General Assembly (GA) 2016 occurred in Columbus, OH, from June 22-26.

The General Assembly is the annual business meeting of the denomination. An elected moderator presides at the General Assembly in accordance with rules of procedure. General Assemblies make overall policy for carrying out the purposes of the Association and direct and control its affairs. Voting at each regular and special General Assembly shall be by accredited delegates from certified member congregations, certified associate member organizations, and trustees.

The business to be transacted was set forth in the official 2016 Agenda (PDF, 19 pages) and recorded in the Minutes (PDF, 9 pages).

This page of business coverage include annual reports, on-demand video and captions for general sessions, and minutes (as they become available).

On-Demand Video

Thursday, June 23

• General Session I

  • Review and Adopt Rules
  • Welcome New Congregations
  • Introduction: Right Relations Team
  • Introduction: Chaplains
  • Introduction: GA Planning Committee
  • Introduction: Youth Caucus
  • Introduction: Young Adults@GA
  • GA Accessibility
  • Commission on Social Witness Report (YouTube)
  • Commission on Appraisal Report (YouTube)
  • Introduction: International Guests
  • Black Lives of Unitarian Universalists Report (YouTube)
  • Beacon Press Report (YouTube)
  • Reverend Dr. William T. Barber, II
• State of Emergence: Faith Filled People Rally for Racial Justice

Friday, June 24

• General Session II

  • Preliminary Credentials Report
  • Right Relations Team Report
  • President’s Report (YouTube)
  • UU Service Committee Report (YouTube)
  • UU Women’s Federation Report (YouTube)
  • Debate and Vote on Congregational Study/Action Issues (CSAIs) (YouTube)
    ("The Corruption of Our Democracy" was selected as the CSAI referred for study.)
  • Panel Discussion: Business Resolution on Divestment
  • Presentation: Angus MacLean Award (YouTube)
  • Annual Program Fund Report (YouTube)
  • Presentation: Legacy Society (YouTube)
  • Presentation: Two Who Dared: The Sharp’s War (YouTube)
  • Financial Advisor’s Report (YouTube)

Saturday, June 25

• General Session III

  • Call to Order
  • Right Relations Team Report
  • Debate and Vote on Actions of Immediate Witness
  • Presentation: Distinguished Service Award (YouTube)
  • Debate and Vote on Actions of Immediate Witness
  • Special Collection to Support Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) (YouTube)
  • Moderator’s Report (YouTube)
  • Board of Trustee’s Report (YouTube)
  • Debate and Vote on Business Resolution on Divestment (YouTube)
    ("Screening Out Investments in Corporations Complicit in the Violation of Palestinian Rights," as amended during mini-assembly and General Session III, failed to be adopted.)
  • Motion to admit Actions of Immediate Witness to Final Agenda
  • Announcements
  • Renewing the Covenant Task Force Report
  • Recess to Breakout Rooms to respond to Task Force
• Presidential Candidates Forum
• Ware Lecture

Sunday, June 26

• General Session IV

  • Right Relations Team Report
  • Debate and Vote on Bylaw on Actions of Immediate Witness at GA 2017 in New Orleans
    (The bylaw amendment to suspend AIWs during GA 2017 in New Orleans, as amended during the mini-assembly, was adopted.)
  • Debate and Vote on Business Resolution on Reconsidering Thanksgiving
    ("Thanksgiving Day Reconsidered," as amended during mini-assembly, was adopted.)
  • Covenanting Communities (YouTube)
  • Presentation: President’s Award for Volunteer Service (YouTube)
  • Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee Report (YouTube)
  • Renewing the Covenant Task Force Feedback (YouTube)
  • Declare Election Results and Install Newly Elected Trustees, Financial Advisor, and Nominating Committee members
• General Session V
  • Debate and Vote on Actions of Immediate Witness (AIWs)
    (Draft AIWs as amended during mini-assemblies are in the Sunday CSW Alert (PDF) from the Commission on Social Witness.)

    • AIW A: Build Solidarity with Muslims
      ("Build Solidarity with our Muslim Neighbors," as amended during mini-assembly, was adopted.)

    • AIW B: Some Guns, All Guns: Legislating Appropriate Restrictions
      ("Some Guns, All Guns: Legislating Appropriate Restrictions," as amended during mini-assembly and General Session V, was adopted.)

    • AIW F: Stop The Hate: Protect and Support our Transgender Brothers and Sisters
      ("Stop the Hate: Protect and Support our Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Family," as amended during mini-assembly and General Session V, was adopted.)

  • UU College of Social Justice Report (YouTube)
  • GA Talk: Young Adults at General Assembly (YA@GA) (YouTube)
  • Responsive Resolutions
    ("Reaffirmation of Commitment to Racial Justice" was adopted.)
  • Right Relations Team Final Report
  • GA New Orleans 2017
  • Final Credentials Report
  • Reflections
  • Recognition of all who made GA possible
  • Adjournment

Social Witness Statements, Business Resolutions, and Bylaw Amendments

Congregational Study/Action Issue

• "The Corruption of Our Democracy" was selected as the CSAI referred for study during General Session II.

Bylaw Amendments

• The bylaw amendment to suspend AIWs during GA 2017 in New Orleans, as amended during the mini-assembly, was adopted during General Session IV.

Business Resolutions

• "Thanksgiving Day Reconsidered," as amended during mini-assembly, was adopted during General Session IV.
• "Screening Out Investments in Corporations Complicit in the Violation of Palestinian Rights," as amended during mini-assembly and General Session III, failed to be adopted.

Actions of Immediate Witness

Draft AIWs as amended during mini-assemblies are in the Sunday CSW Alert (PDF) from the Commission on Social Witness​. Some additional amendments were adopted during General Session V.

• "Build Solidarity with our Muslim Neighbors," as amended during mini-assembly, was adopted.
• "Some Guns, All Guns: Legislating Appropriate Restrictions," as amended during mini-assembly and General Session V, was adopted.
• "Stop the Hate: Protect and Support our Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Family," as amended during mini-assembly and General Session V, was adopted.

Responsive Resolution

• "Reaffirmation of Commitment to Racial Justice" was adopted during General Session V.

Minutes

• Minutes of the Fifty-Fifth General Assembly (PDF, 9 pages)

Annual Reports to the General Assembly

The following documents are PDF files.

• Beacon Press
• Board of Trustees
• UUA Moderator
• Commission on Appraisal
• Independent Auditor
• Ministerial Fellowship Committee
• Religious Education Credentialing Committee
• Treasurer
• UUA Staff
• UUA Health Plan Audit
• UU Service Committee
• UU Women's Federation