(425) 392-6570 | Worship every Sunday @ 9:30 a.m.
(425) 392-6570 | Worship every Sunday @ 9:30 a.m.
Officially formed shortly after the brutal murder of George Floyd, this ministry team provides the congregation with the ability to translate faith into action by addressing the root causes of suffering, defending the rights of the vulnerable, and engaging in community transformation. Having a Ministry Team separate from our Mission Ministry enables us to provide sustainable, organized efforts to fight inequality through advocacy, systemic change, and service, aligning with biblical calls for righteousness.
Climate Justice, Human Rights, Homelessness and Immigrant Rights are just a few of the many areas of focus for our Social Justice Ministry Team.
Our Community Nurture Ministry Team, Social Justice Ministry Team, and Mission Ministry Team collaborate on many efforts. One of these is our annual booth at the Issaquah Farmers Market in June, where folks in our congregation give visitors pride flags and help spread the word that God’s Love is open to all.
Another annual event is our Pride Pop Up event each June, where we create a visible presence of God’s love in the community.
Sexuality and Gender Justice is a robust Social Justice Team Subcommittee. Their focus in 2023 was to work on the action items identified in the congregational survey to bring forth LGBTQIA+ justice issues and opportunities. They led the congregation in revisiting, reaffirming, and recommitting to our Open and Affirming statement, and adding this process as an annual calendar activity. Their efforts accomplished the change of two Male/Female bathrooms at Spirit of Peace to Gender Neutral bathrooms. Ordering signs & locks, installation of signs & locks, and providing education regarding their use was involved.
A big part of 2023 was the effort to collaborate with our Mission Ministry Team and support Tent City 4 as it sought a new location and found a temporary home at Our Savior Lutheran Church property. Working on permitting, educating church members of both Spirit of Peace and Our Savior Lutheran, logistics and moving support, grant writing, providing resources for fencing, meal donations, social events were all pieces Social Justice Team had a part in. We were blessed by the experiences we shared and the friendships that were forged with our Tent City 4 neighbors.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and war between Israel and Hamas became of great concern to members of Spirit of Peace and the Social Justice Ministry Team in 2024. The Team meetings provided space to talk about the feelings the crisis brings up for us, news of the crisis, and debriefing from the Social Justice Ministry Team members who attended a march in support of Palestine in February in Bellevue. Educating ourselves about the situation was a first step to collectively and faithfully responding as a Team. In March 2024, the Social Justice Team hosted a guest speaker to share with the congregation during a weeknight zoom session his experiences living and documenting the oppression of Palestinians in the West Bank (especially the impact on children). A follow up conversation amongst Spirit of Peace folks provided more opportunity for dialogue and a decision to craft a statement on the situation by the Social Justice Team. See our Committed to Justice Page to read this statement.
Current efforts have focused on raising awareness of our immigrant neighbors and their rights. In February, 2026, the Social Justice Ministry Team hosted a Chili Cook Off Fundraiser, raising more than $10,000 for a local non-profit advocating for our immigrant neighbors.