TVUUC has a long and rich history of taking stands for social justice which are aligned with our values and principles. Since the 1950’s, our congregation has worked for desegregation, racial harmony, fair wages, women’s rights and gay rights. We have striven to protect the environment. We have provided sanctuary for political refugees. We have fed the homeless. We have helped to found organizations such as The Greater Knoxville Council on Human Relations, The East Tennessee Memorial Association, the East Tennessee Chapter of the ACLU, Peace Links, FISH, Alliance for a Better Tomorrow, and the Knoxville Interfaith Network.

Our current social justice ministries (and their champions) include:

Environmental Awareness (Gene Burr)
We work with local environmental groups to promote a clean environment. Our church is a business partner in the TVA/KUB Green Power Program. We have been the host for public meetings of the local Sierra Club for the past 20 years. We participate each year in the Early Spring River Rescue. We are working towards our UU Green Sanctuary certification.

FISH (Claire Meggs, Birt Waite)
FISH of Knox County is an all-volunteer, non-denominational organization that attempts to help those in emergency and distress situations in an unselfish, non-judgmental and giving way. FISH helps anyone of any race or creed. Working daily through twenty-nine community churches and the FISH Hospitality Pantries, the FISH volunteers responded to some 82,000 calls for help during the last year. Every month TVUUC members and friends deliver food to those in need. Once a year, in October, TVUUC members and friends, along with folks from the larger community, run and walk in the HOPS & HOPE 5K run and walk to raise money to buy food for the FISH food pantry. And following that fundraiser, once a year members and friends buy and bag food for the FISH food pantry. 

Knoxville Interfaith Network (Chloie Airolidai-Watters)
This is an interfaith, interracial organization of congregations in and around Knoxville intent on influencing public policy in a non-partisan manner. This organization promotes family-friendly business practices; initiated the Leave No Senior Behind Campaign to ensure seniors are provided daily meals; and works for the continuous improvement of area schools.

Lonsdale Elementary School Support Project (Alan Moore)
TVUUC members work one on one with Lonsdale Elementary School students helping tutor students with reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Remote Area Medical® & TVUUC (Jayne Raparelli)
 Remote Area Medical®, a volunteer non-profit organization headquartered on Beech Street in Knoxville, offers free health care to people in East Tennessee, other parts of the US, and around the world. Founded in 1985 by Stan Brock, RAM exists because of volunteers who provide health care and support.  RAM receives no local, state or federal government funds.  For example TVUUC volunteers and RAM volunteers provided free eye and dental care at Lonsdale Elementary School. This is also where several TVUUC members and friends tutor students as part of TVUUC’s commitment as a Congregation of Promise to the school. 

Spectrum Café (David Massey)
Spectrum Cafe is a social gathering place for Knoxville area high school youth who self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender; who may be questioning their sexual or gender identity; who feel left out because of who they are, what they believe, or where they come from; or who wish to socialize in an atmosphere that reflects a full spectrum of people and ideas. Find out more at http://www.spectrumcafe.org. Spectrum Café is one way in which we fulfill our commitment to being a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation.

Family Promise (Jayne Raparelli)
TVUUC has joined the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Knoxville and now offers housing, hospitality, and meals, in support of homeless families.  Families will stay one week (seven nights) at TVUUC four times a year. 

Volunteer Ministries Meals (David Habercom)
We prepare and provide meals monthly to the homeless through Volunteer Ministries Center.

Call the church office at 523-4176 to contact the leaders of any of these ministries.