Social Justice

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine (UUCC) is committed to having a diverse religious community, and to building a more fair and just world. Our faith urges us to work for a better society. At the same time, we recognize that not all of our members will agree about all issues.

A Welcoming Congregation
UUCC is recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations as an official "Welcoming Congregation" welcoming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons. As part of the "Welcoming Congregation" process, the congregation has unanimously adopted the following resolution: "This congregation welcomes and celebrates the participation of all people in the full life and ministry of this church, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, family configuration, sex, race, ethnicity, past religious affiliation, or physical or financial circumstances."

In April 2009 our minister, Mark Worth, testified before the Maine Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of equal marriage rights for lesbians and gays. He was speaking as a spokesperson for the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in Maine. About 100 members of the Religious Coalition stood behind Mark as he testified. See his testimony on YouTube. The Religious Coalition is made up of clergy and other religious leaders who support same-sex marriage. Members come from many religious traditions including Unitarian Universalist, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Judaism and others. You can find their web site at http://religiouscoalition.org/

We have a ramp at the Parish House door (facing the town common), an elevator connecting the Parish House with the Meeting House, and a handicap accessible bathroom in the Parish House.

Heating Assistance
UUCC is joining with the three other Castine churches (Catholic, Episcopal and Congregational/United Church of Christ) to develop a fund to help people with heating fuel assistance for the winter. If you live in our area and are in need of assistance, contact us at or call the church at 326-9083.

Food Pantry: "Hungry Sunday"
We designate the first Sunday of every month as "Hungry Sunday." On Hungry Sunday we collect non-perishable food items from the congregation for the food pantries in Bucksport and Blue Hill – Bucksport Community Concerns one month, Tree of Life in Blue Hill the next month, alternating. Adults bring non-perishable food items to their seats in the pews, and the children come up and down the aisles with a shopping cart (donated by Hannaford Supermarket in Bucksport). The children collect the food from the adults. In this way the adults model their commitment to the children, and the children get to participate in the food collection. Cash or checks can also be contributed. Later that week someone brings the food to the food pantry.

Aquino school children graduation from kindergarten

Aquino UU Chapel

Aquino school and chapel

Aquino Cansayan Church Gathering

Partner Church

UUCC is a partner church with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Aquino, in the province of Negros Oriental, Island of Negros, Philippines. The UU Church of Aquino is a lively but poor congregation in a rural rice-growing area, near the foot of Mt. Canlaon, a volcano. Per capita incomes in the Philippines average less than 4% of U.S. per capita incomes, and Unitarian Universalists in the Philippines tend to be poorer than average Filipinos. The local language in Negros Oriental is Cebuano. Many people learn Hiligaynon, spoken on the other side of the island, and Tagalog, the national language. English is a fourth language spoken by very few people in this rural area. The Aquino UU congregation operates two chapels in adjacent villages, Aquino and Cansay-an, and also has an affiliated pre-school and kindergarten. The simple UU chapel in Aquino is built of concrete with a metal roof. The schoolhouse has a concrete floor, woven bamboo walls, and a metal roof. A playground and playground equipment for the school and church were made possible by funds donated by the UU Congregation of Castine. The

Aquino church also has a vitamin and feeding program, and recently added a Sunday School with several different age groups. They are outgrowing their small chapel. In the Philippines public school students have to pay for uniforms, books, and tuition fees. To help with these costs, which can be prohibitive for poor families, the UU Congregation of Castine has a "Dollars for Scholars" program to help support the cost of attending school. UUCC is raising money to support 34 UU students in the Aquino church. Elaine Gerard-Climo is chair of the UUCC Partner Church Committee.

Many in our congregation work for peace, justice, equality, and to improve the environment.