On Feb. 28, the Aiken Unitarian Universalist Church was named a Good Trouble Congreation for its efforts to encourage all local citizens to exercise their right to vote. The church was one of only 24 UU congregations across the country to receive this honor.
The late Congressman John Lewis challenged all of us to “work collectively to get in the way of injustice and get into good trouble to build a truly multiracial democracy.” The UU congregations were challenged to promote voter engagement in our communities with activities such as: averaging 20 postcards or letters per member, averaging 20 doors knocked per member, at least 20% engagement of the congregation in this effort, and having at least two congregants serving as line warmers, poll workers or poll watchers
Together, Unitarian Universalists across the country reached over 2 million voters.
The Aiken congregation’s efforts were non-partisan and not related to any specific candidate or issue. The Aiken congregation with 72 members sent over 2,000 postcards and letters and knocked on over 1,700 doors to remind people to vote. Ten members served as poll workers or observers. Over a third of the Aiken members participated in this effort to be a “Good Trouble Congregation.”
“When I came here seven years ago I thought this was one of the hardest working congregations I had been part of," said the Rev. Debra Guthrie. "Now I know it’s one of the hardest working congregations in the whole country.”
