Unitarian Universalists Elect Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson and Bill Young as Co-Moderators Annual business meeting brought more than 3,200 Unitarian Universalists together virtually and in Baltimore, MD

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Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson is surrounded by fellow UUA Board members on stage at GA 2025. Rev. Kimberly is a Black woman with salt-and-pepper, short hair. She is wearing glasses and a white top. A white person has placed a hand on her shoulder. Behind her is Barbara de Leeuw, a Black person wearing a white top and a scarf; Chris Chepel, a white person with brown hair, wearing a white jacket; Rev. Sherman Logan, a Black person wearing a purple top; and the face of Carey McDonald.

Installation of Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson as Co-Moderator at General Assembly, June 2025

Baltimore, Md. (June 24, 2025) – Unitarian Universalists (UUs) elected Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson and Bill Young to serve a six-year term as Co-Moderators at the denomination’s General Assembly (GA) from June 18th through June 22nd. GA is the annual gathering of UUs, where the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) conducts business, gathers in community, learns and worships together, and emphasizes the Association’s mission, values, and principles.

This new Co-Moderating Team takes over the role from the Co-Moderator Team of Charles Du Mond and Rev. Meg Riley, who have served in the position since June 2020. Natasha Walker was also a nominee for the democratically-elected position. The UUA Moderator serves as Chief Governance Officer of the Association, presiding at the Association’s annual General Assemblies and at meetings of the UUA Board of Trustees. Historically, the Moderator has been the most prominent and senior volunteer leadership role in the Association. You can learn more about Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson and Bill Young and their vision for the Moderator role at UUWorld.

The image is of Bill Young surrounded by fellow Board Members at General Assembly. He is a white man, wearing glasses, a dark blue jacket, and a purple shirt. Behind him is Rev. Justine Sullivan, a white person wearing a blue shirt and glasses; John Simmonds, a Black person, wearing glasses and a purple shirt; Rev. Dr. Adam Robersmith, a white person wearing a white shirt; and Rev. Sam Trumbore, a white person wearing a navy jacket and glasses. They all have their hands on his shoulder.

Installation of Bill Young as Co-Moderator at General Assembly, June 2025

“We are so grateful to Unitarian Universalists for electing us to this significant role in our faith tradition, and to Natasha Walker for also offering her positive vision for the future of Unitarian Universalism,” said Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson and Bill Young.

“This is an important moment for Unitarian Universalism. Our Association and member congregations and communities are experiencing heightened changes, challenges, and transitions. As Co-Moderators, we are committed to maintaining focus and momentum on the work to promote long-term institutional changes meant to dismantle racism and other kinds of oppression throughout our systems. At the same time, we will attend to near-term and directional needs to support and sustain a healthy institution. We eagerly anticipate working with the Association and congregations to create a better future based on our shared values as UUs.”

GA is the largest gathering of UUs annually worldwide. This year, GA was a multiplatform event, which meant that business, workshops, and worship services were held both online and onsite at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. By doing so, the UUA maximized accessibility and participation by UUs and UU congregations across the country.

UU delegates from 48 states, Washington, DC, and four countries (Canada, France, Mexico, and the Virgin Islands) participated. 1,882 delegates from 592 congregations participated in voting democratically on denominational business. In total, there were more than 3,275 multiplatform attendees to the Assembly, the most onsite since the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Unitarians from Hungary, India, the Philippines, Canada, and the United Kingdom attended GA, demonstrating the strength of the global faith movement.

UUs Vote on Social Justice Issues

In addition to voting for the UUA Co-Moderators, UUs elected to move forward the proposal “Abolition, Transformation, and Faith Formation”, focused on the nation’s incarceration and criminal justice policies, as a Congregational Study Action Issue (CSAI). CSAIs are selected by member congregations for three years of study, reflection, and action. The purpose is to provide congregations with an opportunity to mobilize energy, ideas, and resources around a common issue. The end result will be a deeper understanding of the religious position of Unitarian Universalists on the issue, a clear statement of policy expressed in a Statement of Conscience, and greater capacity by congregations to take effective action. The next step in the CSAI process will be for the proposers to create a study/action resource guide for congregations.

Voting on Actions of Immediate Witness was also among the business conducted during GA 2025. UU delegates voted for social justice resolutions that call for reaffirming UU covenants for democracy and freedom in the face of rising authoritarianism, defending LGBTIQ freedom globally amid funding cuts, and declaring and affirming that immigrants are people who have inherent worthiness and inalienable rights.

“Unitarian Universalists know that we are in a precarious moment, especially when it comes to people who have been made vulnerable by oppression and authoritarian tactics,” said Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, the UUA’s president. “They also know that for more than 200 years, Unitarian Universalists have used their voices and taken actions to affirm the inherent worthiness of all people. I am so proud of all of the UUs who came together during GA to show how our shared values, centered around love, can help to create a more justice-oriented world.”

Delegates also heard about the UUA’s Meet the Moment initiative, an Association-wide framework for Unitarian Universalists to analyze, discern, and take values-based action in response to today’s religious, cultural, generational, and political realities. In addition to denominational business and spiritual gatherings, UU participants attended workshops and other events focused on UU social justice priorities. These included gatherings for individuals to come together with like-minded peers to form close-knit and supportive communities that share common goals, interests, or experiences.

Featured speakers at GA included theologian and anti-poverty advocate Rev. Liz Theoharis, author of “You Only Get What You’re Organized to Take: Lessons from the Movement to End Poverty,” published by Beacon Press; Deepa Iyer, author of the UUA’s 2025-2026 Common Read book, “Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection,” published by Skinner House Books; and visionary journalist Imara Jones, creator of TransLash Media, who delivered this year’s Ware Lecture. Those interested in viewing the General Assembly public agenda, can do so at our website at the 2025 General Assembly Schedule page.

The UUA will hold its 2026 General Assembly from June 14th – 21st.

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About the UUA:

The UUA is the central organization for the Unitarian Universalist (UU) religious movement in the United States. Our faith is diverse and inclusive and the UUA’s 1000+ member congregations are committed to shared values and principles that hold closely the worthiness and dignity of each person as sacred, the need for justice and compassion, the right of conscience, and respect for the interdependent nature of all existence.