The Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington Normal Social Justice Team is a project of Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington Normal (UUBN), a local congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, that is focused on political advocacy and small-scale activist grant making. The UUBN congregation has a long history of involvement in politics; 1952 and 1956 Democratic presidential nominee Aldai Stevenson was a member of the church. The congregation supports left-of-center activism on abortion, race, and immigration, among other issues. ^{1 2 3}

Background

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington Normal was founded in 1859. The church has had some political associations, with former governor of Illinois and 1952 and 1956 Democratic presidential nominee Aldai Stevenson and former Illinois state Senator Florence Fifer Bohrer (R) being notable members of the congregation. ³

As a Unitarian church, UUBN does not affirm a creed and emphasizes free inquiry. At its founding, the church emphasized the supremacy of private moral judgment, absent the interference of political or ecclesial authority. However, the church holds left of center-views on political issues such as racial justice, human sexuality, and electoral activism. ^{4 2}

Projects and Initiatives

Social Justice Team

In addition to community-focused charitable activities, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington Normal Social Justice Team conducts various political activities. These include contacting elected officials, engaging in mailing campaigns, participating in rallies, and tabling at events. It also conducts training programs to equip people to contact elected officials. ¹

The team runs a grant program with an annual budget of $3,000. These grants require participation or partnership with church members and require there be an active component to the event, such as a discussion or service activity, rather than a passive listening event. Topics that are eligible include left-of-center causes and conceptions of justice, including economic issues, LGBT issues, abortion access, racial issues, immigration expansion, and voting access. ²

Gender Expansive Resource Center

Through a partnership with the Prairie Pride Coalition, UUBN provides undergarments to transgender people in central Illinois. The center states that it will provide breast binders and gaffs, undergarments that facilitate “tucking” of male genitalia, to “anyone” who lives in the counties in which the group operates. The contact form also emphasizes that items are delivered in discreet packaging and includes preferences for discretion when being contacted by the group. ^{5 6}

UU the Vote

UUBN is part of the national UU the Vote program which aims to mobilize Unitarians for political causes, notably abortion rights, voting and electoral concerns, and racial issues. The UUBN congregation has been recognized by the national UU the Vote program for its high level of activity. ^{7 8}

Leadership

Rebecca Gant is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington Normal. Gant has a background in the United Methodist Church, but left that denomination over its theology and stance on LGBT issues. ⁹

Finances

As a church, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington Normal is not required to file a public tax return with the IRS. Its finances are therefore not publicly available. The grants made by the social justice team are also not publicly available. ²

1. “Social Justice.” UUBN. Accessed September 25, 2025. https://uubn.org/wp/social-justice/.
2. “Criteria for UUBN Social Justice Grant.” UUBN. Accessed September 25, 2025. https://uubn.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Criteria-for-UUBN-Social-Justice-Grant.pdf.
3. “History.” UUBN. Accessed September 25, 2025. https://uubn.org/wp/the-history-of-uubn/.
4. “About Us.” UUBN. Accessed September 25, 2025. https://uubn.org/wp/mission-statement/.
5. ^[1] “Gender Expansive Resource Center Request Form.” UUBN. Accessed September 25, 2025. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdt23vWGLyChUPt54KLAsntUDiYwmXo2L2qJUMJym7DVzdjiA/viewform?usp=embed_facebook.
6. “Gender Expansive Resource Center.” UUBN. Accessed September 25, 2025. https://uubn.org/wp/gender-expansive-resource-center-of-central-illinois/.
7. “UU the Vote.” UUBN. Accessed September 25, 2025. https://uubn.org/wp/uu-vote/.
8. “Announcing the 2024 Good Trouble Congregations!” UU the Vote. January 24, 2025. Accessed September 25, 2025. https://uuthevote.org/announcing-the-2024-good-trouble-congregations/.
9. “Reverend Rebecca Gant.” UUBN. Accessed September 25, 2025. https://uubn.org/wp/reverend-rebecca-gant/