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UUA Names Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden, Utah a Breakthrough Congregation
Congratulations to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden, Utah, for being the newest Breakthrough Congregation! Each year the UUA’s Office of Growth Strategies recognizes a handful of congregations that have “broken through” barriers to achieve exemplary goals. UUCO's embrace of multigenerational worship and religious education for all ages has drawn attention from across the UUA. UUCO has also become a sanctuary for LGBT youth and a community hub for social justice work.
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Faith Without Borders: From Elmina Castle: Undoing Racism
The Rev. Peter Morales, President of The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and a delegation of Unitarian Universalists have just returned from visiting the Every Child is Our Child program partners of the UU-UNO in Ghana. In his post on the Faith Without Borders blog, Charles DuMond, a member of this delegation, shares reflections following visits to schools near the Cape Coast and Elmina Castle near Accra.
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UUA President Applauds Statement on Same Sex Marriage from President Obama
<p>UUA President the Rev. Peter Morales applauds President Obama's decision to declare his support for the freedom to marry for all loving couples. "Like many Americans, President Obama says his position on this issue has evolved over the years, and today it seems clear that the arc of the universe is bending toward justice," affirms Rev. Morales.</p>
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Faith Without Borders: From Odumase, Ghana: Education is Medicine
The Rev. Peter Morales, President of The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), is currently with a delegation of Unitarian Universalists visiting the Every Child is Our Child program partners of the UU-UNO in Ghana. Lorella Hess is a member of the delegation, and in her post, shares reflections following visits to schools near Odumase.
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UU World: Dallas Church Raises $20K for Wells in South Sudan
For Lent this year, friends and members of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas turned soda, coffee, and wine into water: They gave up those drinks and used the money they saved to create a $20,000 fund — almost three times their goal — that will be used to drill two wells in villages in South Sudan And it’s all because of Bol Deng Malual, 25, one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan." Bol is one of more than 30,000 young boys who were displaced or orphaned during a civil war in Sudan between 1983 and 2005. Thousands of the boys were brought to the U.S. after years of hiding out and living in refugee camps.
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Faith Without Borders: Many Ways to Build a Foundation
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) partnered with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) on a joint volunteer trip to Haiti, April 28–May 5, 2012. In the post below, trip participant Barbara Nelson reflects on the various ways to build foundations — with rocks and with voices. The UUSC-UUA Haiti Volunteer Program is made possible through the contributions of UUA and UUSC donors and a generous grant from the Veatch Program of the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, in Manhasset, N.Y.
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UU World: Dallas Church Raises $20K for Wells in South Sudan
For Lent this year, friends and members of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas turned soda, coffee, and wine into water: They gave up those drinks and used the money they saved to create a $20,000 fund — almost three times their goal — that will be used to drill two wells in villages in South Sudan And it’s all because of Bol Deng Malual, 25, one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan." Bol is one of more than 30,000 young boys who were displaced or orphaned during a civil war in Sudan between 1983 and 2005. Thousands of the boys were brought to the U.S. after years of hiding out and living in refugee camps.
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Faith Without Borders: Ghana: Odumase to Accra
The Rev. Peter Morales, President of The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), is currently with a delegation of Unitarian Universalists in Ghana. Their visit includes time with international human rights partner the Manya Krobo Queen Mother’s Association (QMA). The Queen Mothers are traditional leaders in Eastern Ghana who organized an effective response to the traumatic effects that the HIV/AIDS pandemic was having on children in their community. This latest post discusses the delegation's first day.
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Faith Without Borders: Ghana: Odumase to Accra
The Rev. Peter Morales, President of The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), is currently with a delegation of Unitarian Universalists in Ghana. Their visit includes time with international human rights partner the Manya Krobo Queen Mother’s Association (QMA). The Queen Mothers are traditional leaders in Eastern Ghana who organized an effective response to the traumatic effects that the HIV/AIDS pandemic was having on children in their community. This latest post discusses the delegation's first day.
