The L.O.V.E. Team is announcing that the name of the team has been changed from L.O.V.E. to the Social Justice Team. The reasons for this change were as follows:

• We have received feedback from multiple sources that the name, LOVE (Living Our Values Everyday), did not sufficiently make clear the charge of the Team. This lack of clarity had been partly responsible for confusion and role conflict with other teams and committees.
• Other UU fellowships in Michigan and across the nation that are openly and directly pursuing social justice issues have “social justice” in the title of their team or committee. Changing our name will provide consistency within the larger UU organization.
• It had been awkward to introduce our group to outside community organizations as the “LOVE” Team. The name sounded unprofessional, and it required explanation.
• LOVE in our name minimized the importance of the pursuit of social justice. Social justice does not require love to be part of the equation. It is a faulty assumption that targets of social injustices want to be loved by allies: they want equal justice.
• From the perspective of a marginalized population, stating that we are “Living Our Values Daily” centered “us,” not the targets of social injustice.
• The newly named Social Justice Team believes that the name change more appropriately and clearly makes social justice the focus of our work.