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THE TRADITION
Unitarians at Toronto First have been pioneers in many social justice issues in Canada. Over the last 150 years our liberal faith has inspired us to make positive contributions in the larger society, both individually and through group action.
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The Principles and Purposes of our denomination commit us to affirm and promote justice, equity and compassion in human relations, the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all, and respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Commitment to these religious values involves us in applying them not only in this community, but in the wider communities beyond. |
Ours was the first church in Toronto to give equal rights and status to women (in our Charter, signed by our founding members in 1846).
Emily Stowe, who joined our congregation in 1879, became the first practicing woman doctor in Canada and the foremost figure of her day in the campaign for women's rights.
Joseph Workman, one of our founding members, was the first chairman of the Toronto Board of Education and a leader in non-sectarian education. As superintendent of the Queen Street Asylum, he modernized and humanized the treatment of the mentally ill.
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In 1950, several women members led by Helen Tracy formed the Elizabeth Fry Society, regularly visiting women in prison and assisting them with rehabilitation after release.
In the 1970s, Frank Lewis of Toronto First was a national leader in the campaign to abolish the death penalty in Canada.
THE PRACTICE
Over the last 150 years, we have practiced social justice through support, advocacy, direct service, education, and direct action.
Support - We have provided financial and moral support to organizations whose objectives reflect our own, including:
ADVOCACY - Our letters, petitions and briefs to governments have reflected our stands on many issues:
Most advocacy activities have been carried out by committees, groups and individuals within our congregation. Sometimes, when a high level of consensus exists within the congregation, the Board of Trustees speaks out on our behalf. This has happened on issues such as:
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Abolition of the death penalty
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Opposition to nuclear weapons for Canadian Armed Forces
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Support for UN Disarmament Verification Agency
DIRECT SERVICE - In 1911 our minister, the Rev. R.J. Hutcheon, cofounded Toronto's Central Neighbourhood House, which is still meeting educational and support needs of the downtown area.
Since the 1950s our congregation has collected clothing and donations for food and medical supplies for distribution by the
Canadian Unitarian Service Committee (now USC Canada).
Visits to patients in the Toronto Psychiatric Hospital in the 1950s led to the White Cross project of the '60s and '70s which hosted Sunday afternoon social events at the church for former psychiatric patients.
Direct service to those in need has included:
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Assisting and counseling conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War
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Collecting food for food banks
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Sponsoring foreign university students
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Sponsoring refugee families
EDUCATION - We have held forums to educate the public and our own members on many topics such as:
Study groups and adult education courses have focused on native issues, gay and lesbian rights, and the
Brundtland Report on the environment and development.
DIRECT ACTION - The first Sunday concert in Toronto was held at our church, followed by a meeting regarding the "blue laws" that at that time prohibited such events on the "Lord's Day."
Our members have taken part in demonstrations, marches and other activities to witness to their support for social change. In the '60s, we marched for nuclear disarmament and against the Vietnam War.
A group from Toronto First joined in the march from Selma to Birmingham, Alabama, in honour of the martyred Unitarian minister,
James Reeb. In recent years, our members have carried our banner in Toronto's annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Day parade.
THE FUTURE
A recent survey of our members showed support for an expanded role for social justice activities at First. Through a democratic, consensus-building process, our hope is to integrate social justice into all dimensions of our communal life, so it becomes an indispensable part of our spiritual growth.
Our history shows that members of our congregation have been leaders in supporting positive social change. Many of the issues of the past may not seem relevant today, but each period has its own social challenges, and our liberal religious values have never been more needed than they are today.
A Social Justice Affirmation
I am only one
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something.
And because I cannot do
everything
I will not refuse to do the
something that I can do.
--Edward Everett Hale
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