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 and Congregational Life staff group. 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.

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. Applications for the following elected committees received by December 1st will be given priority for consideration for the slate of candidates to be voted on at the General Assembly.

• Board of Review
• Board of Trustees
  • Adult Trustee
  • Youth Trustee
• Commission on Appraisal
• Nominating Committee

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

Elected Positions on Committees to be Filled at General Assembly 2025

• Board of Review (2 positions / 8-year terms)
  • Minister in Full Fellowship who has held such fellowship continuously for the preceding seven years
  • Lay Leader, who is not a minister or credentialed religious educator, whom at the time of election is a member of a certified member congregation and has been a member of one or more such congregations for not less than three years as an officer or a member of the governing bodies of one or more such congregations
• Board of Trustees (2 positions / 3-year terms)
  • Position #7
  • Position #9
  • Position #10
  • Position #11
• Commission on Appraisal (5 positions / 6-year terms)
• Nominating Committee (2 positions / 3-year terms)

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.