Proposer's Guide—Part 1
Congregational Study Action Issues / Statements of Conscience
Every two years, the Commission on Social Witness (CSW) receives proposals from congregations and districts for Congregational Study/Action Issues (CSAIs), each hoping theirs will be selected and will eventually result in a Unitarian Universalist Aassociation (UUA) Statement of Conscience. The Study and Action Process was created to uphold our principles and to engage Unitarian Universalists (UUs) in the articulation of conscience on pressing social justice issues. The process is initiated by congregations, districts, and two UUA sponsored organizations and culminates with the delegates at General Assembly. The CSW facilitates transitions from one phase to the next.
After three years of study and action on a CSAI, the General Assembly delegates may adopt a Statement of Conscience (SOC) on the subject. It is the product of countless hours of thought, collaboration, and dedication. During the year following adoption of a SOC, congregations and UUA staff will work to implement the SOC and report their results to the following General Assembly. Adopted Statements of Conscience serve to focus the efforts of congregations and other UU groups on the topic of the SOC, shape the meaning of contemporary Unitarian Universalism, and empower the Washington Office for Advocacy to lobby our positions in pending legislation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why propose a Congregational Study/Action Issue?
- To put our UU Principles into practice
- by alerting us to important social justice issues covered by our Principles
- by educating us on those issues
- by acting on those issues
- by articulating a religious position on those issues
- by achieving a strong majority of congregations agreeing on that position.
- by calling on congregations and UUA staff to implement our shared position articulated in a Statement of Conscience.
2. Who may propose a Congregational Study/Action Issue?
- A single congregation or its board
- Multiple congregations or their boards
- A single district or its board
- Multiple districts or their boards
- A UU sponsored organization (now YRUU and C*UUYAN)
- Some combination of the above
3. Who is not permitted to propose a CSAI?
- An individual or group of individuals unless that group is one of those specified in #2 above
- A UUA associate member or independent affiliate organization
- Any independent or associate group except through a congregation, district, or UUA sponsored organization as per above (see #2).
4. What kind of issue is appropriate for a CSAI?
- An issue complex enough to merit four years of study and action by congregations and districts before a position on the matter is adopted by the UUA, and after adoption, a fourth year of focused implementation. An issue for which there is a strong "yes" to questions of grounding, fit, and opportunity:
- Grounding—Does UU theology and practice resonate with the issue historically, ethically, and spiritually?
- Fit—Do our member congregations have the resources and people to take meaningful action on this issue?
- Opportunity—Do circumstances make it likely, for this issue, that our member congregations would become a respected participant in public dialogue?
- An issue that lends itself to study and action that would enable UUs to put our Principles into practice
- An issue that lends itself practically to congregational and/or district study and action projects
- An issue that the UUA has not recently adopted a position on through a General Resolution (before 1996) or a Statement of Conscience (after 1996), unless further study and action would substantially enhance or change the UUA's position
- An issue that is not so urgent that it would be appropriate for immediate advocacy through an Action of Immediate Witness at the next General Assembly (GA)
Please note the following:
- You are encouraged to contact the Director of the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy, for feedback and assistance on choosing, narrowing, and articulating your CSAI proposal.
- You are encouraged to review past social witness statements on issues related to yours.
- A proposed CSAI may neither direct the actions of UUA staff nor require the UUA to encumber funds.
5. What should my proposed CSAI look like?
- It must consist of a short title that clearly identifies its subject, plus sections titled exactly as follows:
- Issue: In no more than 50 words, this section should set forth the key or compelling facts and briefly outline the issue and its significance.
- Grounding in Unitarian Universalism: In no more than 50 words, this section should answer why Unitarian Universalism might have a particular responsibility or position calling UUs to engage the issue.
- Topics for Congregational Study: This section should contain a series of five to ten questions that illustrate the issue's field of study and that are suitable for use in congregation all group discussion.
- Possible Congregational Actions: This section should contain a list of five to ten possible actions at appropriate levels for a congregation or district to use. The list should demonstrate a variety of possible commitment levels or available resources.
- Related Prior Social Witness Statements: List here all previous UUA social witness statements that address this issue either directly or indirectly
- It may not exceed one page in length (approximately 500 words).
- You are strongly encouraged to attach reputable documentation to substantiate the facts you set out in the “Issue” section. Cite sources fully enough to be checked.
- You are also strongly encouraged to investigate and to find any groups, UU or otherwise, currently working on the issue and to attach information about them if you do not mention them in the “Issue” statement.
6. How do I submit my proposed CSAI?
- It must be attached to a completed official “Certification Form (Word) (PDF) for Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI) Proposal.” This form is mailed to each congregation, district, and sponsored organization early in each CSAI proposal year.
- The form requires the signature of the certifying officer or minister. Pursuant to the UUA By-laws, a congregation or district may submit a proposed CSAI only with the support of its membership or its board shown by a vote taken at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present.
- The form also requires you to identify:
- An individual as a person for the CSW to contact if questions arise
- A person who will be available to speak as advocate for the CSAI at the following General Assembly. The same person may fill these two roles.
- The name of the congregation's or district's president.
