About the Social Witness Process
While called by various names, the social witness process is the method by which the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) comes to understand and act on the social issues of our times, finally bearing witness through statements adopted as UUA policy by the delegates of a General Assembly. The process has been an integral part of our faith the since the merger between the Unitarians and the Universalists in 1961. This process is congregationally driven and is facilitated by the Commission on Social Witness.
Congregational Study Action Issues and Statements of Conscience
Initially called "General Resolutions," the delegates at the 1996 General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana, adopted a process through which we spent two years in study and action on adopted social justice issues before taking positions on these issues in the form of Statements of Conscience (SOCs). Delegates at the 2006 General Assembly in St Louis, Missouri, approved further changes, extending the time of study and action from two years to three before considering and voting on a Statement of Conscience on this issue. If a SOC is adopted, a fourth year is dedicated to implementation, with a report due at the ensuing GA.
CSAI to SOC Process Charts
This chart demonstrates the new CSAI to SOC process (PDF), from initial CSAI proposals to adoption of a UUA Statement of Conscience.
For those of you who are more visually inclined, there is this graphical version (PDF).
Actions of Immediate Witness
Sometimes, the CSAI/SOC process cannot effectively deal with all issues. Important concerns may arise after the cut-off date for new Study/Action Issues. At other times, issues emerge which require a response relating to an event which will occur before a Statement of Conscience would be able to respond. Initially called "Resolutions of Immediate Witness" the 1996 General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana, approved changes in the UUA process that change the name to "Actions of Immediate Witness" (AIWs).
For more detailed information about both CSAIs/SOCs and AIWs, please see the Proposer's Guide below.
Proposer's Guide (Revised 10/06)
The Proposer's Guide provides updated information on the Congregational Study Action Issue/Statement of Conscience and Action of Immediate Witness proposal process under the By-Laws changes adopted at the 2006 UUA General Assembly.
For more information contact socialwitness @ uua.org.
Last updated on Thursday, June 5, 2008.
