Ongoing Social Justice & Spiritual Values

First Parish has held a long-standing commitment to charity, philanthropy, and social justice. Our ongoing support for social justice issues stems from our shared theological ethics and personal moral beliefs.

• Our Unitarian heritage teaches us to follow the guidance of reason and insights of science.
• Our Universalist forebears taught us to show love & kindness to all creation, to use compassion as our pole star, and that all of humanity is beloved (no exceptions).
• Our Christian roots call us to follow the wisdom and teachings of Jesus, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Our congregation has addressed many social justice issues over the years which may not currently have a specific project or initiative. We remain committed to these issues of systemic justice & equity, even if they are not our primary focus.

If you are interested in a project or activity in relation to any of these topics, contact our Social Justice Task Force or one of our ministers to get involved.

Our Ongoing Commitments to
Spiritual Values & Social Responsibility

First Parish in Weston believes that Black Lives Matter.

We invite you to review our statement about “Why We Display a ‘Black Lives Matter’ Banner” and to join the dialogue about what it means to be actively anti-racist.

We are a LGBTQ+ Welcoming Congregation.

God loves everyone – no exceptions. We have always been welcoming and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, and we are proud to be officially certified as a U.U. Welcoming Congregation! Through engaging with this program, we have improved our congregational life & policies, deepened our personal education, expanded our public outreach, and reinforced an ongoing commitment to advocacy.

Climate Change is an urgent and critical concern.

First Parish believes that climate change is real (since we also believe in science and empirical facts) and is a dangerous threat to our planet and all humankind. Members of First Parish helped to found the MetroWest Climate Solutions group and continues to be active in the planning of events and initiatives.

There is no path to peace.
Peace is the path.   (Mahatma Gandhi)

All life is sacred, and violence against anyone is harmful to everyone. We believe in the power of peace, and that it is a goal worthy of our time, attention, hard work, and support. It is the work of the faithful to bring about the kin-dom of God here on earth.

…they shall beat their swords into plowshares 
and their spears into pruning hooks; 
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more.

(Isaiah 2:4)

Secure housing and healthy food are basic human rights.

First Parish believes everyone – regardless of age, race, immigration status, income, physical ability, or any other delineator – deserves a safe place to live and healthy food to eat. First Parish prepares a meal every month for Bristol Lodge, a local shelter & food pantry. We have regularly supported Family Promise MetroWest, an organization that helps support families with young children who are facing homelessness. Our members are actively engaged with issues of affordable housing and food scarcity.

Immigrants and refugees deserve respect and support.

First Parish supports refugees and immigrants fleeing violence and persecution, hoping to make a better life for themselves. Local organizations have been resettling Afghan families in the Greater Boston area, but many people arrive with no possessions or financial resources, and our congregation helped a refugee family in their first year acclimating to life in the United States. First Parish hopes to offer our support for those people caught in this urgent and ongoing humanitarian crisis.

We are asked to care for others, and others care for us.

We believe, as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, that all life is interrelated, and we are “caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.” Humans depend on one another and our planet, and we must recognize our interconnection and act accordingly. As Jesus said, “just as you did to one of the least of these people, you did unto me.”

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Weston residents and members of First Parish created the Weston CARES Fund to make a difference locally, thoughtfully, and immediately. The fund raised more than $200,000 and provided grants to local non-profit organizations and individuals, with priority given to programs assisting local residents confronting food and housing emergencies.

These are just the start.  Want to get involved?

Learn more about our Social Justice programs and Current Initiatives, contact the Social Justice Task Force (ask the main office), or speak to one of our ministers.