Our commitment to outreach and social justice...
SSUC has always been committed to providing leadership in deepening awareness and engaging in meaningful action that responds to social justice issues locally, nationally and globally. We aim to raise the consciousness of the community by encouraging study and discussion of important issues, problems and needs, followed by recommending ways that we might respond appropriately through action, advocacy and/or service.
Living into Radical Welcome: Rainbow Refugee Sponsorship Webinar
June 18th, 12:00-1:30 pm MDT/ CST
In recognition of the annual World Refugee Day, this interactive webinar invites communities of faith, refugee sponsorship groups, and justice-seeking individuals to explore how sponsorship can become a meaningful expression of radical welcome, solidarity, and faithful discipleship.
Around the world, many LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to face persecution, criminalization, displacement, and violence because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Faith communities across Canada have a unique opportunity to respond with compassion, accompaniment, and concrete action through rainbow refugee sponsorship.
Whether your congregation is already sponsoring refugees, offering support programs, or just exploring how to get started, this webinar will provide practical guidance, real-life insights, and opportunities to connect. Please see all details here.
Take action for Guaranteed Livable Income
Everyone deserves to live with dignity. Across the country, people are struggling to afford basic necessities. That’s why the United Church is calling on the federal government to create a Guaranteed Livable Income program. It’s a practical, compassionate solution that would help ensure no one is left behind. By providing a consistent income floor, it can reduce poverty, improve health outcomes, and give people the stability they need to thrive. You can help make this change happen. We’ve made it easy to contact the Senate Committee who is reviewing Bill S-206 for the creation of a Guaranteed Livable Income. Add your voice today with just a few clicks: https://united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/create-guaranteed-livable-income-program. Together, our voices can help build a more just and compassionate Canada.
2. Recall Canada’s ambassador to Israel and suspend bilateral trade and military agreements;
3. Support an independent United Nations investigation into the detention conditions of Palestinian prisoners.
This petition is open for signing until Aug. 6, 2026 at 2:04 pm (ET).
The United Church of Canada has urgent concerns about the implementation of Bill C-12, warning that refugee claimants—including families with young children—are being denied hearings and placed at risk of deportation without adequate protection. Through partnerships with migrant justice and refugee advocacy organizations, the church is hearing growing concern from communities across the country about the impacts of the legislation. The United Church is calling for the repeal of Bill C-12, or immediate amendments to ensure all current applicants have access to a fair hearing and protection from removal while their cases are unresolved.
Contact your local Member of Parliament and help raise awareness of this issue in your community. Read the full story and take action.
Support for Public Libraries in Alberta
The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries (CAP Libraries) invites Albertans to support the following:
“Public libraries stand firmly against censorship and have a professional and legal responsibility to ensure free access to information, support critical thinking, and make space for diverse perspectives.
They do not endorse every idea in their collection. They do, however, protect the public’s right to access those ideas. Intellectual freedom applies to all materials, including those some may consider unconventional, unpopular, or unacceptable.” (Source: https://www.caplibraries.ca/ )
See this webpage to learn how to continue to support public libraries in Alberta.
Petition: “Water Not Coal”
Watch for opportunities to sign the “Water Not Coal” petition. It is a grassroots effort to ask the Alberta Government to stop new coal mining, in the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies, to protect our water.
“Coal mines destroy the landscape, and release toxic chemicals into the air and water, which threatens fish, birds, wildlife, livestock and the water we drink.
This is why I started a Citizen Initiative Petition to put an end to all new coal mining in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.” — Corb Lund, proud Albertan
See more information here.
For a just peace in Palestine and Israel: 20-minute presentation by Dawn Waring
On Feb. 1, 2026, Dawn Waring offered a presentation at Knox United Church in Parksville, BC. She spoke about shifting from a Christian Zionist perspective to advocacy for a just peace in Palestine and Israel, in the context of her work with the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI). Dawn’s talk starts at 43 minutes and 6 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otWwDcKgNXs&t=4440s The presentation is a very helpful introduction to learning about the long history of the Israeli government’s occupation of Palestine.
Anti-Trans Legislation by the Alberta Government’s use of the notwithstanding clause, and Bills 26, 27, and 29
Leaders from both Chinook Winds and Northern Spirit Regional Councils have written Premier Danielle Smith and other elected Alberta government representatives urging immediate reconsideration of legislation that restricts transgender people’s rights and uses the notwithstanding clause. We invite you to read the full message and to join us in encouraging the Alberta government to reconsider these laws that clearly infringe on human rights. Read the full letter here.
Sign petitions with transactionalberta and on the Alberta NDP Caucus website.
Campaigns shared by the United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel: