The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Nominating Committee nominates candidates for all positions elected by the General Assembly except for President and Moderator. Candidates for elected positions may also be nominated by petition.

As part of the vetting process, all applications will be vetted through the Ministries and Faith Development office. The reason is to be mindful that folks involved in misconduct or allegations of misconduct are not appointed or nominated to committees until due process is complete.

Nominations for Election at General Assembly 2023

The Nominating Committee submitted the following slate of nominees to the Board of Trustees on March 15, 2023. The election for these positions will take place at General Assembly (GA) 2023.

Board of Review

• Rev. Jennifer Hamlin-Navias - position #2 (fulfill 4-year term ending at GA 2027)
• Rev. Shana Lynngood - position #3 (fulfill 6-year term ending at GA 2029)
• Sheri Phillabum - position #4 (8-year term ending at GA 2031)
• Charles Williams - position #6 (fulfill 4-year term ending at GA 2027)
• Kim Diana Connley - position #7 (fulfill 6-year term ending at GA 2029)
• Anthony Stringer - position #8 (8-year term ending at GA 2031)

Board of Trustees

• Rev. Amanda J. Weatherspoon - position #1 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)
• Barbara de Leeuw - position #2 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)
• Bill Young - position #3 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)
• John Newhall - position #5 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)

Commission on Appraisal

• Rev. Carol Cissell - position #4 (fulfill 2-year term ending at GA 2025)
• Rev. Meg Richardson - position #5 (6-year term ending at GA 2029)
• Dana N. Matthews-Moore - position #6 (6-year term ending at GA 2029)
• Rev. Monica Dobbins - position #8 (6-year term ending at GA 2029)
• Rev. Lucas Hergert - position #9 (fulfill 4-year term ending at GA 2027)

Commission on Social Witness

• Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee - position #1 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)
• Sharon Welch - position #2 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)
• Rev. Cynthia Landrum - position #3 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)

Financial Advisor

• David Stewart (fulfill 5-year term ending at GA 2028)

Nominating Committee

• Ben Gabel - position #2 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)
• Tim Atkins - position #3 (fulfill 1-year term ending at GA 2024)
• Kathy Charles - position #4 (fulfill 2-year term ending at GA 2025)
• Carrie Stewart - position #5 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)
• Rev. Zackrie Vinczen - position #6 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)
• Rev. Viola Abbitt - position #9 (3-year term ending at GA 2026)

Photos and short biographies for each candidate will appear on this page at a later date.

The only elected committee vacancies that do not have a nomination are the two Youth Trustee positions. The Nominating Committee feels that the processes around Youth Trustees need to be clarified as there were no applicants for the position.

Please note the differences in term lengths. Although many of these positions have a maximum term longer than what they are being nominated for, due to the large number of vacancies and how the bylaws mandate different staggered schedules, many of the open positions were to fulfill partially-vacant terms and not full-length terms, so the Nominating Committee adjusted accordingly.

Our UUA Needs You and Your Service

Do you want to help make real and concrete changes to our Unitarian Universalist Association?Do you want to put your skills and expertise to work for our faith movement? Do you want to explore a passion of yours through denominational service?

The UUA Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for our denominational committees elected by the General Assembly.

We are seeking nominations for all of our elected committees: Board of Trustees, Board of Review, Nominating Committee, General Assembly Planning Committee, Commission on Appraisal, Commission on Social Witness, as well as for Financial Advisor.

Learn more and APPLY!

Have any questions about serving? Reach out to the nominating committee at nominating@uua.org

Nomination Procedures

The UUA Bylaws provide for nomination of elected positions by two procedures:

1. Nomination by the Nominating Committee
   • To be considered by the Nominating Committee, an applicant must:
     • Be a member of a Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregation
     • Complete the Volunteer Leadership Application. Applications remain active for two years, after which we ask volunteers still interested to re-apply.
2. Petition
   • To run by petition, a candidate must:
     • Be a voting member of a UU congregation
     • Secure signatures of at least 50 members of certified UU congregations with no more than 10 from any single congregation
     • File requisite papers with the UUA Secretary by the May 1 preceding the election

May 1st Deadline

People interested in running by petition have until May 1 to submit a completed petition.

The bylaws stipulate:

The Nominating Committee shall endeavor to nominate individuals so that the membership of the Board of Trustees and each elected committee reflects the full diversity of the Association, especially in regard to historically marginalized communities, but also balancing among size of congregation, lay and ordained, geography, age (including youth and young adults), and gender, among others. The Nominating Committee shall consult with groups and organizations including those traditionally underrepresented in Unitarian Universalist leadership, to help inform the nominating process.

What Is the Nominating Committee Looking For?

In order for UUA committees, commissions, and boards to function as effectively as possible, each candidate needs to have the requisite skills, as well as the ability and time to follow through on their tasks and commitments. In addition, the Nominating Committee strives to equip committees, the board, and commissions with people who can offer a variety of cultural competencies and life experiences, with the belief that this will help these working groups to make more effective decisions.

The Nominating Committee is particularly interested in identifying qualified candidates who also have connections to, and understanding of, ethnic communities other than those of European descent, youth and young adults, and people with disabilities. The committee does not believe that one must personally be a member of a particular group in order to have developed such cultural competencies. Work and volunteer experience, travel, and study are examples of avenues through which people can develop cultural competencies and sensitivities outside of their own ethnic, age or cultural community.

The Nominating Committee also strives to create working groups which include the participation of people of varied genders and sexual identities, who also represent people from a variety of geographies.

Those seeking our nomination should already have demonstrated their leadership skills in their local congregation, district, UUA, theological school, and/or other affiliated Unitarian Universalist organization.

To communicate directly to the Nominating Committee, nominating@uua.org.