Business Agenda

The General Assembly (GA) 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 will be set forth in the official agenda.

    2021 Business

    The following amendments to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Bylaws and Rules (PDF, 31 pages) were adopted

    Page numbers refer to the 2021 Program Book (PDF, 108 pages)

    • On the Consent Agenda:
      • Bylaw Amendment #4: Timeline for President-Elect to Take Office (p 99-100)
      • Bylaw Amendment #6: Religious Education Credentialing Levels (p 100-101)
    • Bylaw Amendment #1: Timeline for Submitting Actions of Immediate Witness (p 97)
    • Bylaw Amendment #2: Timelines for Campaigns for Moderator and President [with 1 Incorporated Amendment (PDF)] (p 97-98)
    • Bylaw Amendment #5: GA Registration Requirements (p 100)

    Actions of Immediate Witness

    The General Assembly affirmed these Actions of Immediate Witness

    Election Results

    • Board of Trustees #3: Rev. Elizabeth Mount
    • Board of Trustees #6: JeKaren Olaoya
    • Board of Trustees #8: Rev. Sam Trumbore
    • Commission on Appraisal: Adrian Graham
    • Financial Advisor: Lucia Santini Field
    • General Assembly Planning Committee: Chelsea Surfus
    • Nominating Committee: Tim Atkins, Rev. Danielle Di Bona, cristy cardinal

    Statement of Conscience

    The Statement of Conscience (SOC): Undoing Intersectional White Supremacy (PDF) was adopted.

    Responsive Resolutions

    Delegates also adopted the Responsive Resolutions

    Who May Place Items on the GA Agenda?

    Certified congregations may:

    • Propose Amendments to Bylaws in collaboration with 14 other congregations.
    • Write a Business Resolution in collaboration with 14 other congregations.
    • Petition to propose Amendments to Rules by gathering 250 signatures (no more than 10 from any one congregation) in collaboration with other congregations.
    • Petition to propose a Business Resolution by gathering 250 signatures (no more than 10 from any one congregation) in collaboration with other congregations.

    Districts may (by official action at a district meeting at which a quorum is present):

    • Write up to three Business Resolutions.
    • Propose Amendments to Bylaws and Rules.

    The Board of Trustees or the Executive Committee may submit Business Resolutions, Amendments to Rules or Bylaws, or other items.

    The Commission on Social Witness may submit proposed Congregational Study/Action Issues and UUA Statements of Conscience.

    The Commission on Appraisal may submit additional proposed Amendments to Bylaws.

    All reports and other matters required by the Bylaws to be submitted to the General Assembly may also be included in the agenda.

    UUA Bylaws

    General Assembly Minutes

    General Assembly Minutes 2005-2020

    2020 Minutes

    General Assembly 2020 Business Meeting Minutes (PDF)

    The Business Resolution Embodying Human Rights in Our Investment Decisions (PDF) was adopted.

    The Bylaw Amendments (PDF, 3 pages) Co-Moderator Vacancies and Timelines for Nominating Committee were adopted.

    The following proposed Actions of Immediate Witness (AIWs) were adopted.

    The following Proposed Responsive Resolutions (PDF) were adopted.

    • Widening the Circle: Establishing Ongoing Intersectional Accountability Commission and Sunsetting the JTWTC
    • Supporting and Investing in Youth and Young Adults in Unitarian Universalism
    • The Pandemic: a Religious Response

      Past Agendas

      A woman with gray hair and a colorful shawl smiles from the podium.

      Former Vice Moderator Denise Rimes was presented with the UUA President's Award for Volunteer Service in 2019.
      Gregory Boyd and Elandria Williams address the audience from the GA podium

      Gregory Boyd and Elandria Williams (and others) shared moderating duties in 2017.
      Jim Key

      James Key served as Moderator from 2013 to 2017.
      Former Moderator Gini Courter speaks from the podium

      Gini Courter served as Moderator from 2003 to 2012.