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Friend,

This has been a hard stretch of weeks. Pandemic, economic crisis, violence and uprising. Our nation and the world have experienced a series of deep shocks.

I pray for wisdom in this time, and for the courage to listen deeply and speak honestly. I pray for a clarity and creativity that makes a more hopeful future possible. These days I am especially grateful for our faith and each of you.

Thank you for your overwhelming support for the Promise and Practice of Our Faith campaign, which helped launch Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU). It matters that BLUU is here providing worship, fellowship, and pastoral care to Black UUs at a time when the Black Community is reeling.

The UUA and BLUU are collaborating on a digital report on the Promise and Practice campaign, to be released later this summer. It will highlight the campaign's successes, reflect on BLUU’s future, as well as honor the many individuals, congregations and UU organizations who made, the campaign a success.

Thank you as well for supporting the Disaster Relief Fund and the Living Tradition Fund, which allows our Association to provide direct support to grassroots organizations serving impacted communities and to UU clergy and staff in crisis.

Thank you for all the UUs showing up as volunteers in our congregations, chaplains in hospitals, and as protesters demanding reform.

Friend, I'm so glad to be part of this faith with all of you.

Whether it's been technical advice for hosting virtual worship, a consultation about your congregation as an employer, or guidance for youth safety online, UUA staff have been providing a variety of resources for congregations. 

For instance, the UUA has helped 350 congregations purchase 490 discounted Zoom licenses—collectively saving these congregations more than $50,000 annually!

In recent months the UUA has focused its advocacy efforts filing or co-filing corporate resolutions on climate change, lobbying disclosures, election spending and human rights.

This includes calling on the meat packing industry to protect their workers from COVID-19, as well as urging companies to protect workers by providing paid leave, prioritizing health and safety, and maintaining employment. 

Earlier this year, the UUA Board of Trustees voted to increase UUCEF's community investment allocation from 1% to 5% of the portfolio's value. This expanded commitment will pump hundreds of thousands more dollars of financing into low-income communities this year.

General Assembly delegates will consider a resolution on Embodying Human Rights in Our Investment Decisions (PDF). The resolution is being put forth by UUs for Justice in the Middle East, Black Lives of UU, UU RISE, UU Peace Ministry Network and the UU Ministry for Earth—and is supported by the UUA Investment Committee and Socially Responsible Investing Committee.

Seasons of Giving is the quarterly e-newsletter from the UUA's Stewardship and Development Office. We are publishing monthly during the COVID-19 crisis. Questions can be directed to Suzanne Murray at development@uua.org or (617) 948-4392.