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Faith Without Borders: Ready for More Invigorating Work in Haiti
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is partnering with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) on a joint volunteer trip to Haiti, April 28–May 5, 2012. In the introductory post about this journey, trip communications specialist Nicole McConvery of the UUA writes in anticipation of a week filled with learning and growth. The UUA-UUSC Haiti Volunteer Program is made possible through the contributions of UUA and UUSC donors and a generous grant from the Veatch Program of the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, in Manhasset, N.Y.
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Faith Without Borders: Ready for More Invigorating Work in Haiti
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is partnering with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) on a joint volunteer trip to Haiti, April 28–May 5, 2012. In the introductory post about this journey, trip communications specialist Nicole McConvery of the UUA writes in anticipation of a week filled with learning and growth. The UUA-UUSC Haiti Volunteer Program is made possible through the contributions of UUA and UUSC donors and a generous grant from the Veatch Program of the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, in Manhasset, N.Y.
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Faith Without Borders: Bringing Your Truest Self to Haiti
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is partnering with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) on a joint volunteer trip to Haiti, April 28–May 5, 2012. In the latest post about this journey, trip staffer Charles Huschle ruminates on the many qualities and skills that the trip participants are bringing to their work in Haiti — and what they are leaving behind. The UUA-UUSC Haiti Volunteer Program is made possible through the contributions of UUA and UUSC donors and a generous grant from the Veatch Program of the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, in Manhasset, N.Y.
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UUA-UUSC Supporter Journey to Tanzania and Burundi
<p>Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to connect firsthand with social justice leaders on the ground in Africa! Visit the Tanzania Gender Networking Program, a UUSC partner working to overcome gender inequality and secure the human right to water. Then travel to Burundi to meet with Rev. Fulgence Ndagijamana and the Assembly of Unitarian Christians of Burundi, a UUA partner, to witness the new congregation’s local justice work and discuss refugee reintegration and conflict resolution.</p>
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Faith Without Borders: Thinking About Earthquakes in Haiti
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is partnering with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) on a joint volunteer trip to Haiti, April 28–May 5, 2012. In the newest post about the trip - along with a video diary entry - participant Orelia Busch reflects on tiny movements and cataclysmic earthquakes. The UUSC-UUA Haiti Volunteer Program is made possible through the contributions of UUA and UUSC donors and a generous grant from the Veatch Program of the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, in Manhasset, N.Y.
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Faith Without Borders: An Education in Partnership in Ghana
A delegation of Unitarian Universalists, including UUA President Rev. Peter Morales, arrive in Accra, Ghana, on May 6 to begin a notable visit with  international human rights partner, the Manya Krobo Queen Mother’s Association (QMA). The Queen Mothers are traditional leaders in Eastern Ghana who organized an effective response to the traumatic effects that the HIV/AIDS pandemic was having on children in their community. By visiting children, their teachers, the Queen Mothers, and other local officials, the UUA delegation will learn how this community came together and responded to a serious crisis.
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Returning to the Scene of the Crime: Phoenix, Two Years Later
Two years have passed since the implementation of SB1070, and for the first time since my conviction for peaceful civil disobedience while protesting this law in Phoenix, I will join with thousands of Unitarian Universalists from around the country, other people of faith, our local social justice partners and residents of Arizona. We will gather in peace, in solidarity and to bear witness to the truth.
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Now Available from Skinner House Books: The Pen and the Bell: Mindful Writing in a Busy World
It can be difficult to create space for our spiritual lives in a world crowded with distractions. The Pen and the Bell, from Skinner House Books, addresses the topic of achieving mindfulness and creative fulfillment in spite of long to-do lists. It's about gaining access to our deeper selves in the workaday world, and bringing forth this authentic self in our writing. With both meditative and writing exercises in each chapter, it will help you awaken your creative soul and find a more rewarding life.  
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Meet the Candidates for Moderator
The Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees has nominated two candidates to run for moderator of the association. Jim Key and Tamara Payne-Alex will stand for election at the 2013 General Assembly to replace Gini Courter, who has served as moderator since 2003. The next moderator will be eligible to serve a single six-year term. Read the candidates' profiles to learn more about their commitment to Unitarian Universalism and their hopes for the moderator position.
