Request for UUA General Assembly 2025 Program Proposals

General Assembly Program Proposals are due Wednesday, January 15.

General Assembly provides opportunities for attendees to learn and grow through educational workshops, lectures, and discussions on a wide range of topics. We are seeking exceptional programs that will significantly enhance the overall experience for GA attendees. We welcome submissions from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, with a special emphasis on historically marginalized communities, people of color, and the voices of our youth.

The 64th General Assembly will take place in Baltimore and online Wednesday, June 18 through Sunday, June 22, 2025.

Whether participating in-person or remotely, GA participants will receive:

• Memorable, high-impact content for faith formation, with an easy and accessible experience.
• A sense of belonging in the online community, with flexible approaches for a variety of needs.
• Renewed connection to the wider faith of Unitarian Universalism.
• Inspiration and support to carry forward to local congregations and beyond.

About the Theme - "Meet the Moment"

In this transformative time, we're called to reshape and renew, facing both challenges and the opportunity for radical change. As traditional forms of connection and spirituality evolve, many are seeking meaningful engagement that reflects today’s needs and values.

With shifting religious practices, eco-justice concerns, rising fascism, and a push for spiritual leadership, there is an imperative to deepen into our tradition’s strengths, let go of what no longer serves, and experiment with new ways of being and doing in our new context. This moment invites us to harness resources thoughtfully, strengthen connections and alignment, and deepen Unitarian Universalism’s impact. Rather than imposing change, we must work collaboratively and nimbly to shape a sustainable, purpose-driven future grounded in our shared values. Together, we can meet this moment with clarity and commitment, building a resilient foundation for all.

Focus Areas for Program Proposals

The Unitarian Universalist Association is guided by our mission to equip congregations for health and vitality, to support and train lay and professional leaders, and to advance Unitarian Universalist values in the world. These values, as newly re-articulated in 2024, include Interdependence, Pluralism, Justice, Transformation, Justice, and Equity – all with the foundational value and practice of Love at the center.

As we examine what it means to faithfully embody our mission and values in the context of our rapidly changing world, we are seeking program proposals that are especially concerned with how Unitarian Universalist practice, community, leadership, governance, worship, faith formation, organizing, resistance, spiritual practice, theology, and partnerships can meet the particular opportunities and challenges of this moment.

Focus areas for 2025 UUA General Assembly workshop proposals include:

• Faithful Witness & Skillful Practice for Justice:
  Workshops exploring courageous, strategic strategies to address systemic racism, authoritarianism, economic inequality, trans and queer liberation, reproductive justice, gender equity, climate justice, and other pressing issues in alignment with our shared values of justice, interdependence, and transformation.
• Nurturing Communities of Belonging: 
  Workshops focused on fostering connection across identity and experience, providing spiritual nourishment and concrete support for marginalized communities, promoting accessibility, creating welcoming spaces for all, and building accountable relationships with our neighbors, reflecting our shared values of interdependence, equity, justice, pluralism, and generosity.
• Spiritual Depth and Sustenance: 
  Workshops designed to teach and deepen individual and communal practices, innovate ritual resources, provide spiritual nurturing and sustenance to counter fear and anxiety, encourage meaning-making and moral courage, and cultivate joy, hope, and resilience, aligning with the UUA's commitment to pluralism, transformation, interdependence, and justice.
• Accountable Partnerships and Solidarity: 
  Workshops facilitating dialogue, collaboration, and organizing with faith-based and secular partners. Teaching skills of multicultural and multifaith humility, respect, and solidarity, in harmony with the UUA's values of pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and justice.
• Building Skilled, Courageous Congregational Leadership: 
  Workshops focusing on leadership development, effective governance, stewardship and fundraising, conflict resolution, membership development, communication strategies, and nurturing resilient and innovative congregational communities, in line with the UUA's values of transformation, equity, generosity, and leadership development.
• Youth and Young Adult Leadership: 
  Workshops showcasing and deepening the unique leadership styles, needs, aspirations, and concerns of youth and young adults within the UUA, supporting their investment in and stewardship of Unitarian Universalism, reflecting the UUA's commitment to equity, interdependence, and justice.
• Promoting Human Rights and Global Citizenship: 
  Workshops examining global issues, human rights issues, war and genocide, refugee and migrant concerns, international democracy, climate change, and the promotion of a just peace across the globe in alignment with the UUA's values of interdependence, justice, equity, pluralism, and transformation.
• Liberating Religious Practices and Theologies: 
  Workshops exploring liberal and liberating religious thought, theological diversity, evolving beliefs, and deepening theological grounding for life in these times, embracing Unitarian Universalist values of pluralism, transformation, generosity, and interdependence.

These proposed focus areas aim to align with the mission and values of the UUA, fostering growth, innovation, depth, and action within the Unitarian Universalist community and beyond.

UUA General Assembly 2025 EduCenter

We are excited to invite presenters to submit proposals for the UUA GA 2025 EduCenter, hosted on the Whova app. This platform will serve as a comprehensive educational hub for our event, allowing for a diversity of educational opportunities. Presenters have the flexibility to pre-record a video, present a live webinar, or do both. Presenters can also upload documents, dozens of photos, and contact information. In addition, presenters will have the opportunity to schedule an in-person meet-up for further discussion and Q&A.

EduCenter Submission Options

1. Pre-recorded Video - Create a video presentation that attendees can view on-demand. To take advantage of this option you must be able to independently produce a video, upload the video to Vimeo, add captions in Vimeo, and provide the URL.
2. Live Webinar - Schedule and host a live webinar. Set up your webinar independently and provide the Zoom link. The webinar link will be accessible on your EduCenter page in the app. You must be able to independently schedule and facilitate a webinar over Zoom and ensure that the meeting is accessible.
3. In-Person Meet-up - EduCenter Presenters will have the opportunity to schedule an in-person meet-up for further discussion/Q&A. Alternatively, off-site presenters can schedule meet-ups in the GA App by Whova.

The GA App by Whova will be published and available to attendees beginning Friday, May 30. If your proposal is selected for the EduCenter, you must complete your EduCenter profile information no later than May 15.

Important Dates

January 15 – Program Proposal deadline

Late February/Early March – Selection notices will be sent to all applicants

March 14 – Deadline to report any edits to your program title or description

April 1 –Program Contacts will receive the link to their EduCenter Setup Page

May 15 – Deadline to complete your EduCenter Setup Page in full. Please review the EduCenter Setup Page Requirements (PDF)

Other Information

• In late February or early March, you will receive an email to let you know if your program proposal was chosen for General Assembly. The email will provide details about your event, including the event title and program description, and presenters. Please proof this information carefully. This email will also include a link to an RSVP form. You must complete the RSVP form by March 15 to confirm your participation in the GA EduCenter. You will also use this form to communicate any edits to program title and/or description.
• If selected, you will receive a link to your EduCenter Setup Page. This must be completed in full by May 15. The GA is available to registrants beginning May 31.
• Modest financial support is available and will be distributed based on financial need and the strength of the proposal. For the most part funds will be awarded in the form of a GA registration discount code which will offset the cost of presenter(s) registration.
• We look forward to receiving your proposals and creating a diverse, informative, and engaging EduCenter for the UUA General Assembly 2025.