The Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI) process is designed to engage Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations in an ongoing process of study, action and reflection on pressing social issues so that we can be effective prophetic voices in the public sphere. The process is congregationally driven and facilitated by the Commission on Social Witness (CSW) with support from Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) staff.

October 1, 2011: Deadline for proposed Congregational Study/Action Issues (CSAIs)

November 2011-February1, 2012: Congregational Poll to select not more than five proposed CSAIs for ballot at General Assembly 2012

General Assembly 2012: Delegates vote on Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI) for 2012-2016. Once selected, congregations and districts are encouraged to begin programs of education and reflection, service, community organizing, advocacy, and public witness.

November 1, 2012: Deadline for Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Multicultural Growth and Witness staff to post the initial Study Guide. Congregations will be notified of its availability.

Fall 2012-Spring 2013: Congregations begin the study of the CSAI and get their ongoing comments to the CSW.

March 3, 2013: Deadline for congregations and districts to submit comments on the CSAI and Resource Guide. These comments will help the CSW prepare for the workshop at General Assembly.

General Assembly 2013: The CSW will conduct programs and workshops on the topic of the CSAI and report on congregational involvement with the issue.

Summer 2013-Spring 2014: Congregations continue programs of education and reflection, community organizing, advocacy, and public witness on the CSAI.

March 1, 2014: All of the comments received by this date are reviewed by the CSW. These comments assist in refining this Resource Guide and help the CSW prepare for General Assembly (GA) workshops on this issue.

General Assembly 2014: The CSW conducts workshops on the CSAI. One workshop includes reports on successful practices and discusses future possibilities.

November 15, 2014: Deadline for the CSW to prepare a draft Statement of Conscience (SOC) on the CSAI. The draft statement and a ballot to place the SOC on the agenda of GA 2015 will be included in the annual congregational poll, conducted with annual membership certification.

February 1, 2015: Deadline for congregational poll ballots (a quorum of 25% participation required), and for submission of comments on the draft SOC. If a quorum has been reached, the CSW then prepares a revised draft of the SOC on Reproductive Justice, and places this revised draft on the Final GA Agenda.

General Assembly 2015: General Assembly considers the SOC. Approval requires 2/3 vote. If approved, congregations and UUA staff conduct a year of implementation and action. The next study/action issue will be selected at GA in 2014.

If a quorum was not reached and the SOC was not on the GA 2015 agenda or if the Assembly fails to approve by a two-thirds vote, then the CSW continues the process of revision for another year and the draft-SOC is resubmitted for the agenda of GA 2016.

General Assembly 2016: If a Statement of Conscience was adopted in the previous year, an Implementation Year workshop will be held on it.

This concludes the Study/Action cycle.