UUA Reaches Key Milestone in Search Process for New President Next President Will Assume Role in Summer 2023

Media Contact:
Suzanne Morse
Ph: (508) 259-9354
Email: smorse@uua.org

Boston, Mass. (July 26, 2022) – The Presidential Search Committee (PSC) of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has reached a key milestone in its process for electing a new president, the Association announced today. The new president will assume a six-year office in summer 2023, replacing Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, who was elected to the role in 2017.

The PSC is charged with leading the UUA’s presidential nomination process, including evaluating candidates and advancing at least two nominees for the role. In April, the PSC opened applications in which interested individuals could apply through an online portal, which closed on July 15th.

“The UUA’s president is the spiritual voice, the public face, and the executive leader of the Unitarian Universalist movement,” said Carey McDonald, the UUA’s executive vice president, who is working with the Presidential Search Committee to manage the presidential transition process. “We anticipate that the next UUA president will build on the strong foundation created over the last six years to advance our justice priorities and expand our voice and influence.”

The UUA President is the chief executive officer of the Association, responsible for all operational aspects of the Association. In 2010, the General Assembly created the Presidential Search Committee to nominate candidates for UUA President (prior to the creation of the PSC, all candidates for the UUA presidency ran by petition). The 2023 presidential election will be the second time the PSC has led the nomination process. The committee has sought input and advice from UUA staff and leadership, and a variety of UU identity-based, interest-based, and professional groups, including the UU Ministers Association (UUMA), the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) and the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries (AUUMM), to encourage nominations. A special effort was made to consult with Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM), EqUUal Access, and Transgender Religious professional UUs Together (TRUUsT).

The PSC will assess candidates’ applications between July 15th and early November and will announce two or more candidates by November 15th. Candidates may also be directly nominated by petition from December 1, 2022 through February 1, 2023 in addition to those nominated by the PSC. Those running by petition will need to meet a standard in which 50 certified member congregations sign their petitions, including three congregations from five of the UUA’s regions. Candidates for president will campaign for office in the winter/spring of 2023, and the winner will be elected by congregational delegates of the General Assembly. The new president will be announced at the 2023 General Assembly, which will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from June 21st through June 25th, and will take office no later than August 9, 2023. More information on the UUA’s presidential process can be found at UU World.

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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 Seven Principles that hold closely the worth and dignity of each person as sacred, the need for justice and compassion, the right to choose one’s own beliefs, and respect for the interdependent nature of all existence.