Call for Submissions for a New Anthology of Rituals Edited by Reverends Heather Concannon and Allison Palm

Skinner House Books, the imprint of the Unitarian Universalist Association, invites Unitarian Universalists to submit abstracts for original rituals for possible inclusion in an anthology of rituals grounded in our shared Unitarian Universalist faith.

The Theme

This anthology will include rituals that can be used by individuals, small groups, families and congregations in the following categories: transitions, lament & mourning, healing, marking the cycle of the year, marking the cycle of life, and commitment, courage & celebration.

The core values of innovation, justice and liberation, and religious depth will guide the selection of contributors and editing of rituals in this book. The following are the editors’ descriptions of these values:

Innovation: We have a deep love for the history, tradition, and theology of Unitarian Universalism. Innovation and new expressions of Unitarian Universalism will allow our faith to thrive, to reach more people, and to guide us into the future.

Justice & Liberation: All that we do as Unitarian Universalists is grounded in a commitment to justice and liberation. In our best expression of worship and ritual, the prophetic and the pastoral are interwoven. As white editors, we are committed to answering the calls put out by the 2020 Commission on Institutional Change report, including de-centering whiteness and centering the lived experience of people historically marginalized in our Unitarian Universalist faith. We will prioritize contributors who have lived experience of the rituals they write.

Religious Depth: We believe that Unitarian Universalism has the depth to sustain and hold people in the most tender moments of their individual lives and in times of transition and turmoil in our world. The rituals in this anthology will be deeply grounded in our Unitarian Universalist theology, offering embodied ways to connect with our faith and our sources of strength and sustenance.

To submit an abstract, fill out this form by January 15th.

Contributors are welcome to submit abstracts for multiple rituals. Please fill out a separate form for each abstract.

Send your questions to UURitualAnthology@gmail.com.

If your work is accepted, you will be notified after February 15.