The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Board of Trustees announced it had received the resignation of trustee Christina Rivera, effective December 31, 2018. Ms. Rivera, elected to the Board in 2014, currently serves as Secretary and previously served as Financial Secretary.

“For the past four and a half years I have had just about every experience you can imagine on the Board,” said Ms. Rivera. “I have put the best of my abilities to work for our faith, serving with a deep and abiding love for Unitarian Universalism. Some of my proudest moments as a UU are intertwined with my Board service, and it is with deep sadness that I tender my resignation.”

UUA Co-Moderators Elandria Williams and Mr. Barb Greve issued the following statement, acknowledging the recent receipt of threatening messages directed to Ms. Rivera and her family:

“We are saddened by the resignation of UUA Secretary and Trustee Christina Rivera. She will be sorely missed. We are angered and frustrated by the white supremacy culture within UUism that has some believing letters of hate and threats are acceptable forms of expression — this is not reflective of the faith either of us have been taught from childhood and it must cease immediately! There is no room within our theology to tolerate such behavior. It is not permissible to threaten people, whether anonymously, directly, or through their children! Never in our lives did we imagine we would need to address this type of behavior, and it breaks our hearts that we do.

As one of the first religious educators, and the first Boricua Chicana religious professional, to serve on the UUA Board, Christina has been a diligent secretary and board member. Her commitment to healthy youth ministry, good board practices/policies, and justice for all will live on in our work for years to come.”

Ms. Rivera serves as Director of Administration and Finance at Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist, Charlottesville, VA.

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