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UU World: Spiritual Connections to the Universe for Teens
Early adolescence is often a time when a child’s appreciation of the magic that younger children see everywhere in the world becomes squelched or outright ignored. Wide-eyed wonder about life and the universe isn’t “cool” and gaining the respect of their peers often becomes tantamount. By the time they have become teenagers, most children have already developed that ever-present internal critic that haunts adults. This can keep youth from being fully present in any moment, let alone experiencing the sacredness of life or a connection to the divine.
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UU Board and the Doctrine of Discovery: Accountability in Action
When our Association’s Arizona Immigration Ministry met with our social justice partners there, we received one clear request for an agenda item at GA 2012. Our partners said that the single most important piece of business we could do at GA 2012 was to study and repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and support the full implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Further, they asked us to have our congregations study this issue and how it is related to the ongoing oppression of indigenous peoples whose lands straddle the US-Mexico border.
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UUA Joins ICCR in Lauding Social Justice Work of Catholic Women Religious
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) is a 40-year-old network of faith-based investors exercising their power as active shareowners to transform companies. Together, ICCR members promote sustainable practices through engagement with company management. As an active member of ICCR for many years, the UUA has partnered with other faith groups on numerous campaigns. In a post on the Standing on the Side of Love blog, UUA Treasurer and CFO Tim Brennan voices support for the ICCR and the Catholic religious women who work for justice.
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Dr. Daniel McKanan Receives 2011 Frederic G. Melcher Book Award
On Tuesday, April 17, at 4:30 p.m. the UUA will award the Frederic G. Melcher Book Award to author and Harvard Divinity School Senior Lecturer Dr. Daniel McKanan for his book, <em>Prophetic Encounters: Religion and the American Radical Tradition</em>. McKanan's groundbreaking, definitive work treats the histories of religion and the Left as a single history, showing that American radicalism is a continuous tradition rather than a collection of disparate movements.
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The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide, Fifth Edition, Now Available
The 2012 edition of The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide is now available at the UUA Bookstore. This edition is the most extensive revision of the Pocket Guide in over a decade and features a foreword from MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry. Other contributors include Kay Montgomery, John Crestwell, Gail Geisenhainer, Rosemary Bray McNatt, Jane Ranney Rzepka, Mark Belletini, Judith Frediani, Rebecca Parker, and 2011 Frederic G. Melcher Award winner Dan McKanan.
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Congregations Encouraged to Study Doctrine of Discovery
Many people didn’t learn about the Doctrine of Discovery in school. But those who attend Justice General Assembly in June will learn about it there. In brief, the Doctrine of Discovery is the premise that European Christian explorers who “discovered” other lands had the authority to claim those lands and subdue, even enslave, peoples of those lands simply because they were not Christian.
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Join Our Triple Match Challenge
<p>From now until June 30, 2012, your gift to the Friends of the UUA will be tripled! During the Triple Match Challenge, the grant makers from the UU Veatch Program at Shelter Rock and leaders from the President’s Council will both give one dollar for every dollar you contribute. Your gift will help us reach our $100,000 goal, raising a total of $300,000 for the UUA's ongoing support of congregations and work for justice in the world. Please give generously today!</p>
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UU World: For Love and Justice
Unitarian Universalists mobilize in response to laws that tear families apart and abuse immigrants. Immigration justice has become a flash point for Unitarian Universalists, especially as we approach the UUA’s “Justice General Assembly” in Phoenix, Arizona—where one of the most aggressive state laws on local immigration enforcement has been enacted.
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Director for New UU College of Social Justice Announced
It is our pleasure to announce the formation of the new Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice and our great delight to announce the appointment of the Rev. Kathleen McTigue as its inaugural Director. The UU College of Social Justice is a formal collaboration of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Its mission is to increase the capacity of Unitarian Universalists to catalyze justice.   
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Director for New UU College of Social Justice Announced
It is our pleasure to announce the formation of the new Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice and our great delight to announce the appointment of the Rev. Kathleen McTigue as its inaugural Director. The UU College of Social Justice is a formal collaboration of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Its mission is to increase the capacity of Unitarian Universalists to catalyze justice.   
