Proposer's Guide—Part 2
Actions of Immediate Witness
One of the most exciting aspects of General Assembly is the unfolding Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) process. People come with a wide range of issues, engage one another in conversation, sign petitions, debate the issues, vote, and bring to life the Principles of Unitarian Universalism, all within the span of one General Assembly (GA). Unlike a Statement of Conscience, an AIW does not carry the full authority of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA); rather, it expresses the conscience of the delegates at the GA at which it is passed. This difference follows from the difference in procedure: Congregational Study/Action Issues are initiated by congregations or districts or specified UUA sponsored organizations and move through a three-year period of study and action with opportunities for congregational and district comment. There are no such opportunities for AIWs, which are initiated by individuals and move through their entire creation and adoption process during one GA. Nonetheless, AIWs are also the product of considerable thought, collaboration, and commitment. The AIW process allows Unitarian Universalists to respond quickly to social issues deemed urgent. Adopted AIWs are used by congregations in local efforts and empower the Washington Office for Advocacy to take action and recommend action through other departments of the UUA and other UU groups.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is witness?
- Witness is the public profession by word or deed of the convictions of an individual or group regarding a particular issue. Actions of Immediate Witness profess convictions grounded in Unitarian Universalism.
2. Who may propose an Action of Immediate Witness
- Any member of a Unitarian Universalist congregation who is present at General Assembly, though only a delegate may present the AIW on the plenary floor.
3. What kind of issue is appropriate for an AIW
- An issue that requires immediate action in order that our witness can make an impact on the issue
- An issue that can be addressed by our Unitarian Universalist faith
- An issue that is clearly defined and focused, addressing a single, specific topic or circumstance, often related to a date-specific event
- An issue that the General Assembly, UU congregations, and affiliate UU groups can meaningfully address, and
- An issue too narrow to merit three years of study and action that define the Congregational Study/Action Issue Process
4. Where do I begin?
- If you are thinking of proposing an AIW, you must visit the Commission on Social Witness booth in the Exhibit Hall, where you can get the necessary forms, updates, and assistance with fine tuning your proposed AIW. You are also encouraged to visit the Advocacy and Witness booth for additional information and advice on your topic.
5. What should my proposed AIW look like?
- It must have a title that clearly identifies the subject. It may be written as a narrative or in a "resolution format" (with "Because," "Whereas," and "Therefore Be It Resolved" clauses).
- It should be concise. There is a 500-word limit.
- It must be clear. Someone with no previous knowledge of your topic should be able to read the proposed AIW and understand exactly what the issues are and what actions you are proposing. Time restrictions at GA do not permit the CSW to make substantial or substantive edits. Visit the CSW booth if you have any questions about clarity or how to write your proposal for maximum impact. It must include a 100-word summary for use in publicizing proposed AIWs to the General Assembly.
- You are strongly encouraged to attach reputable documentation to substantiate facts you set forth in your proposed AIW.
6. How do I submit my proposed AIW?
- Get official forms and instructions at the CSW Booth in the Exhibit Hall on the first days of General Assembly. The booth will have a check list of all the deadlines and other instructions, as well as the official AIW "Cover Sheet" and "Petition Sheets." (Note: While a sample Cover Sheet may be available online, only the current official cover and petition sheets available at GA may be used, and signatures may not be gathered until GA has begun.)
- "Post" your proposed AIW at the CSW booth by 5 PM on the Thursday of General Assembly. That is, deliver to the CSW booth the text of your proposed AIW, including a summary of no more than 100 words, with a Cover Sheet attached to the front. If you can, bring an electronic form of your documents. You will have access to a computer at the CSW Booth. (Do not attach signature lists to the copy of your proposed AIW that you turn in for posting.)
- Gather your signatures - delegates only! You must acquire at least 150 delegate signatures from at least 25 different congregations, representing at least five different districts. You are strongly encouraged to exceed the 150 signature requirement. The text of the AIW must be attached to each page of signatures.
- "File" your proposed AIW at the General Assembly Office by 5 PM on the Friday of General Assembly. The filing copy must have a properly completed "Cover Sheet" on top, the text of the proposed AIW, and the "Petition Sheets" with the requisite number of signatures.
7. What happens after the filing deadline?
- For each proposed AIW with the requisite signatures, the CSW will compile the 100-word summaries and distribute them at the ensuing plenary. The UUA Moderator will seek a "sense of the General Assembly," asking delegates to raise their voting cards to show their preference for the proposed AIWs.
- The CSW uses this "straw poll" as they consider all properly submitted proposed AIWs and narrow them to a maximum of six for possible admission to the Final Agenda. The CSW may edit them and may combine two or more proposed AIWs on related subjects.
- Once the CSW has made its decisions, a CSW member attempts to notify each sponsor at the phone number indicated on the Cover Sheet, usually between 6:45 and 8:45 PM on Friday. It is important for the sponsor to be available for the call. Cell phones sometimes don't work in convention facilities, so either cite a land line in addition to the more commonly cited cell phone number on the Cover Sheet, or ensure that you are in a location that has cell phone service during the two-hour call period.
- The CSW's AIW coordinator meets with all of the sponsors of selected proposed AIWs to prepare them for presentations at the plenary at which AIWs are admitted to the Final Agenda. This time will be related in the phone call of notification.
- The CSW's selection of a proposed AIW does not automatically place it on the Final Agenda. At the Saturday morning plenary, an advocate for each of the selected proposed AIWs speaks for two minutes on its behalf. After each presentation, a two-thirds vote of the delegates is required to admit the proposed AIW to the Final Agenda.
- For each AIW admitted to the Final Agenda, there is a mini-assembly. These mini-assemblies provide delegates with their only opportunity to submit amendments to the proposed AIW. The mini-assemblies run concurrently shortly after the Saturday morning plenary.
- After the mini-assemblies, the CSW meets to determine which amendments to incorporate and prioritizes any unincorporated ones for possible adoption by the delegates in plenary. The amended AIWs are available to delegates before the plenary at which the vote is taken on whether to adopt each AIW as a statement of that year's General Assembly. A two-thirds affirmative vote is required for doption.
- Proposed AIWs are not in competition with one another as are proposed Congregational Study/Action Issues. Each of the proposed AIWs admitted to the Final Agenda may be dopted or rejected by the delegates.
8. What happens to an AIW after General Assembly?
- If the delegates adopt an AIW, then the Washington Office for Advocacy may use it as a basis for public statements on the matter. Individual Unitarian Universalists, congregations, districts, and departments of the UUA and UU affiliate organizations are urged to act on it also.
For additional help as you proceed, please contact the Commission on Social Witness at socialwitness @ uua.org. Through our social witness process, we work together so that the moral arc of the universe bends ever more closely toward justice.
Part 1—Congregational Study Action Issues/Statements of Conscience >
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
