We in UUCS regularly affirm our desire for respectful relationships with each other, our local community, and the wider world. One such relationship is with our Unitarian Universalist Association, where big things are happening!

I was one of the 5 delegates representing UUCS at the UUA General Assembly (GA) in June which approved a resolution that should of interest to all UUs and which call for your involvement.

The delegates approved, by a margin of 95.5 percent of those voting, a Business Resolution entitled “Renewing UUA Bylaws for Theologically Grounded and Mission-Focused Governance.” This tasks the UUA Board with a comprehensive review and possible rewrite of the UUA bylaws to remove “overly complicated and inefficient governance provisions.” As further stated in the resolution : “…the time to reimagine our bylaws to create a dynamic, accountable, flexible and responsive governance system is now.” The resolution concludes stating “the hope of the 2022 General Assembly is that substantial bylaw replacement will be brought to the General Assembly for consideration at the 2023 and/or 2024 General Assembly.”

Among the UUA Bylaws that may be affected by the 2022 Business Resolution are the Principles and Purposes found include Article II, which were last revised in 1987. At the 2017 GA, delegates discussed amending the Principles to add an 8th Principle, addressing racism, and an amended 1st Principle, addressing non-human life. The 5th Principle was the subject of a report in 2009, which dealt with the ways in which GA and other Unitarian Universalist (UU) gatherings do and don’t embody an inclusive democratic process. The 7th Principle has also been the subject of discussions about possible amendments.

In response to these issues, the UUA Board established the Article II Study Commission to review Article II of the UUA Bylaws, and propose any revisions that will enable our UUA, our member congregations, and our covenanted communities to be a relevant and powerful force for spiritual and moral growth, healing, and justice. “ The Study Commission is seeking input from all member congregations regarding this work. <Click here to learn more>.

If you are interested in monitoring or becoming involved in the work of Bylaw Revision, you are encouraged to attend Board Meetings virtually as well as the regular Open Houses. Click on the links for Board Meeting Dates and Monthly Open Houses. Contact administration@uua.org to obtain Registration Approval or other information. ~By Barbara Stebbins-Boaz