I have served on the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland for 9 years, 6 years as LGBTQ task force leader and three as chair and then co-chair of the Board. As LGBTQ task force leader I worked primarily on marriage equality and transgender civil rights. I am serving as Intern Supervisor to our first full-time intern in community ministry for UULM.DUTY FIVE: WITNESSES TO SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE
"Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public." -- Cornell West
Witnessing to Social Justice is an endeavor close to my heart. As a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in New York City, I was educated toward public witness. Social Justice work takes patience, perseverance and practicality. Just to throw in a few more “p” words, inspiring justice work also calls for pastoral and prophetic sensibilities.
Throughout the years, I have devoted time, heart and energy to Anti-Racism, AIDS awareness, LGBTQ civil rights, Domestic Violence Awareness, and Homelessness. As co-chair of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland, I am now learning more about state-wide legislative advocacy for environmental justice, criminal justice reform and economic justice.
The most prominent public witness in recent years has been for Race and Law Enforcement, Marriage Equality (a seven year journey to legalization in the State of Maryland), the forming of a Rainbow Youth Alliance for LGBTQ teens and Domestic Violence Awareness (a yearly Silent Witness Initiative for the month of October that attracts local and state attention). Our congregation also works monthly with the county emergency shelter for homeless individuals and volunteers on a regular basis at LASOS, a county-wide organization assisting non-native citizens.
Our newest initiative involves working with community leaders on a county-wide series of forums addressing law enforcement and race relations. An excerpt from the initial gathering, beginning to address society's underlying narrative of distrust: "There are no easy answers, except to encourage a willingness to address the issues and break free from stuck places, hopefully leading to policy making that moves us forward...This gathering would offer opportunities for articulation of issues, education and bridge building in the larger community. The more voices from varied communities, the more productive we can be."
"Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public." -- Cornell West
Witnessing to Social Justice is an endeavor close to my heart. As a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in New York City, I was educated toward public witness. Social Justice work takes patience, perseverance and practicality. Just to throw in a few more “p” words, inspiring justice work also calls for pastoral and prophetic sensibilities.
Throughout the years, I have devoted time, heart and energy to Anti-Racism, AIDS awareness, LGBTQ civil rights, Domestic Violence Awareness, and Homelessness. As co-chair of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland, I am now learning more about state-wide legislative advocacy for environmental justice, criminal justice reform and economic justice.
The most prominent public witness in recent years has been for Race and Law Enforcement, Marriage Equality (a seven year journey to legalization in the State of Maryland), the forming of a Rainbow Youth Alliance for LGBTQ teens and Domestic Violence Awareness (a yearly Silent Witness Initiative for the month of October that attracts local and state attention). Our congregation also works monthly with the county emergency shelter for homeless individuals and volunteers on a regular basis at LASOS, a county-wide organization assisting non-native citizens.
Our newest initiative involves working with community leaders on a county-wide series of forums addressing law enforcement and race relations. An excerpt from the initial gathering, beginning to address society's underlying narrative of distrust: "There are no easy answers, except to encourage a willingness to address the issues and break free from stuck places, hopefully leading to policy making that moves us forward...This gathering would offer opportunities for articulation of issues, education and bridge building in the larger community. The more voices from varied communities, the more productive we can be."
(UULM-MD) is a state-wide advocacy network of Unitarian Universalists. We work to educate, mobilize, and coordinate UUs on specific issues before the Maryland General Assembly. Working in coalition with established state and national organizations, we as UUs model a reverence for the interdependent web of all existence which fosters justice, health and equity in society. We encourage Marylanders to join us on this journey as we expand freedom and nurture an inclusive, life affirming system of government.
I have served on the UU Legislative MInistry of Maryland for 9 years, 6 years as LGBT task force leader and three as chair and then co-chair (as we expanded) of the Board. This year, I am serving as Intern Supervisor to UULM-MD's first full-time intern in community ministry. While on sabbatical in 2012, I had the opportunity to spend substantive time in advocacy during the historic referendum that was challenging marriage equality. Discussing marriage equality with Governor O'Malley
Canvassing on election day
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UULM-MD delivered, while I was the LGBTQ task force leader, a video message to every legislator:
Our interfaith gaggle of colleagues for marriage equality in Maryland
I wrote several letters to the editor, was interviewed for print, radio and television, and was present at the signing of marriage equality into law. Here are two links (more articles and/or drafts of testimonies for Senate and House hearings available upon request.): Gay Radio Show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/marylandgayradio/2011/11/30/maryland-gay-radioguests-rev-jill-mccrory-rev-lisa-ward Baltimore Sun opinion page: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-bishops-gay-marriage-20111117,0,7425077.story |
Every year, since 2001, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Harford County has set up a Silent Witness display in October (Domestic Violence Awareness Month). This has increased visibility both for the social witness and, locally, for Unitarian Universalism as a faith concerned with the well being of society.
(Photo Amy Davis, Baltimore Sun / October 5, 2013) Rev. Lisa Ward, second from right, hugs the relative of one of the victims recognized in today's Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Harford County's Silent Witness Unveiling ceremony. The congregation uncovered 15 plywood silhouettes lined up along Churchville Road to remember Harford County victims of domestic violence. Each life-sized silhouette has a plaque to tell the name and story of each victim. Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-hs-domestic-violence-p01-jpg-20131006,0,5126758.photo#ixzz2pae8rvcQ