- Send the Certification Form with your one-page narrative proposed CSAI and any attachments to: CSW, c/o Office of Congregational Advocacy, UUA, 25
Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108; or you may fax it to (617) 742-0321, or email it to cswadmin @ uua.org.
7. What happens between submission and General Assembly?
- The CSW meets in October and reviews all properly submitted proposals.
- The CSW reviews proposals using the criteria listed in #4 above.
- The CSW will reformat and edit proposals that meet the criteria into a final form. The CSW will not edit a proposal to make it meet the criteria. If two or more proposals overlap in their focus, the CSW may merge them into a single proposal. In doing so, the CSW takes into account previously adopted social witness statements. The CSW will place no more than ten proposals on the Congregational Poll.
- The Congregational Poll is made available to congregations, districts, and sponsored organizations by November 15. It will include the text of up to 10 proposed CSAIs selected by the CSW. Proposed CSAIs listed in the Congregational Poll are also posted on the CSW website after attempts have been made to notify all proposers of the CSW’s decisions and confirm that proposed CSAIs selected for the Poll reflect the intent of the proposers.
- The ballot for the Congregational Poll is mailed with the Congregational Certification form. Those ballots are due in the GA Office February 1. The outcome of the Congregational Poll voting reduces to no more than five the number of CSAIs to go on the Final Agenda for GA. For the proposed CSAIs to be placed on the Final Agenda, twenty-five percent (25%) of all certified congregations must participate in the ballot vote concerning these proposed CSAIs, and a majority of those must vote in favor of placing the CSAI on the Final Agenda.
- For more information about the CSAI/SOC process, go to UUA By-laws Sections 4.12 and 4.13.
8. What happens at General Assembly?
- An advocate for each CSAI gives a two-minute presentation on it at a workshop sponsored by the CSW, where the audience may ask questions or offer comments. There may be an additional opportunity for advocates to make their presentations before the plenary.
- At the designated plenary, the advocates give their two-minute presentations to the entire delegate body. Afterward, time is set aside for other supporting advocates to speak in rotation among the five issues. There is no debate about any issue (that is, no con statements), only pro statements for each proposed CSAI. The delegates then vote to select just one of the five proposed CSAIs to be the CSAI for three years of study and action.
- During GA, the Washington Office for Advocacy conducts a hearing on the selected CSAI to assist congregations and districts in getting their study and action underway.
9. What happens after the first GA?
- The Washington Office for Advocacy prepares a resource guide, which is posted at UUA.org > Social Justice by November 1. Congregations and districts will be notified of its availability.
- Official Comment Forms are sent out to congregations and districts and are available online in the fall soliciting feedback on their progress in the study/action process and on the related resource guide. These forms are due March 1 of each year. Comments must summarize group opinions within congregations or districts and not be the opinions of just one person.
- At the second GA, the CSW conducts multiple workshops on the CSAI for congregations and districts to share best practices, address challenges, and identify opportunities for cooperation among congregations, districts, and outdside groups. Forums may also be held that feature outside speakers on the issue.
- In the third year, proposed CSAIs on new topics are again invited following the procedure outlined in paragraph #6 above.
- At the third GA, the CSW conducts additional workshops similar to those of the second GA, but emphasizing progress since the last GA in study, action and cooperation.
- In the fourth year by November 15, the CSW will draft a Statement of Conscience (SOC) based on the CSAI. The draft SOC, a draft SOC congregational comment form, and a ballot to place the draft SOC on the Final Agenda of the next GA will be accessible online at the CSW website; congregations will be notified of this. Congregational ballots and draft SOC comment forms are due February 1, corresponding with the due date for congregational certification forms. For a draft SOC to be placed on the Final Agenda of the next GA, at least 25% of all certified congregations must participate in the ballot vote concerning the draft Statement of Conscience, with most of those votes being cast in favor of such placement. If this happens, the CSW will revise the draft SOC, taking into consideration the comments received, and place it on the Final Agenda.
- At the fourth GA, the delegates may propose amendments to the draft SOC at a mini-assembly, after which the CSW redrafts it once more, incorporating amendments and prioritizing amendments not incorporated for possible adoption by the delegates in plenary.
- At the plenary after the mini-assembly, delegates debate and vote on amendments and then vote on whether (1) to adopt the SOC as amended as a UUA Statement of Conscience, (2) to hold it over for a further year of study, or (3) to reject it altogether.
- If the delegates adopt it as a UUA SOC, then congregations, districts and UUA staff will follow up with at least one year of implementation. UU leaders and the Washington Office for Advocacy may use it as a basis for public statements on the matter. Individual UUs, congregations, districts, and UU affiliate organizations are urged to implement it however they can.
- At the fifth GA, the CSW will conduct workshops on the implementation of the SOC. This ends the formal process for that issue. A new CSAI is selected.
10. What should I do now?
- As an individual, group, congregation, district, board, or sponsored organization, select possible topics for a proposed CSAI.
- Draft one or more proposed CSAIs, as directed above.
- Obtain approval of one proposed CSAI by a group authorized to propose a CSAI (described in #2 above).
- Ensure that an authorized group submits the proposal.
- Know that our UU Principles are of value only if practiced. Your proposed CSAI promotes that practice for us all.
Part 2—Actions of Immediate Witness >
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
