Faith in Action Initiatives

Food Justice

Inter Parish Ministry (IPM) (website) is a nonprofit organization that has been serving low income, needy families in eastern Hamilton County and all of Clermont County for over 50 years. Its mission is to provide food, clothing and other communal support to those in need and to empower clients with information, support and services to improve their lives. Heritage Church takes up a monthly outreach offering for IPM and, when the church building is open, collects food donations. The congregation also has several members who volunteer at the food pantry.

Heritage Healthy Cooking Classes: Heritage has partnered with Inter Parish Ministry and with the Boys and Girls Club of New Richmond to offer free cooking classes for those in need. These classes are offered periodically when the church building has not been closed due to the pandemic. Clients leave feeling empowered to prepare the recipes on their own and make small changes to improve their health. These classes are designed for those in need to gain the basic cooking skills that can enable them to make healthier and more economical food choices. Participants receive the recipes, a meal, a sense of connection and many of the ingredients needed to prepare the recipes at home. The meal that we serve after each class is a truly a time of radical hospitality.

Racial Justice

Internal workshops dealing with systemic racism have been offered by the church starting in 2015. These have included the Implicit Bias workshop, the discussion series on The New Jim Crow book, a viewing and discussion of the film Slavery by Another Name, and a discussion of the book Tears We Cannot Stop. Another workshop developed by Heritage, “Awakening Our Awareness of Whiteness,” is a one-day workshop that has been presented in several venues for several groups.

Participation in external organizations’ events has rounded out our racial justice involvement. Several marchers participated in the “Bridges to Cross, Building Bridges” march that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. Other activities attended by Heritage people include the Cathedral Symposia Series on Mass Incarceration, the Rethinking Racism series of gatherings, the “Race Conversation: Healing What Divides” presentation, the Black Lives Matter march in Cincinnati, and the multi-organization Peace and Healing prayer vigil led by Juneteenth.

Environmental Concerns

Green Burial is a focus of our minister and a group in the church. Green, or natural, burial is a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that aids in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat. A separate organization, Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary, has been formed. For more information, contact our Senior Minister.

Opposition to state law changes that would weaken environmental protections is something undertaken by members. One of these issues surfaced in 2019, when Ohio House Bill 6 was drafted to subsidize nuclear power plants, gut clean air standards, and cut support for renewable energy standards and production in Ohio. Members expressed opposition through contacting elected representatives and participating in protest rallies.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights

Cincinnati Pride (website) celebrates the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and raises awareness in the area. Heritage UU Church members march in the parade and help work the UU booth at the festival.

An LGBT Ally Training Curriculum has been developed by members of Heritage Church. The curriculum is free to download and use, and can be found here.

Peace and Nonviolence

Greater Anderson Promotes Peace (GAPP) (website) is a nonprofit organization serving Anderson Township, Mt. Washington, Newtown and western Clermont County since 1999. GAPP provides community-building activities and programs that honor diversity, encourage understanding and promote inclusion. A member of Heritage UU Church is Executive Director of GAPP, the church’s Rev. Gupton serves on the Advisory Board, and members of the church are often involved in GAPP actions.

The Concert Across America raises awareness and works to end gun violence. In 2016 and 2018, Heritage UU Church worked in partnership with the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence and with First Unitarian Church to provide a Concert Across America performance in Cincinnati.

Poverty

With the Soles4Souls (website) project, the Clara Barton Guild periodically collects used shoes for donation in this country and overseas. The collection bin is in the back hallway.

Renting Partnerships(website) is a nonprofit organization with a vision of reducing the gap in wealth between homeowners and renters by offering a third housing alternative. A member of Heritage UU Church is Executive Director of Renting Partnerships.

Heritage Church Group

The Social Justice Collaborative brings together individuals who have passion around various areas of social justice. Individuals share information and support each other around these passions. The group meets (either in-person or online) to generate ideas using the power of interaction. Individuals or teams take the lead in a specific area of justice work, and communicate their activities to the greater congregation. Any Heritage Church member or friend is welcome to join the Social Justice Collaborative. Social Justice Collaborative Mission Statement.

Many other church groups have had social justice projects at various times.

Unitarian Universalist Organizations

Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio (website). UUJO organizes justice seekers statewide to promote education, service and advocacy consistent with Unitarian Universalist liberal religious principles and to witness with and on behalf of marginalized groups and individuals. Heritage Church is a “justice congregation” member of UUJO.

Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community (website). UUJEC is a progressive organization committed to economic justice for all. Its philosophy is rooted in the UU liberal religious tradition – to create a world of justice, equity, and compassion. Its work contributes to a broader movement for social change, in collaboration with the UUA, UU Service Committee and grassroots organizations. Heritage Church has joined UUJEC as a congregation.

Outreach Offerings

Each Sunday morning during in-person worship services, when Heritage UU Church passes the plate, it donates all money received to an outside nonprofit organization (unless the donation was designated as a pledge payment or otherwise for church use). Beginning with the time of the coronavirus pandemic, when church services  became online, congregants have been encouraged to donate directly to that Sunday’s charity. To suggest a charitable organization for consideration for an outreach offering, please contact the Outreach Coordinator.