Report from GA delegates Susan Malloy, Cara Forcino, and Gail Forsyth-Vail
In the summer of 1986, people gathered for Ferry Beach RE Week all abuzz about the seven UU principles. Final approval of Article II had been voted by the General Assembly a year before. Gail was a very new religious educator, and remembers being carried by the jubilation of those who had been around much longer than she. Those principles and sources carried us forward for many decades, long past the “time for review and revision” date built into the UUA by-laws. They have been the covenant holding together our association of UU congregations and communities.
Last month, delegates from all of those congregations met in a virtual General Assembly to consider the final step necessary to adopt a new Article II, one which reflects our UU association now, and will carry us forward until the time comes to revise again. Susan, Cara, and Gail were honored to represent the North Parish at this historic moment. Four years have passed since UUA moderators Elandria Williams (of blessed memory) and Rev. Mr. Barb Greve charged a study commission with proposing a revision that puts Love at the center. Countless focus groups, feedback sessions, requests for comment, and debates to amend the proposal (and feedback from more than 10,000 UUs) led us to the moment at General Assembly, where, after spirited debate about four possible amendments, incorporating one of them, the virtual body of representatives of congregations voted 80% in favor of adopting the new revision. This was considerably more than the 2/3 majority required to finalize the revision.
Our new Article II provides a list of values our congregations affirm, share, and support, named in a way that doesn’t put them in any priority order. Further explanation of each of the values is also included in the new Article II. The graphic above was suggested by the commission, but already several UU creative people have designed others. Susan, Cara, and Gail look forward to joining with North Parishioners of all ages to figure out how to live into these values, and how to share them with those who ask about Unitarian Universalism.
There was other important business at General Assembly:
- The delegates voted overwhelmingly for a business resolution, “Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values.”
- The delegates voted overwhelming for three Actions of Immediate Witness. One urged congregations to recognize the needs of vulnerable people in our congregations and society as the risk of Covid-19 continues. The second advocates for a national/international declaration that climate change is a public health emergency, and urging congregations and the UUA to respond to its disproportionate impacts on vulnerable and marginalized groups of people. A third proposed Action of Immediate Witness expressed solidarity with Palestinians and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, while also calling out the rise in antisemitism. This third was the subject of vigorous debate, but passed with 73% of the vote. The Assembly also went on to pass a responsive resolution expressing support for actions leading to the return of the October 7 hostages.
General Assembly had its usual assortment of excellent workshops and wonderful worship services, all done artfully in a virtual format. Plans are to alternate in person with virtual yearly assemblies, making next year an in-person (with virtual option) gathering in Baltimore.