Member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association covenant to affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all. One of the ways we live into this covenant is by supporting the work of the United Nations. The UUCRT is recognized by the UU United Nations Office (UNO) as a  Blue Ribbon Congregation.

The UU UNO Envoy program is an opportunity for UUCRT members and friends ages 14 and up to get involved with the UN and serve as a bridge between the UN and the congregation. The position of Envoy and  Youth Envoy is currently vacant.

The UUCRT played a leading role in the 2017 UU UNO Inter-generational Spring Seminar, with our minister as the featured presenter and our lay commissioned minister as the chaplain. The theme was “Interfaith Action to Disarm our Planet” and the participants created a statement you can read here.

Every Year the UUCRT honors the UN International Day of Peace .

The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. In 2002 the UN General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.

By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to work in cooperation for this goal. During the discussion of the UN Resolution that established the International Day of Peace, it was suggested that:

“Peace Day should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples…This day will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our organization, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace.”

Since its inception, Peace Day has marked our personal and planetary progress toward peace. It has grown to include millions of people in all parts of the world, and each year events are organized to commemorate and celebrate this day. Events range in scale from private gatherings to public concerts and forums where hundreds of thousands of people participate.

Anyone anywhere can celebrate Peace Day. It can be as simple as lighting a candle at noon, or just sitting in silent meditation. Or it can involve getting your co-workers, organization, community or government engaged in a large event. The impact if millions of people in all parts of the world, coming together for one day of peace, would be immense.

International Day of Peace is also a Day of Ceasefire – personal or political. Take this opportunity to make peace in your own relationships as well as address the larger conflicts of our time. Imagine what a whole Day of Ceasefire would mean to humankind.