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Pedaling for Hope
Bicycling ministers turn long-distance rides into opportunities to raise funds and awareness for charitable causes. They describe their rides - one as long as 3,300 miles - as powerful experiences, both physically and spiritually, beyond their ability to raise money and awareness for causes they support.
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Congregations and Beyond
<p>In Congregations and Beyond, the Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), offers a vision of the opportunities and challenges that face Unitarian Universalism as an international movement. He presents a strategic direction for Unitarian Universalism consistent with our core values and historic willingness to push beyond pre-determined boundaries. All Unitarian Universalists are encouraged to read, discuss, and share Congregations and Beyond.</p>
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UUA Joins With Other Prominent Religious Groups to Unveil Principles, Priorities for a Faithful Federal Budget
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has joined with dozens of other prominent religious organizations to unveil for congressional consideration a “Faithful Budget” proposal. The Priorities for a Faithful Budget is a set of comprehensive and compassionate budget principles that will protect the common good, value each individual, and help lift the burden on those living in poverty.
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Last Week to Register for General Assembly at Early Registration Rates
<p>Registration for the 2012 General Assembly (GA) in Phoenix, Arizona, has been strong. There is excitement building around the importance of this Justice GA, an occasion for witness and service toward human rights. We will not only be witnessing together during GA, but also doing very intentional work around how we can go home with new skills and insights to help work for justice in our home communities. Registration rates increase May 1.</p>
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Pedaling for Hope
Bicycling ministers turn long-distance rides into opportunities to raise funds and awareness for charitable causes. They describe their rides - one as long as 3,300 miles - as powerful experiences, both physically and spiritually, beyond their ability to raise money and awareness for causes they support.
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UUA Looking Beyond Traditional Congregations
Whom does your Unitarian Universalist congregation serve? Is it focused only on those who become members? Or does your congregation also serve other people who might have less obvious connections to the congregation? These questions and others are being asked in conversations among UU leaders this winter and spring about how to broaden Unitarian Universalism’s reach.
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Last Week to Register for General Assembly at Early Registration Rates
<p>Registration for the 2012 General Assembly (GA) in Phoenix, Arizona, has been strong. There is excitement building around the importance of this Justice GA, an occasion for witness and service toward human rights. We will not only be witnessing together during GA, but also doing very intentional work around how we can go home with new skills and insights to help work for justice in our home communities. Registration rates increase May 1.</p>
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UUA Persuades Verizon to Protect Transgender Workers
For each of the last five years, the UUA has filed shareholder resolutions with Verizon Communications to urge the corporation to add “gender identity or expression” to its non-discrimination policy. In mid-February, Verizon notified the UUA that it has agreed to adopt the policy, which provides protection to transgender people and those in transition.
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UUA President Speaks at Rissho Kosei-kai Anniversary
<p>As part of a weeklong visit with interfaith partners in Japan, UUA President Rev. Peter Morales spoke at Rissho Kosei-kai (RKK) on Sunday, March 4. RKK is a lay-Buddhist movement with approximately 6 million members in Japan and around the world. Rissho Kosei-kai generously simulcast Rev. Morales' speech during the anniversary event for the benefit of Unitarian Universalists in the United States. A recording of the speech will be posted as soon as possible.</p>
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UUA President Rev. Peter Morales Applauds Maryland Marriage Equality Vote
The following statement was issued today by Unitarian Universalist Association President Rev. Peter Morales: "I applaud the actions of the Maryland Legislature in voting to extend the freedom to marry to all who seek it. With Gov. Martin O’Malley’s decisive leadership on this issue, Maryland has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the rights of those who seek the legal protections, joys, and responsibilities that marriage offers."
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UUA Offers New Discussion Guide on Doctrine of Discovery (PDF)
At the January meeting of the UUA Board of Trustees, the Trustees voted to place a responsive resolution to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery on the business agenda for the 2012 Justice General Assembly. What is the Doctrine of Discovery? Why have our partner organizations in Arizona called for its repudiation? How are we as Unitarian Universalist people of faith called to respond? Download a new three-session discussion guide suitable for in-person and online conversations, individual reflection, and journaling.
