Justice & Witness Resources

A Just Harvest is an anti-hunger organization that fights hunger in three ways: serving a nightly meal and distributing emergency food, engaging in community and economic development work, and organizing for justice. “…until all have plenty and no one is left in need.”

The ACLU of Illinois (ACLU), and its affiliated Roger Baldwin Foundation (RBF), are non-partisan, non-profit organizations dedicated to protecting the liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, the state Constitution, and state/federal human rights laws. The ACLU accomplishes its goals through litigating, lobbying and educating the public on a broad array of civil liberties issues.

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action. Drawing on continuing spiritual insights and working with people of many backgrounds, we nurture the seeds of change and respect for human life that transform social relations and systems.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is a civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage.

Americans United (AU) is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all Americans.

As its mission statement says, the Mission “serves…by faithful witness for social justice and compassionate service to the poor and marginalized.”

The Center on Wrongful Convictions is dedicated to identifying and rectifying wrongful convictions and other serious miscarriages of justice.

How can one person change the world? Sponsor a child . . . Plant a tree . . . Rebuild a home . . . Visit a prisoner . . . Be a mentor . . . Teach . . . Serve a meal . . . Bring water to the desert . . . Pray . . . Donate . . . the opportunities are endless. And they’re all right here at the UCC National page, “Change the World.” What part of our world is waiting for you to make a difference?

Church World Service was born in 1946, in the aftermath of World War II. Seventeen denominations came together to form an agency “to do in partnership what none of us could hope to do as well alone.” The mission: Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, comfort the aged, shelter the homeless.

Community Renewal Society is a progressive, faith-based organization that works to eliminate race and class barriers. Founded in 1882, Community Renewal informs, organizes and trains both communities and individuals to advocate for social and economic justice.

Eco-Justice Collaborative (EJC) is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Our leadership in education, advocacy and collaboration has been instrumental in reducing power plant pollution, fighting subsidies to dirty coal, and creating public forums that explore pathways to a just and an environmentally-sustainable future.

Equality Illinois builds a better Illinois by advancing equal treatment and social justice through education, advocacy and protection of the rights of the LGBT community.

Facing Forward to End Homelessness ends homelessness for families and individuals by offering home, help and hope. Facing Forward provides permanent housing, education, advocacy, and social services.

FaithTrust Institute is a national, multifaith, multicultural training and education organization with global reach working to end sexual and domestic violence.

Global Disaster Relief Facebook Page
Connect with Global Disaster Relief on Facebook!

Heartland Alliance—the leading anti-poverty organization in the Midwest— believes that all of us deserve the opportunity to improve our lives. Each year, we help ensure this opportunity for nearly one million people around the world who are homeless, living in poverty, or seeking safety.

Heifer International
Long-Term Solutions for Sustainable Futures

Illinois Maya Ministry is a movement of accompaniment, reconciliation, and transformation of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ with the Mayan people in southern Mexico and Guatemala.

The Lovejoy Society is dedicated to making available source material and contextual information on the life of Owen Lovejoy and his family.

The Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice (MRS EJ) are an association of Christian ministers that actively pursues political resolution of Racial, Social and Economic Justice issues. MRS EJ is the clergy component of the African-American historically under represented peoples of the United Church of Christ. Although it operates separately from United Black Christians, the lay component of the African-American historically under represented peoples, the two entities do sometimes work together on pronouncements within the UCC.

The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law provides national leadership in identifying, developing, and supporting creative and collaborative approaches to achieve social and economic justice for low-income people and communities.

The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) is a human relations organization that promotes inclusion and acceptance by providing education and advocacy while building communities that are respectful and just for all. Celebrating the diversity of races, religions, cultures, genders, abilities & sexual orientations.

National Farm Worker Ministry is a faith based organization which supports farm workers as they organize for justice and empowerment.

PFLAG promotes the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten the ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.  PFLAG provides an opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity to create a society that respects human diversity.

RE-MEMBER is an independent, non-profit organization on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, USA, that seeks to improve the quality of reservation life through relationships, shared resources and volunteer services.

Founded in 1982 and incorporated as an independent not-for-profit in 1992, RefugeeOne is a refugee resettlement agency that provides a full range of services to refugees resettled in the Chicago area. Our primary focus is to assist the refugee in becoming an independent, self-supporting member of the new community as soon as possible.

SOA Watch is an independent organization that seeks to close the US Army School of the Americas, under whatever name it is called, through vigils and fasts, demonstrations and nonviolent protest, as well as media and legislative work.

Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace articulates the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world.

South Suburban PADS is an inter-faith program providing shelter and supportive services to homeless persons. Compassion, hospitality and dignity are key characteristics of the PADS program.

The Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions was created to cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a just, peaceful and s

The Night Ministry connects with Chicago’s vulnerable youth and adults, providing basic supplies, self-care supplies, free health care, housing and supportive services for youth, referrals to other resources and more.

Justice and Witness Ministries is one of four Covenanted Ministries in the UCC, helps local congregations and all settings of the church respond to God’s commandments to do justice, seek peace and effect change for a better world. The work of JWM is guided by the pronouncements and resolutions approved by the UCC at General Synod.