Folks at Judson are passionate about social justice and deeply committed to peace. We seek out opportunities to create community, to join with others similarly committed, and to address the needs of those often left out in our neighborhood, New York City, and across the world.

These are some on-going projects at Judson. Your participation is welcome in all of these activities. Contact the Church for information about meeting dates and times.

Immigration: On April 10, 2007, the Judson Memorial Church voted to become a sanctuary congregation in cooperation with the New York City New Sanctuary Movement. A growing task force of about 12 members directs the work at Judson in providing sanctuary for a Haitian family threatened with unjust deportation. Additionally, the Task Force works with Judson's sanctuary partner, the Riverside Church, and Judson is a leading participant in the NYC Sanctuary Coalition, an interfaith organization that is a member of the nationwide New Sanctuary Movement. For more information on the New Sanctuary Movement, visit www.newsanctuarymovement.org.

Fair Trade: Judson Memorial Church Is Proud To Serve Fair-Trade Coffee, Tea & Cocoa During Coffee Hour. In today's economy, where profits rule and small-scale producers are not part of the bargaining process, farmers, craft producers, and other workers are often left without resources or hope for their future. Fair Trade helps exploited producers escape from this cycle and gives them a way to maintain their traditional lifestyles with dignity by guaranteeing them a fair price/living wage for their products. (See www.globalexchange.org). Generally, members of the Judson community offer Fair Trade products (coffee, chocolate, cocoa) for sale on the second and fourth Sundays of the month following the worship service. Profits from the sales are used to support social/economic justice projects at Judson.

Gay Pride: We estimate that about one-third of active folks at Judson are gay or lesbian. The culture of the church has long been affirming of all sexual orientations; designations as "Open & Affirming" and "Welcoming & Affirming" of our affiliate denominations were uncontroversial for us. Sadly this is not true for all churches. The American Baptist Churches USA are not exempt from the debate over homosexuality that threatens to split many American denominations these days. Conservative forces in the ABC are pushing the denomination to take more militant stands, specifically against gay marriage and gays in church leadership. Judson has registered its strong disagreement with these trends by numerous letters and personal statements to ABC denominational officials. Fortunately, Judson can stand proud as a congregation also affiliated with the United Church of Christ; that denomination has taken strong stands in favor of gay rights, specifically voting to affirm gay marriage at the UCC national meeting in 2006.

Even as we live in hope for a more enlightened and inclusive world, we continue to celebrate our sexual diversity. Our Gay Pride Sunday service is a highlight of our worship year, and exuberance that extends to our joyous marching in New York's Gay Pride parade for the past 30 years.

Peace Witness: Many in the Judson community are active voices in current debates about American participation in Iraq and other areas of the world. Ad hoc demonstrations, occasional teach-ins, and the witness of the "message board" war dead counts are ways that we bear witness.

Bleach Kit Project: Knowing that harm-reduction programs for intravenous drug users save lives, Judson congregants have for the past twelve years assembled bleach kits that are dispensed by the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center. The bleach kit group meets regularly in the church building; these gatherings are announced in the Sunday bulletin and on Judson's list-serve.

The Center for Medical Consumers: (a sponsored ministry) Founded in 1976 under the leadership of Arthur Aaron Levin, MPH, the Center for Medical Consumers is a non-profit advocacy organization active in both statewide and national efforts to improve the quality of health care. Because it is entirely supported by private contributions, newsletter subscriptions, and the support of Judson, the Center is free to take an honest look at the safety and quality problems that pervade the American health care system. Judson provides housing for this ministry. Check out their website at: www.medicalconsumers.org.

Picture the Homeless: Judson Church helped support this independent group when it was first founded and provided an office during the early days. Judson folks continue to support the work of Picture the Homeless, for example, hosting an annual "longest night vigil," to remember those who have died on the streets over the last year.