First Parish has worked hard to earn the Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA) official accreditation as a Welcoming Congregation and as a Green Sanctuary. Both initiatives require extensive ongoing commitment and collaborative work by the congregation and its leaders.
A Welcoming Congregation is one that has done intentional work to welcome and include those with marginalized sexual orientations and gender identities. Designation as a Welcoming Congregation requires measurable achievements in the areas of education, congregational life, and community outreach, as well as a congregational vote in affirmation of being recognized by the UUA as a Welcoming Congregation. For details about our Welcoming Congregation work, click here.
Earning Green Sanctuary status means that First Parish conducted detailed assessments of our green practices and environmental impact, and created action plans based on the results. Action plans address sustainable living, but also include worship and religious education activities. We work continually on issues of environmental stewardship and environmental justice, in support of the Unitarian Universalist Seventh Principle: “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” Click here for details about our Green Sanctuary work.