UUA Newsletter
At GA, UUA staff and Board of Trustees leaders shared this brief video to recognize the joy, care, and courage that Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray brought to her presidency of the UUA, as well as the many accomplishments that she achieved during her tenure.
UU World reporters followed events throughout GA and captured highlights of the business, worship, and many other moments in their summary story, available online. The story includes a slideshow of images by UUA photographer, Nancy Pierce, who will be retiring from three decades of GA photography service after this year.
Unitarian Universalists elected Rev. Sofía Betancourt to be UUA President with 95.5% of delegates voting yes, in an election that began June 1 and ended during GA. Religion News Service (RNS) reported on this historic election with a profile of Rev. Betancourt that highlights her personal background as well as her top priorities as incoming President.
At the installation ceremony of newly elected UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt, her family, friends, colleagues, and GA attendees participate in a laying on of hands ritual to offer their blessings and support.
Proposing changes to Article II of the UUA bylaws brought thousands of Unitarian Universalists into deep discussions about the theology and values at the heart of our tradition. At GA, delegates voted to continue this discussion for the next year and approved several amendments to the proposed new Article II language.
Engage your congregation or community in the ongoing Article II discussion with this new collection of congregational resources that includes worship, music, and religious education materials.
The other main business resolution, "Complete Divestment from the Fossil Fuel Industry and Subsequent Reparations" proposed by the UU Young Adults for Divestment, was not adopted. President-elect Rev. Betancourt and UUA leaders, including the UUA Board of Trustees, expressed a deep commitment to remain in conversation with young adult leaders in pursuit of climate justice, recognizing that their voices are integral to these complex issues.
After GA, the Board issued this statement to express their continued commitment to pursue climate justice, divestment, and shape the way forward on reparations. Holding GA as a multiplatform event has made this essential annual gathering more inclusive and accessible. One benefit is that video capture is more readily available for viewing after GA. You can review all of the GA business, with video highlights, online now.
Previous General Assemblies
2023: Pittsburgh PA (Multi-platform) | June 21–25
The theme for General Assembly 2023 is "Faithfully Becoming." We continue to live in times of transition and change; so much is in flux. The COVID-19 pandemic upended our lives, our communities, and the world. It made clear the devastating and deadly impacts of longstanding racial and economic disparities. The ongoing losses and threats from climate change (of which the pandemic is not unrelated), growing authoritarian movements and the rolling back of fundamental human rights – these all present tremendous challenges for our lives, our children, and our future.
Many feel worn out and overwhelmed. But times of significant change can also be moments of opportunity and possibility. Major shifts are happening. Our theology and our values as Unitarian Universalists are needed.
2022: Portland, OR (Multi-platform) | June 22–26
Meet the Moment: Reimagining Radical Faith Community is the theme for General Assembly 2022! We will have the option of meeting online or in-person! For those who enjoyed the convenience and accessibility of remote participation, General Assembly will continue to offer a virtual experience with robust programming and enhanced delegate discussion tools. For those who miss the in-person experience, GA 2022 offers opportunities to re-connect with friends old and new, local site attractions, and more! Join us June 22 - 26, 2022 online or in-person in Portland, Oregon.
And if you are interested in the videos from GA 2022, the on-demand library is now available to the general public. The library of over 80 workshops, worship services, and other events is now available. Some recordings are no longer available due to copyright or agreements with the presenters. Check it out at the GA Recordings website
2021: Virtual General Assembly | June 23–27
Circle 'Round for Justice - Healing - Courage is the theme for General Assembly 2021. General Assembly is a time to circle ‘round in community. We circle ‘round in care and healing; for liberation and justice; and for love and courage. We share stories of the work happening at our Association. and in our congregations. We study ways to implement and live into our mission. UUA GA 2021 will incorporate recommendations from the Commission on Institution Change report, "Widening the Circle of Concern" and dialogue with the Article II Commission about our Principles and Purposes
2020: Providence, RI | June 24-28
Rev. Schuyler Vogel, the minister of the 4th Universalist Church in NYC, gave a rousing inspirational lecture about the history of Universalism in America and his church in particular. He may be familiar to you if you participated in the online UU the Vote phone bank action back in May. He and some of his congregants joined our effort with UU churches here in the Philly area, and Washington, DC. We also got a brief introduction to the new Executive Director of Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center, Diem Jones.
2019: Spokane, Washington | June 19-23
In a time of great challenge and heartbreak in our world, what does our faith demand from us? At this year’s General Assembly we explored the power, possibility, purpose, struggle and joy of finding the path forward together as Unitarian Universalists. Attendees left Spokane inspired, with the tools needed to carry on the work into their own congregations and communities. Join us as we continue to work for collective liberation inside and outside our faith.
2018: Kansas City, Missouri | June 20-24
2017: June 21-25, New Orleans, LA —
General Assembly 2017 took place June 21-25 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130.
2016: June 22-26, Columbus, OH —
This year's GA took place June 22-26 in Columbus, OH and included a Ware Lecture from award-winning broadcaster and bestselling author Krista Tippett.
2015: Build A New Way at GA
2015 General Assembly (GA) was not just have green practices: we worked for climate justice. With
Commit2Respond, a broad Unitarian Universalist movement, GA built our capacities to: shift to a lower carbon future, advance the human rights of affected
communities, and grow the climate justice movement. Unitarian Universalist worked for climate justice.
The GA 2015 theme was "Building a New Way." It was about more than climate justice. It was about breaking out of our old ways, and using our creativity to live into something new. At GA we worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone who registers may attend; delegates from our member congregations may vote. Programs and childcare were also available for children.
2014: The theme for GA was Love Reaches Out
.
Religious life in America is changing dramatically and rapidly. Fewer people are identifying with specific denominations and most mainline religions are losing members in droves. People now find many outlets and places of engagement for their spiritual lives. Current studies of faith in America show that there is a movement toward a liberal, fluid kind of faith that doesn t fit with traditional denominational identity and structure. We already know that for every adult member of Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations, there are at least three non-members who also consider themselves to be Unitarian Universalist.
A core purpose of our faith is to help people grow in spirit and in service. We believe that our faith provides a path for each of us to unlock our transformational capacity to serve the world with love. We want to expand our faith not just to grow Unitarian Universalism, but also to better achieve this transformational purpose. Therefore, the General Assembly Planning Committee, the UUA Board of Trustees and the Administration want the General Assembly in 2014 help our association live into a future where our Love Reaches Out to share our faith both within and beyond our congregations walls..