The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland (UULM-MD) envisions a Maryland free of oppression and injustice, where all are guaranteed their human rights. We address this vision by alerting, educating, activating and facilitating our statewide UU base to address several human rights issues before the Maryland General Assembly each year. In 2009, those issues were health care reform, ending marriage discrimination against same-sex couples, global warming, and abolition of the death penalty in Maryland.

Click here to read the UULM-MD 2009 Legislative Report. (Coming Soon)

In order to enhance the effectiveness of UU activism on human rights issues, UULM-MD remains mindful of the strong UU traditions of independent thought and witnessing for human rights and civil liberties. Supported and inspired by these traditions, UULM-MD works to achieve consensus among its base, then mobilize and advocate on specific issues before the MD General Assembly. Supported by an informed and mobilized base, partnered with like-minded coalitions and working with legislators and their staffs, UULM-MD provides a voice for UU principles and traditions in the discussions on state human rights issues by:

• Identifying legislation and educating UUs about it through issue coordinators and task forces;
  
• Providing educational programs and materials on priority issues;
  
• Having an annual meeting for presentation, debate and strategizing on issues to be addressed;
  
• Mobilizing and facilitating testimony, letter writing, witnessing and speakers;
  
• Providing updates on the status of bills, hearings, and actions;
  
• Seeking additional ways to partner with and support other human rights groups.
  

UULM-MD grew out of a February, 2005 UUs for Social Justice (UUSJ) advocacy workshop in which participants expressed a need for UUs to have a voice in Annapolis and do education, advocacy and coalition building. UULM-MD is building on the experiences of other groups, including the UULM of California and Legislative Committee of UUs of Maryland (LegiCUUM), which was founded in 1969.

UULM-MD held its first Annual Meeting in November, 2005. At this meeting, participants learned effective advocacy techniques, engaged in discussions of priority issues and voted to create the UULM-MD Board. Rev. William R. Murry gave an excellent talk entitled “A Theological Basis for a UU Legislative Ministry in Maryland.”

Please click here to read Rev. Murry's remarks.

The organization is composed of individual UUs. Congregations may become affiliate members and contributors. UULM-MD is establishing a network of UUs matched with members of the Maryland General Assembly and the 24 UU congregations in Maryland. Public officials are approached in a systematic manner in the effort to educate them on UU principles and positions on issues. UUs are trained in advocacy and asked to make contact with their individual legislators.

Click here to join UULM-MD

UULM-MD Board of Directors
Betty McGarvie Crowley, Co-Chair
Jan Bird, Co-Chair
Steve Buckingham, Vice-Chair
Rev. William R. Murry, Treasurer
Charlie Culbertson
Rev. Megan Foley
Robert (Bob) Geiger
Dave Hackett
Rev. Frederic Muir
Virginia M. Richardson
Keith L. Smith
Rev. Lisa Ward

Director of Outreach
Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr.

Coordinator
Margery Knight

“The 2008-2009 UULM-MD Board of Directors and Staff”

“UULM-MD has been funded in part by the UU Fund for Social Responsibility and the UU Service Committee.”

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Unitarian Univeralist Legislative Ministry of Maryland
c/o Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis
333 Dubois Road | Annapolis, MD 21401
410.266.8022, ext. 111 (phone) | info@uulmmd.org