About Us

​The Community for Earth (CFE) is a social justice group at First Unitarian Church, Portland. CFE was formed decades ago and continues to evolve our strategies and understanding of climate justice. We invite congregants to join us in building a resilient community working to address climate injustice. .

CFE members meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, usually before worship services. The 2nd Sunday session is a business meeting, while we have deeper explorations of issues or renewal sessions on the 4th Sunday (or another day that week). All are welcome to these sessions: request a link.

Our Mission

Our Guiding UU Principles
We are guided by each of the Unitarian Universalist Principles, including ”Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part” (Unitarian Universalist 7th Principle) and “The inherent worth and dignity of every person” (Unitarian Universalist 1st Principle).

Our Shared Vision
Our purpose is to inspire, facilitate and support personal, congregational, denominational and cultural practices that honor and sustain the Earth and all beings.

Our Mission for First Unitarian Church
Given the on-going climate crisis, environmental degradation and health risks to Earth and all beings:

• Our mission is to spiritually, intellectually and consciously embrace our role as humans in the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part, and take action to mitigate or remediate climate change.
• Our goals are to promote a rapid and just transition to renewable energy, reduce pollution and renew ecosystems. We take these actions in an inclusive manner, sensitive to the structural racism, harm to all life forms and greed and entitlement of our culture and stand ready to make amends and restitution where appropriate.

We use these strategies to pursue our mission and goals:

• Community Building and Reflection  We work to create the ‘Beloved Community’, cultivating a relationship-based reflective approach in our group and in our work for justice. Each of us is committed to do this work individually and through group action, often in collaboration with other organizations..
• Education We seek to educate CFE members and the congregation at large about the causes of climate change and environmental injustice and to motivate members to take urgent individual or group action to address these problems.
• Promotion of Earth Health We promote the health of our ecosystem and especially marginalized groups through programs and activities in support of all creatures and living systems. 
• Green Sanctuary We work to maintain our certification as a Green Sanctuary, the national program of our UU denomination that certifies our ongoing efforts to embody and promote sustainability principles and environmental and racial justice as a congregation .     
• Connect and Lead We take a leadership role in connecting with our congregation, and in developing partnerships with other Unitarian Universalists, interfaith and secular groups for Earth Justice and an end to systemic racism.