community members and organizations.

Family Promise

The Family Promise committee serves our community’s most vulnerable families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

LGBTQIA+: Open and Affirming

As an Open and Affirming (ONA) Congregation, the United Church of Gainesville welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions into every aspect of church life and leadership. Being Open and Affirming is not just a statement we make, but a value we live out every day. The ONA committee supports LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and communities and provides opportunities to celebrate and enhance their lives.

Racial Justice

The purpose of the Racial Justice Committee is to educate ourselves and others about white privilege and systemic racism, to become anti-racist in beliefs, attitudes, and actions, to build community partnerships to dismantle systemic racism, and to advocate for racial justice in our community. We cultivate a spiritual source from which actions are determined by engaging in centering, discernment, and self-care.

Library

Our church library features a Banned Book collection that is constantly growing. These books, (in addition to our full library collection), are available to anyone who would like to borrow and read them. We are committed to every person’s freedom to read and to providing books with a diversity of topics and representation.

Our Whole Lives (OWL)

Offered annually, Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive sexuality education class that fosters informed, responsible, and values-based decisions about sexual health and behavior. Age-appropriate iterations are offered for all age groups on a rotating basis: Kindergarten-3rd, 4th-6th, middle, and high school, young adult, adult, and older adult cohorts.

Read more about the OWL program