Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

The Unitarian Service Committee was formed as a standing committee of the American Unitarian Association in May 1940. Its purpose was to investigate opportunities in America and abroad for humanitarian service. In 1945, the Universalist Service Committee was formed. During and after World War II, these two Committees aided hundreds of displaced persons in occupied countries, allowing many of them to find passage to the United States. In 1961, these two committees joined, and the present-day Unitarian Universalist Service Committee continues to endeavor to advance human rights and social justice throughout the world.

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Unitarian Service Committee was formed as a standing committee of the American Unitarian Association in May 1940. Its purpose was to investigate opportunities in America and abroad for humanitarian service. During and after World War II, the Unitarian Service Committee aided hundreds of displaced persons in occupied countries, allowing many of them to find passage to the United States. The present-day Unitarian Universalist Service Committee continues to endeavor to advance human rights and social justice throughout the world.

The Unitarian Service Committee was formed as a standing committee of the American Unitarian Association in May 1940. Its purpose was to investigate opportunities in America and abroad for humanitarian service, and the present day Unitarian Universalist Service Committee continues this tradition.

The Unitarian Service Committee was formed as a standing committee of the American Unitarian Association in May 1940. Its purpose was to be a committee to investigate opportunities both in America and abroad for humanitarian service. During and after World War II, the Unitarian Service Committee aided hundreds of displaced persons in occupied countries, allowing many of them to find passage to the United States. The present-day Unitarian Universalist Service Committee continues to endeavor to advance human rights and social justice throughout the world.

The American Unitarian Association (AUA) was created and headquartered in Boston, MA, in 1825. In May 1940, the Unitarian Service Committee (USC) was established as a committee of the American Unitarian Association (AUA) for the United States and Canada. In mid 1945, the Universalist Service Committee was formed. The USC separated from the AUA and USC Canada became a separate entity in December 1948. In 1961, the AUA united with the Universalist Church of America to establish the Unitarian Universalist Association. The official establishment of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) occurred in 1963, when the Unitarian Service Committee and the Universalist Service Committee merged into one.

Both the Unitarians and Universalists had long histories of being strong supporters of social service activities in the United States and abroad. Between World War I and World War II, the Unitarian publication, the Christian Register, and the Universalist publication, the Christian Leader, helped to address issues of fascism abroad. The Unitarians especially became known for their humanitarian actions during World War II. They set up offices in such places as Prague; Czechoslovakia; Lisbon, Portugal; and Geneva, Switzerland; and sent representatives such as Martha and Waitstill Sharp who assisted Jewish and non-Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution in Prague, Czechoslovakia; and Pau, France, a region of the Basse Pyrenees in France. Another Unitarian representative, Noel Field and his wife Herta Field worked in a USC office in Marseille, France, and later opened an office in Geneva, where they also assisted refugees fleeing from Nazi occupied lands. Both the Unitarians and Universalists supported medical missions around the world following World War II and continuing after their union in 1963.