Learn about the wider work of UUA and UUA General Assembly.  Watch this Youtube clip of who we are! General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Participants worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process.

Anyone may attend; congregations must certify annually to have voting delegates

Multi-Platform General Assembly

In 2021, GA had more than 4,000 registered attendees participate from remote locations around the world. Although we give up the face-to-face interaction and hugs that are prevalent when we meet in-person, we retain our dedication to community and make our experience more accessible and more environmentally sustainable.

In 2022, we had the option of meeting online or in-person! For those who enjoyed the convenience and accessibility of remote participation, General Assembly continued to offer virtual attendance with robust programming and enhanced delegate discussion tools. For those who have been missing the physical experience, GA 2022 featured face-to-face interactions, hanging banners, a browsable exhibit hall, meals with friends old and new, local site attractions, and more! Many joined us June 22 – 26, 2022 online or in-person in Portland, Oregon.

2023 General Assembly will be in Pittsburgh, PA, June 21-25. This GA will focus on possible ratification of the proposed 8^th principle 8thprincipleuu.org and electing a new UUA president. Consider being one of our delegates next year. Want to know more? Want a taste of some of the live GA music offerings?  Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX7aLX7O5F0

2022 UUA General Assembly (GA) Report (delegates Margy Young, Alan Moore, Mike Greenwood and  Rev. Barnaby)

More than 3,200 Unitarian Universalists from 50 states and 597 congregations came together virtually and in-person in Portland, Oregon for our denomination’s General Assembly (GA). GA is our annual gathering where we focus on our mission, our principles, spirituality, items of business, and deepening our learning by attending workshops from governance to social justice.

Voting on Actions of Immediate Witness, which shape the UUA’s social justice commitments, was one of the business item we conducted. We overwhelmingly voted for social justice resolutions that support reproductive justice (PDF, 3 pages) (99 percent) and anti-racism and reparations via restorative justice (PDF, 2 pages) (95 percent), and that oppose the privatization of Medicare (PDF, 2 pages) (77 percent).  We also elected members to the UUA Board of Trustees as well as members to the 2023 Planning Committee, Nominating Committee and to the UUA Presidential Search Committee.

During GA, we make a commitment to leverage the Association’s organizational strength to support a locally led movement for justice through a Public Witness event. This year, we joined a youth-led local UU climate justice group Sunrise Movement PDX.  Sunrise Movement PDX is demanding that Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Oregon Transportation Commission achieve a rapid and just decarbonization of the state’s transportation system.

2021 UUA General Assembly (GA) 2021 Report (by delegate Mike Greenwood)

A few notes and a few thoughts about our time at this year’s UUA General Assembly.  As your voting delegates, Alan Moore and I each spent just under 12 hours in the Business component of GA.  But before we get to the business component of GA, did you know that you can access most of the GA workshops for free at https://gaonline.uua.org/login?e=0006b077b0bb533e ?  There you will find worships on equity, racism, spiritual healing, welcoming congregations  and so much more.  Check one out today!  We hope you will join us as a delegate, either in-person or ZOOM.  Next year GA will be in Portland Oregon June 22-26 and in 2023 Pittsburgh, PA. Now to the business component of GA. We passed several amendments to our UUA Bylaws and Rules and you can find more detail at www.uua.org

Bylaw Amendment #4: Timeline for President-Elect and Moderator-elect to Take Office was lengthened to a maximum of 45 days.  Prior, our newly elected President was expected to take office in Boston immediately after GA regardless of current residency or family commitments.

Bylaw Amendment #6: Requested by the Religious Education Credentialing Committee, there is  now more flexibility in the terms and levels of religious education credentialing.

Bylaw Amendment #1: Timeline for Submitting Actions of Immediate Witness was refined and shortened.  Immediate Witness occurs at GA and allows GA participants the opportunity to respond to an immediate incident or crisis through a statement that demonstrates solidarity with those who are mistreated.

Bylaw Amendment #2: Timelines for Campaigns for President and Moderator were shortened.

Bylaw Amendment #5: GA Registration Requirements states that delegates must register but not necessarily pay any fee such as a registration fee in order to be a delegate.

The General Assembly affirmed these Actions of Immediate Witness

Defend and Advocate with Transgender, Nonbinary, and Intersex Communities (PDF); The COVID-19 Pandemic: Justice. Healing. Courage (PDF); Stop Voter Suppression and Partner for Voting Rights and a Multiracial Democracy (PDF).

Election Results

We elected a number of individuals to UUA positions.  The only contested election was for the position Board of Trustees.  Sam Trumbore won the seat.

Statement of Conscience: The Statement of Conscience (SOC): Undoing Intersectional White Supremacy (PDF) was adopted. Delegates to the 2021 General Assembly affirmed two Responsive Resolutions: Include Systemic Anti-Racism in Principles (PDF) and Creating a More Just Future Through Divesting from Pipelines and Investing in Young People (PDF)