Congregational Study Action Issues are issues selected by Unitarian Universalist member congregations for three years of study, reflection and action. The purpose is to provide member congregations of the Association with an opportunity to mobilize energy, ideas and resources around a common issue. The end result will be a deeper understanding of our religious position on the issue, a clear statement of Association policy as expressed in a Statement of Conscience, and a greater capacity for congregations to take effective action.

In the third year of this process, delegates at GA can vote to approve a Statement of Conscience (SOC) resulting from two years of congregational feedback on the CSAI. There have been no CSAIs for the past few years, and we are now restarting this process.

A CSAI offers us the opportunity to put our UU Values into practice by:

• Alerting us to important social justice issues in alignment with our principles so that we may practice them in the world
• Educating us on those issues
• Creating and identifying opportunities for us to act on those issues
• Articulating a faith perspective on those issues
• Achieving a strong majority of congregations agreeing on that position
• Calling on congregations and Unitarian Universalist Association staff to implement our shared position articulated in a Statement of Conscience.

CSAIs are proposed by Congregations by a vote of the congregation or board (unless the congregation has another articulated & adopted congregation practice for such statements). Multiple congregations can propose a CSAI together. CSAIs are not proposed by individuals or groups of individuals (other than congregations).

2024 — 2027 CSAI

Abolition, Transformation, and Faith Formation was selected as the 2024-2027 Congregational Study Action Issue (CSAI). Read the entire CSAI.

What Kind of Issue is Appropriate for a CSAI?

A CSAI should be an issue complex enough to merit years of study and action by congregations before a position on the matter is adopted by the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). In addition, an ideal CSAI issue is:

• Connected: An issue which is connected to UUism such that our theology and practice resonates with the issue historically, ethically, or spiritually.
• The Right Opportunity: Circumstances make it likely that our member congregations would become respected participants in public dialogue on this issue.
• A “Fit”: Our member congregations have the resources and people to take meaningful action on this issue.
• Studyable: An issue that lends itself to study and action that would enable UUs to put our Values into practice
• Actionable & Accountable: An issue that lends itself practically to congregational action projects with actions taken in accountable relationship with those most impacted.

CSAI Requirements

A CSAI proposal must meet all of the following:

1. Pertain to a current social witness issue that requires further study.
2. Have a meaningful study process for UU Congregations to engage with.
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 connected to UU theology and practice.
5. Be crafted in anti-oppressive and inclusive language that is conducive to justice.

A CSAI must not:

1. Be an issue that the UUA has a well-established and consistent position and history of action with the issue. (Issues we’ve debated and had inconsistent positions onare appropriate.)
2. Be an issue so urgent and specific that it is better addressed through an Action of Immediate Witness.
3. Duplicate a past CSAI issue that became a Statement of Conscience since 1999:
   1. Undoing Systemic White Supremacy: A Call to Prophetic Action: 2021
   2. Our Democracy Uncorrupted: 2019
   3. Escalating Economic Inequity: 2017
   4. Reproductive Justice: 2015
   5. Immigration as a Moral Issue: 2013
   6. Ethical Eating: Food & Environmental Justice: 2011
   7. Creating Peace: 2010
   8. Moral Values for a Pluralistic Society: 2007
   9. Threat of Global Warming/Climate Change: 2006
   10. Criminal Justice and Prison Reform: 2005
   11. Civil Liberties: 2004
   12. Economic Globalization: 2003
   13. Alternatives to the “War on Drugs”: 2002
   14. Responsible Consumption Is Our Moral Imperative: 2001
   15. Economic Injustice, Poverty, and Racism: We Can Make a Difference!: 2000
   16. Beyond Religious Tolerance: The Challenges of Interfaith Cooperation Begin with Us: 1999
4. Reproduce other recent social witness statements such as Actions of Immediate Witness or General Resolutions from the last 10 years.
5. Be focused on issues within the UUA or direct the UUA’s staff or funds.
6. Use overt partisan political language, such as the names of politicians or political parties.

The Commission on Social Witness recommends this CSAI as a good past example of a successful CSAI proposal: Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling (Congregational Study/ Action Issue for 2012-2016)

See The Proposer’s Guide for Social Witness for more.

See the CSAI Timeline

For more information contact socialwitness@uua.org.