Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey

Thank you to everyone who attended our 2010 Plennary!

We will be posting information from the meeting soon.

If you have questions or would like to request materials from this event, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A special thank you to our host congregation in East Brunswick for providing the space and the excellent hospitality.

Friday, January 29:

An Evening with UUA President, Peter Morales

Marriage Equality- Our Work is Not Done

UULMNJ Director, Julia Hamilton, wrote this shortly after the Senate voteddown marriage equality on January 7.

There were hundreds of us at the state house today, gathering out in front in the cold morning air. Our faithful and stalwart UU clergy turned out once again, sporting their most colorful stoles, standing side by side with Lutheran, UCC, Episcopal, Jewish, Quaker, and other religious leaders, clearly outnumbering the opposition. As we gathered and the TV cameras rolled, we led the group in song. “This Little Light of Mine” and “This Land is Our Land” were crowd favorites. A little bit later, we spread out into the building, finally getting in out of the cold, standing in hallways and doorways and outside committee rooms (and taxing the resources of the always-patient security guards). We took advantage of every chance interaction; “Senator Rice, I’m here today to ask for your support on the marriage equality bill…” as the elevator doors closed and we struggled to put our stories into a three-sentence statement that would be compelling enough to sway a Senator on the fence. Finally, we gathered in the galleries and filled the overflow rooms to listen to the debate on the Senate floor. Nearly two hours of passionate speeches, tears welling up in Senator Lesniak’s eyes as he told the story of why he was co-sponsoring this bill. Those who spoke in opposition invoked “traditional marriage” “radical social change” and, the favorite tactic of the moment, “Let the people decide”. Despite a senator reading directly from James Madison’s Federalist Papers, trying to explain the idea of how our government insures the rights of the minority by preventing a tyranny of the majority, the civics lesson went unlearned, and the Constitution went unheeded.

The Marriage Equality bill failed in the New Jersey Senate tonight, by a vote of 14-20, with three Senators refusing to go on record either way.

It’s hard not to feel a sense of deflation and a deep sadness at this loss. How do you sit in the same place with a tearful couple from your congregation when the person sitting in front of you just yelled “Halleluiah” at the outcome? What do you say to the young volunteers and staff, some of whom were fresh from the disappointment in Maine, when they reach out for a hug and reassurance that this all will be worth it in the end? How can I go back to the UU congregations across the state and with words of hope and encouragement when, right now, I feel like all the air has been let out of the room?

It is not easy, this road to justice. But then again, “easy” is not what we were promised. In fact, we were not promised anything. We are the ones who have made promises, a covenant with one another that we will not give up, that we will be here for as long as it takes. It is a commitment that I do not take lightly, and every time we have the chance to stand on the side of love, every time we show up and make good on that covenant, we move one step closer to the beloved community that we are building together, right here and now. Today was one of those steps – not the last one, but an important one. Hearts have been opened and relationships begun. And to that, I say “halleluiah”.

And now, New Jersey, let’s take it back to the courts.

For more information about ways you can work for marriage equality, visit our Marriage Equality Task Force page.

This Christmas, Mary & Joseph were looking for affordable housing!

The UULMNJ is partnering with NJ Fair Share Housing, the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministries and the Romero Center of St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral to bring attention to the issue of affordable housing. Wemet "Mary & Joseph" on the steps of the Statehouse on Thursday, Dec. 17th, as the Holy Family petitioned the Legislature and the incoming Governor for a place to stay. There has been "no room at the inn" for families in need of housing here in New Jersey! Read the letter that Mary & Joseph have written at www.maryandjosephnj.org.

For more information about ways that the UULMNJ is working on affordable housing and other issues of economic justice, please visit our Economic Justice Task Force page.

What Are We Working on?

For updates on what each of our Task Forces are working on and how you can get involved, visit our Current Priority Issues page. You will find updates from our Task Forces on Health Care, Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, Marriage Equality and Immigration.

Join us at our January 30th Plenary to find out more!

Who Are We?

The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ)

The purpose of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey, a statewide network of the 21 New Jersey Unitarian Universalist congregations, is to provide a comprehensive structure, network and resources to empower the moral voice and actions of our Unitarian Universalist principles and values in the public arena. UULMNJ will engage in impacting social justice and public policy issues important to our state through Education, Research, Advocacy, Witness, and Service.

Charitable activity has traditionally been important in UU congregations. However, when poverty, environmental degradation, inequitable access to health care, and deficiencies in education are part of the structures of society rather than unforeseen exceptions, charity is not enough. Our faith calls us to challenge and change policies and structures that inhibit human development, harm the environment, and destroy communities. The research, education and structuring of our efforts will complement and expand the deeds of social justice service we already do within our local communities. An important component of the activities of UULMNJ will be to strengthen social justice programs at the congregational level, facilitate communication among congregations and serve as a source of information.

For more information please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .