Part of General Assembly 2018 Event 505: General Session VIII

The following final draft script was completed before this event took place; actual words spoken may vary. Unedited live captions of General Session VIII (TXT) were created during the event, and contain some errors. Captioning is not available for some copyrighted material.

Co-Moderator: Once again, please welcome President Susan Frederick-Gray for the presentation of the Presidents’ Annual Award for Volunteer Service.

Susan Frederick-Gray: The President's Annual Award for Volunteer Service to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is given to the person or organization designated by the President as having given extraordinary and vital service to the UUA as a volunteer.

The President is proud to recognize the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) as the recipient of the 2018 Volunteer Service Award.

Since 1955, LREDA has been committed to promoting professional standards in religious education. LREDA’s partnership with the UUA to create a religious education credentialing program set a key standard for religious educators nationwide. And through the development of a common code of ethics, good offices, and continuing professional development resources and trainings, LREDA has continually invested in and supported the highest professional standards for religious education.

LREDA and its leaders have long charged our Association to live and lead at the margins of our faith, from the Diversity and Inclusion Team to focusing on the spiritual dimensions of the tough topics of race, human sexuality, death, and our relationship with money. From the initial conversations and leadership that created the About Your Sexuality and later the Our Whole Lives curricula, to commissioning their own anti-racism audit, to becoming the first Welcoming Organization, and most recently, members of LREDA leading the call and developing curriculum resources and trainings for a White Supremacy Teach-In in which over 700 congregations participated, LREDA has exemplified how courageous conversations create spaces where all are welcome.

Throughout its history and in this moment, LREDA and its members have been bold and fearless in challenging our faith to be more inclusive and to deal with the issues of the time with honesty and courage through an unwavering commitment to developmental learning and growth.

This award comes with the financial award of $1,000 to be given to the charitable organization of one's choice.

LREDA has selected the Promise and the Practice Campaign to fund Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism as the recipient of the financial gift. Once again, LREDA is centering the work of Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression and leading the way in our faith!