Train of Thought

Our denomination the Unitarian Universalist Association is not a hierarchical denomination led by bishops or a chief rabbi or a founding spiritual teacher.  We are an association of congregations that freely covenant to work together.  The current version of our denominational bylaws declares the purpose of the association; thus, “The Unitarian Universalist Association shall devote its resources to and exercise its corporate powers for religious, educational and humanitarian purposes. The primary purpose of the Association is to serve the needs of its member congregations, organize new congregations, extend and strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions, and implement its principles.”

Once each year at the end of June, an annual meeting of the denomination called the General Assembly is held.  Member congregations send delegates to vote on the business of the denomination. All certified congregations have one member delegate for every 50 members (or a fraction thereof), with a minimum of two delegates. Every congregation decides how to select member delegates and whether or not it will instruct delegates on how to vote.  There are also other voting delegates.  Ministers, religious educators, ministers emeritus/a, and religious educators emeritus/a of congregations may also vote.  The two associate member organizations of the UUA, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation each also may send two voting delegates.

Just as our congregations have Boards of Trustees to guide the work of our congregations between our annual meetings so does the denomination.  The UUA Board of Trustees is comprised of 16 elected individuals: the Moderator(s), the President (without vote), the Financial Advisor, 11 Trustees, and 2 Youth Trustees. The UUA Moderator or Co-Moderators is/are the Chief Governance Officer(s). They preside at the GA and at meetings of the Board of Trustees. The President or Co-Presidents is/are responsible for overall leadership of the UUA through administering staff and programs that serve the Association’s more than 1,000 member congregations. They also act as principal spokesperson for the UUA.

At this year’s General Assembly delegates will vote for a new President of the Association.  The Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt is running in an uncontested election.  You can read her campaign statement here.  Delegates will also vote for  Trustees, Nominating Committee members, and others.  You can read about all the candidates here.   

The vote that has been generating the most interest this year is a first-year vote on a bylaw change. Changing the bylaws is a two-year process.  Article II of the UUA Bylaws is where our current Principles live.  In 2017 the UUA Board committed to establishing an Article II Study Commission to complete a study and offer a revised Article II. You can read more about the commission and the process here.

As well as the business of the association, each year’s UUA General Assembly includes worship services, lectures, and workshops.  While many offerings are only available to people who are registered to attend either in person or virtually, some events will be live-streamed and open to all.  Find more information here.

Lay delegates attending from Tri-County Unitarian Universalists this year are Cindy Grossman and Myra Symons both virtually.