Social Justice & Outreach
The Ministry of Social Justice and Outreach seeks to follow in the way of Christ, by promoting opportunities for outreach, advocacy, and education, to create a more just and inclusive world where every person can live in dignity and thrive.
We are committed to supporting the United Church of Christ in giving toward Our Church's Wider Mission, providing funding for community partners, acting on our faith through organizations like Interfaith Action, learning about and advocating for important issues of injustice in our community and beyond, and going deep within ourselves to address our own white supremacy and its insidiousness in our nation and world.
Our Community Partners include Interfaith Action and the Department of Indian Work, the CROP Walk, Habitat for Humanity, Project Home, Settled (tiny homes), Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, MN Interfaith Power and Light, Hmong American Farmer's Assocation, the Transition Town Movement, and more. We are also a Creation Justice church, with a separate committee dedicated to the issues of our environment and how that intersects with our actions as Christians.
Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul
Guided by Christ’s example, Interfaith Action builds a more just and compassionate society. We connect congregations, faith communities, and civic organizations to overcome poverty, promote peace, and dismantle racism and other barriers that divide our community. St. Paul’s UCC generously supports many mission programs through Interfaith Action, such as the School Tools school supply drive, March Campaign food drive, Opportunity Saint Paul volunteer program, and serving meals at Project Home.. Learn more about this great organization.
Department of Indian Work
The Department of Indian Work partners with American Indian Families to revitalize culture, education and wellness. Click here to learn more.
The Transition Town Movement
Transition is a movement of communities coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world. Click here to learn more.
MN Interfaith Power and Light
Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light works in partnership with faith and spiritual communities to build transformative power and bring the lights of people’s unique gifts to addressing the climate crisis.
We grow the climate movement in Minnesota by empowering individuals and communities across the state to take action that is authentic, effective, and energizing in their context. Join us in building a powerful social movement for climate and environmental justice. Click here to learn more.
CROP Hunger Walk
This fundraising walk addresses hunger in Saint Paul and around the world. The money raised supports sustainable hunger relief projects worldwide coordinated by Church World Service, and 25% of the money is used locally to support the Department of Indian Work's Emergency Food Shelf at Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul. SPUCC members of a wide range of ages participate in the walk every fall. In 2019, the dozen walkers on our team raised about $1,400 to fight hunger locally and worldwide.
Project Home
Project Home provides 24/7 support for families facing homelessness. Click here to learn more.
Joint Religious Legislative Coalition
Guided by God's vision of the common good as reflected in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, the JRLC mobilizes religious communities to influence public policy in Minnesota. Click here to learn more.
Habitat for Humanity
Each summer, as part of a local group of churches and synagogues organized as the Interfaith Builders, St. Paul’s UCC participates in a build to help meet housing needs for residents in and around the Twin Cities. We raise funds, build, and cook for volunteers as a way of supporting this outstanding mission program. Habitat for Humanity makes a significant difference for every family that benefits from this affordable housing mission program. Construction experience isn't necessary, just a desire to help provide a good home for someone, a stable environment for children, and stability in the neighborhood..
Hmong American Farmer’s Association
We partner with HAFA each year as a pick-up site for their CSA.
Click here to learn more.
Settled.
Settled is a team of committed and curious families and individuals. They have developed a research-based approach of solving homelessness through close relationships with the chronically homeless and those who serve them. Sacred Settlements are supportive communities designed to address long-term homelessness. Each one is operated in partnership with a faith community on their land. Click here to learn more.