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How My Testimony Went Viral
Zach Wahls’s testimony before the Iowa House Judiciary Committee about his two-mom family become an internet sensation. From Zach: "As I approached the microphone to testify, I saw for the first time just how many people were in this massive room. I would have whistled if my mouth had had any moisture in it. 'My name is Zach Wahls,' I began. 'I’m a sixth-generation Iowan, an engineering student at the University of Iowa, and I was raised by two women.'"
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Partners in Justice
The UUA's immigrant rights partners in Arizona help communities in peril. This network of activists is working with Unitarian Universalists to promote immigrant rights in Arizona as the Unitarian Universalist Association’s 2012 Justice General Assembly in Phoenix approaches.
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Stewardship Sermon Award
Stewardship Sermon Award
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UUA President Rev. Peter Morales Applauds Washington Marriage Equality Vote
The Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, has issued a statement celebrating Washington State's historic vote in support of marriage equality. His statement begins: "I applaud the actions of the Washington Legislature in extending the freedom to marry to same-sex couples, and to Gov. Chris Gregoire's leadership and stated intention to sign this marriage equality bill into law. With this action, Washington has demonstrated its commitment to the American ideal that all citizens are entitled to equal protection under the law."
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UUA Offers New Immigration Curriculum for Children's Religious Education
<p>The UUA's Ministries and Faith Development Staff Group has announced publication of a new curriculum titled "With Justice and Compassion: Immigration Sessions for Children’s Religious Education," by Mandy Neff. This curriculum invites children in grades 1-3 and children in grades 4-6 to explore their own family stories while learning about immigration in the United States. It lifts up justice and compassion as guiding values as we consider immigration justice issues in our own time.</p>
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Annual Program Fund Contribution Remains the Same
<p>After much discernment with congregational leaders and considering the financial challenges still facing many of our congregations, the Rev. Peter Morales, our Unitarian Universalist Association President, decided that the requested Annual Program Fund contribution will remain at the current $58 per member for the new Fiscal Year 2013 (begins July 1, 2012). Our greatest strength comes from our interconnectedness as partners in this religious community. Thank you for your continued support.</p>
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UUA Board of Trustees Nominates Two Candidates for Moderator
The UUA Board of Trustees was charged with nominating one or more persons for the Moderator position effective with the election that will occur at GA in 2013. The Board has interviewed the recommended candidates and has selected two very fine UU leaders as our nominees for the position of Moderator of the UUA: Jim Key from Beaufort, SC and Tamara Payne-Alex from San Jose, CA.  
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UUA Board of Trustees Nominates Two Candidates for Moderator
The UUA Board of Trustees was charged with nominating one or more persons for the Moderator position effective with the election that will occur at GA in 2013. The Board has interviewed the recommended candidates and has selected two very fine UU leaders as our nominees for the position of Moderator of the UUA: Jim Key from Beaufort, SC and Tamara Payne-Alex from San Jose, CA.  
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Congregations and Beyond
<p>In Congregations and Beyond, the Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), offers a vision of the opportunities and challenges that face Unitarian Universalism as an international movement. He presents a strategic direction for Unitarian Universalism consistent with our core values and historic willingness to push beyond pre-determined boundaries. All Unitarian Universalists are encouraged to read, discuss, and share Congregations and Beyond.</p>
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Congregations and Beyond, From UUA President Rev. Peter Morales
In Congregations and Beyond, the Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), offers a vision of the opportunities and challenges that face Unitarian Universalism as an international movement. He presents a strategic direction for Unitarian Universalism consistent with our core values and historic willingness to push beyond pre-determined boundaries. All Unitarian Universalists are encouraged to read, discuss, and share Congregations and Beyond.
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'Gathered Here' Helps UUs Share Experiences, Hopes
Gathered Here, a denomination-wide listening campaign initiated by the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Board of Trustees and administration, invites congregations and individual UUs across the country to share hopes for the faith through “Community Conversations” and one-on-one interviews during the next eight months. The board and administration will use that information to help determine the UUA’s future.
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