Business & Social Witness at General Assembly 2012

Plenaries and Mini-Assemblies

All business of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) General Assembly (GA) is conducted in Plenary sessions. Mini-Assemblies offer opportunities in small sessions for delegates to speak on issues, find out more about individual business items before a vote in plenary, and propose amendments to the business item or social witness statement. The Board of Trustees or the Commission on Social Witness may move amendments to business items as a result of discussion in Mini-Assemblies.

• GA Minutes (PDF, 9 pages)
• Business Agenda (PDF, 58 pages)

All times are local, Mountain Standard Time (not Mountain Daylight Time), which is the same as Pacific Daylight Time. Late arriving items may require rearrangement of the agenda as published.

• Opening Celebration and Plenary I (Wednesday, June 20)
  • Vote on Rules of Procedure
  • Welcome New Congregations
  • Introduce Youth and Young Adult Caucuses
  • Journey to the Doctrine of Discovery: Steve Newcomb
  • Keynote Speaker on the Doctrine of Discovery
  • Story of Today and Tomorrow Part I: Pablo Alvarado, Exec. Director, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)
  • Story of Today and Tomorrow Part II: Rev. Peter Morales
  • Introduction: Right Relationship Team and GA Chaplains
  • Invitation to Witness: Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, Tupac Enrique Acosta
     
• Plenary II (Thursday, June 21)
  • Business Agenda and Mini-Assembly Overview
  • Building a Community for Justice
    • Right Relationships
    • Accessibilities
       
• Workshop: Discussion of Proposed Congregational Study/Action Issues (CSAIs) (Thursday, June 21)
   
• Mini-Assembly on Proposed Bylaw Amendments (PDF) (Thursday, June 21)
   
• Workshop: Lecture on the 2010 CSAI, Immigration as a Moral Issue (Thursday, June 21)
   
• Mini-Assembly on the Proposed Resolution Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery (Thursday, June 21): Report from the Board on the Doctrine of Discovery (PDF)
   
• Plenary III (Friday, June 22)
  • Preliminary Credentials Report
  • Building a Community for Justice: Right Relationships
  • General Assembly 2010 Business Resolution Report
  • Building a Community for Justice: Cultural Humility: GA 2012 Accountability Group
  • Presentation and Vote on Proposed Congregational
  • Congregational Study/Action Issues
    • CSAI 1: Climate Action and Adaptation Plans: Why Greenhouse Gases and their Effects Matter to Us
    • CSAI 2: Families, Population, and the Environment
    • CSAI 3: Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling
    • CSAI 4: Exploring Class Barriers
    • CSAI 5: Ending Slavery
       
• Candidates Forum (Friday, June 22)
   
• Plenary IV (Saturday, June 23)
  • Run-off Vote Between CSAIs 3 and 4 (Selected: CSAI 3: Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling)
  • Building a Community for Justice: Right Relationships
  • Report of the UUA Board of Trustees
    • Budget Report: Resourcing for Justice
    • In Memoriam
    • Presentation of the Distinguished Service Award
  • Building a Community for Justice: Cultural Humility: GA 2012 Accountability Group
  • Testimony: Comités de Defensa del Barrio
  • Testimony: Tiffany and Geraldine Mendez, UU Church of Phoenix
  • Special Collection to Support Immigration Ministry
  • UUA President's Report: Rev. Peter Morales
    • Special Presentation: Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ
    • UUA President's Award for Volunteer Service
       
• Plenary V: First Half and Plenary V: Second Half (Sunday, June 24)
  • GA Volunteer and Staff Recognition: Rev. Dr. Walt Wieder
  • Introduction: Taking Justice GA to Our Congregations
    • UU Women's Federation: Rev. Marti Keller
    • UU Service Committee: Rev. Dr. William F. Schulz
    • Staff of the UUA: Kay Montgomery and Harlan Limpert
  • Report of the UUA Financial Advisor: Dan Brody
  • Debate and Vote on Proposed Bylaw Amendments
    • Bylaw Section C-10.9. Pension System: Second Year Vote (Passed)
    • Bylaw Article XV: Second Year Vote (Passed)
    • Bylaw Sections C-3.1, C-3.3, and C-3.6, Member Congregations: Second Year Vote (Passed)
  • Moderator's Report: Gini Courter
  • Debate and Vote: Responsive Resolution: Doctrine of Discovery (Passed)
  • Other Responsive Resolutions
    • Responsive Resolution on Transborder Workers (Postponed indefinitely)
  • Building a Community for Justice: Right Relationship Team
  • Invitation to General Assembly 2013 in Louisville
  • Final Credentials and Announcements

Public Witness

Public Witness is a cherished General Assembly tradition, and at this year’s Justice GA we had a more ambitious public witness program than ever before. Check the full GA Program for all witness opportunities.

• Arizona Immigration Ministry Witness! Turning the Tide from Fear to Human Rights (Wednesday, June 20)
   
• Community Celebration with Partners (Friday, June 22)
   
• Interfaith Witness for Human Rights: Candlelight Vigil at Tent City Jail (Saturday, June 23)

Social Justice Statements

Learn some of the history leading to this Justice GA on Measures Passed About GA 2012.

Congregational Study/Action Issues

No vote is taken this year on the Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI) that was chosen at the 2010 General Assembly (Immigration as a Moral Issue).

Five proposed CSAIs appear on the Final Agenda as a result of the 2012 Congregational Poll. Discussion of these CSAIs took place in a workshop on Thursday. One issue (CSAI 3: Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling) was chosen for study and action during the coming four years in a run-off vote during Plenary IV after their presentation during Plenary III.

Actions of Immediate Witness

Actions of Immediate Witness will not be considered at the 2012 General Assembly. Read the report from UU World: Delegates Vote to Eliminate AIWs at 2012 Justice GA.

Responsive Resolutions

Read the Report from the Board on the Doctrine of Discovery (PDF). A Mini-Assembly on the proposed resolution repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery occurred on Thursday. Debate and vote is scheduled to occur during Plenary V (Passed).

A second resolution was proposed during Plenary V: Responsive Resolution on Transborder Workers (Postponed indefinitely).

Proposed Bylaw and Rule Amendments

Read the Proposed Bylaw Amendments (PDF). The Mini-Assemby for these items was on Thursday. Debate and vote on these proposed amendments occured during Plenary V (All passed).

Annual Reports to the General Assembly

The following documents are in PDF format.

• Board of Trustees (3 pages)
• Commission on Appraisal
• Financial Advisor (10 pages)
• Independent Auditor (40 pages)
• Ministerial Fellowship Committee (4 pages)
• Religious Education Credentialing Committee
• Treasurer (7 pages)
• UUA Staff (48 pages)
• UU Service Committee (24 pages)
• UU United Nations Office
• UU Women's Federation (3 pages)