Our Faith in Action
We put our faith into action in various ways. Here are three of our top passions.
Anti-Racism
Little River UCC was founded at the height of racial strife in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1955. From our inception, we have been committed to having a racially integrated congregation and we were one of the first to do so in Northern Virginia. Since then, we have been committed to working for desegregation, civil rights, and changing American society. To embody the Spirit of Christ in this particular context, we serve persons of color and all affected by racist policies through our Antiracism Ministry.
Anti-Poverty and Social Justice
We are now distinctly aware of a variety of other injustices in our world: genocide of indigenous peoples; colonialism; modern forms of slavery; economic practices that oppress people of color, women, and the earth; and violence against LGBTQIA+ people, women, and people of color. To embody the Spirit of Christ in this particular context, we serve those facing economic hardship and other social injustices through our Social Justice Ministry.
Celebrating LGBTQ+
We have also celebrated LGBTQIA+ persons and families within our congregation for more than 20 years, including the first openly lesbian ordained clergyperson in the U.S. To embody the Spirit of Christ in this particular context, we serve the LGBTQIA+ community through our Open and Affirming Ministry.
We all have a part to play. What is yours? Contact the Board of Outreach and Social Justice with thoughts and suggestions.
Global and Local Partnerships & Engagement
Little River UCC has supported and/or worked with many groups seeking justice for all God’s children and the world God created. These groups include:
Black Church Security Network
blackchurchfoodsecurity.net
Center for Common Ground
centerforcommonground.org
(reclaim our Vote efforts to support minority voting rights)
FACTS (Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions)
faithforclimate.org
Fairfax FISH (For Immediate Sympathetic Help)
www.fairfaxfish.org
Friends of Guest House
friendsofguesthouse.org
Legal Aid Justice Center
justice4all.org
National Religious Campaign Against Torture
www.nrcat.org
Rise Against Hunger
www.riseagainsthunger.org
Second Story
www.second-story.org
Little River also contributes regularly to several special funds of the wider United Church of Christ.
Our Church's Wider Mission
Our Church's Wider Mission provides essential support for missionaries both at home and overseas, new church starts, the staff of the UCC's 38 conferences, and development of church school curricula, as well as support and resources to about 5,600 UCC churches nationwide.
Strengthen the Church
Strengthen the Church is an all-UCC offering that supports the God is Still Speaking ministry, building youth and young adult ministries, nurturing leadership, funding new church starts, and invigorating existing congregations.
Neighbors in Need
This is an all-UCC offering to benefit our disadvantaged homeland neighbors, as well as to support Native American ministries in the United Church of Christ.
One Great Hour of Sharing
The One Great Hour of Sharing offering underwrites the disaster relief, refugee response, and long-term development work of ten Protestant denominations. Most of the focus is overseas, but it also recognizes and supports similar needs in the U.S.
The Christmas Fund
The Christmas Fund provides financial aid to retired and active ministers and their surviving spouses and children who face overwhelming financial demands.
Additional Little River support for global social justice issues include the following:
Fair Trade
To increase awareness and to encourage purchase of products based on principles of economic and social justice, Little River offers Fair Trade products, including coffee, tea, olive oil, and chocolate candy bars, for sale each month. Our church is part of an active Olive Oil Ministry that aims to improve the quality of life of Palestinian farmers and support The Tent of Nations, an international organization that brings together people of different faiths from neighboring villages and separate countries in order to build trust and hope. Little River is also a supporter of Voices from the Holy Land, a series of films shown by a consortium of faith communities depicting the current situation in Israel and Palestine.
Thelma Morris Fellowship for Missions
Thelma Morris Fellowship for Missions is a fund that honors a former member of Little River whose interest was the mission work of the church. Upon applying, one or more adult or youth church members may receive funds to defray the costs of participating in a mission project of the United Church of Christ or other appropriate mission project. In 2017, a fellowship was awarded to a young woman from Little River to enable participation in Students Helping Honduras, a non-governmental organization constructing schools, establishing relations, and helping to alleviate gang violence and poverty in Honduras.
Social Justice at Little River:
Justice and Equality for All Persons
Racial Justice
Little River is proud of its founding history as a congregation committed to racial equality during and after the era of segregation in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but we recognize that we must continue to advance and promote issues of racial justice in our community and in society at large. Members have the opportunity to take part in courses or book groups to discuss issues of racial justice, White privilege, and other topics related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and can participate in the Center for Common Ground’s Reclaim Our Vote effort, which encourages minority populations to vote.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
As an Open and Affirming church, Little River affirms the dignity and worth of all persons, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ+). We continue to be active and visible supporting the LGBTQ community in our metropolitan area.
Criminal Justice
Little River has worked with other organizations to successfully eliminate the death penalty in Virginia. Some of our members are also active in Lifelines to Solitary, a correspondence program with persons who are or have been in solitary confinement. Members continue to advocate for automatic voter restoration rights of convicted felons who have served their time.
Support for Immigrants
In collaboration with several other local churches, our congregation supports a Neighbor-to-Neighbor program that provides tutoring and other services to immigrant families in our community.
Going Green
The congregation adopted a statement on going green over a decade ago recognizing our responsibility to respond to global warming and use energy and other resources rationally. We work in collaboration with other organizations to be good stewards of our facility, our grounds, and our planet.