Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) Process for 2024

An Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) is a statement about a significant action, event, or development in the world that necessitates immediate engagement and action among UU member congregations and groups.

Proposal Period for 2024

  • April 1: Submission for draft AIWs opens. Any AIWs submitted between April 1 and May 15 will receive CSW feedback. After May 15 any submissions are final submissions.

  • Sunday, May 26 – Deadline for proposed AIWs (final copies).

  • June 17 AIWs responding to last-minute urgent issues ONLY may be submitted until June 17, but will not be guaranteed the advantage of CSW feedback.

AIW Requirements

An AIW proposal must meet all of the following:

  1. Pertain to a current issue that requires immediate action.
  2. Call on UUA member congregations and groups to take specific meaningful action.
  3. Present an opportunity for member congregations to build partnerships and/or act in solidarity with marginalized groups beyond and within the Association.
  4. Be grounded in UU theology and practice.
  5. Be crafted in anti-oppressive and inclusive language that is conducive to justice.

An AIW must not:

  1. Duplicate an AIW admitted in the past 5 years. See searchable index.
  2. Be focused on issues within the UUA.
  3. Use overt partisan political language, such as the names of politicians or political parties.

Submit Your AIW Proposal

Follow the instructions and complete this Google form to submit your AIW.

Discussion of Eligible AIWs

The Commission on Social Witness (CSW) will announce which AIWs submitted are eligible by June 1st.

Eligible AIWs will be posted on the UUA's Discussion Forum for anyone to discuss after approval by the CSW.

The CSW will announce times for Zoom sessions which will be held between June 1 and June 20th where authors or their designees may present their AIWs, and where delegates will be able to ask questions about the AIWs.

Polling Period June 19-20

During the polling period, delegates will be able to vote for the top three AIWs to admit to the agenda.

During General Assembly

During General Session 2 (June 20th at 4:00 ET) the Commission on Social Witness will present the top three AIWs and move to add them to the agenda.

During General Session 4 (June 22nd, 2:30 ET) the AIWs will be presented by the proposers and discussed. Afterwards delegates will voted to adopt the AIWs.

For more information contact socialwitness@uua.org.

Please attend the CSWs workshops on understanding the CSW and the AIW process, and on the three AIWs admitted to the agenda.

Writing Your AIW

On the form you will enter the Title of your AIW along with the names of all those submitting the proposal.

Next you will include a description of the AIW which should be submitted as a PDF and uploaded. This is what delegates will see when considering and voting on the AIWs at the UUA General Assembly.

Guidelines

  1. No longer than 750 words.

  2. Written in clear, easy to understand language.

  3. May be written in any format including either Resolution Style or Social Action Style (see below).

  4. Include names and contact information of relevant organizations or groups that the proposers are in partnership with.

  5. Include a brief description of the process used to write this, such as who was part of the group writing and reviewing the proposal. May include meeting minutes, group photo or supporting documentation.

Resolution Style

(Example: Stop Cop City)

Because… (Explains the issue’s grounding in our Unitarian Universalist faith);

Because… (Explains the issue’s grounding in our Unitarian Universalist faith);

Whereas… (Explains the details of the issue);

Whereas… (Explains the details of the issue);

Therefore, be it resolved…. (Proposes specific action for congregations or participants of the General Assembly to take);

And be it resolved… (Proposes specific action for congregations or participants of the General Assembly to take);

And finally be it resolved… (Proposes specific action for congregations or participants of the General Assembly to take)

Social Action Style:  (Example: We Will Not Consent)

  1. How the issue is grounded in our UU faith.
  2. Explain the details of the issue
  3. Description of the specific actions that a congregation or participants can take, including but not limited to:
  4. Personal action
  5. Advocacy: through media or legislative action
  6. Organizing: bringing together congregants or community groups for action
  7. Witness: how do demonstrate support or public awareness
  8. Network building: partnering with organizations impacted or engaged in this issue, either within or outside the UU tradition
  9. Educate: ways to inform and educate congregations about the issue
  10. Fundraise: how to support organizations impacted or engaged in the issue.

Here is the Google form to submit your AIW. For more information contact socialwitness@uua.org or see The Proposer's Guide for Social Witness (PDF).