Become a poll worker in your community! Our democracy depends on all of us to make sure every election runs smoothly and everyone's vote is counted.

When you sign up, Power the Polls will share everything you need to apply to be a poll worker in your community. You can make sure we have safe, fair, efficient elections for all voters. Get more info and sign up at https://bit.ly/3XwuIVv.

#UUTheVote #PowerThePolls #PollWorkers #DefendDemocracy #EveryVoteCounts #SafeElections #Election2024 #ProtectTheVote #UU #UnitarianUniversalism #UnitarianUniversalist #Church #Faith #Community #Friends #Family



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In this poem, #UU Rev. Julián Jamaica Soto reminds us that freedom is not just a right, but a responsibility—a sacred promise to fight for the freedom of others, because when one of us is held back, none of us are fully free.

A question to consider: ✨ How can you show up for the liberation of others in your daily life, knowing our freedom is deeply interconnected? ✨

UU WorshipWeb
#UnitarianUniversalism #UnitarianUniversalist #LoveAtTheCenter #Friends #Family #Faith #Church #Welcome #Worship #Poetry #Liberation #SocialJustice #Freedom



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With a focus on shared ministry, UUs are moving beyond traditional hierarchies, fostering collaboration among ministers, educators, musicians, and lay leaders. This inclusive, interconnected approach is about valuing everyone’s unique gifts, breaking down silos, enabling deeper, more authentic relationships, and creating a thriving community.

Read more in this #UUWorld story about how shared ministry is gaining traction and transforming Unitarian Universalist congregations and communities: https://bit.ly/3AT8DHT

#UU #UnitarianUniversalism #UnitarianUniversalist #LoveAtTheCenter #Friends #Family #Faith #Church #Welcome #Collaboration



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The Moderator Search Committee is now seeking applications for UUA Moderator – a vital leadership role in this crucial time for our faith. We are grateful for the faithful and dedicated work of our current UUA Co-Moderators, the Rev. Meg Riley and Charles Du Mond, who have served their six-year term.

As the Chief Governance Officer of the UUA, the Moderator works closely with the UUA Board of Trustees, executive staff, and committees of the UUA. Please share this call for applications widely in your congregation or community.

The deadline to apply is September 15, 2024. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3Wxb3D6



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Have you ever experienced an event so profound, an agitation so intense, that it divided your life into a clear "before" and "after"? A moment when the very ground beneath you seemed to shift and everything felt off course?

During these times we may feel untethered and uneasily adrift without direction. Yet, as UU Rev. Tania Márquez reminds us, we are never truly lost. Deep within us, we have an inner compass pointing us toward truth, justice, and love. We only need to trust and follow it, knowing that with every stirring of our spirit and every beat of our heart, we are being guided closer to the side of love.

Read Rev. Márquez’s full reflection in our UU WorshipWeb: https://bit.ly/3ZcOyGE





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Want to shape UU values and actions? Congregational Study Action Issues (CSAIs) are proposed by UU congregations and articulate our faith’s stance on important issues. After a 3-year process, a CSAI becomes a Statement of Conscience when adopted by General Assembly.

Have an idea for an issue we should study? Congregations (not individuals) can submit proposals, and collaboration is encouraged! Learn more about topics and how to submit at uua.org/csai. The deadline to share your initial submission is October 1, 2024.



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Congratulations to all!


Announcing the UU Climate Justice Revival Sermon Award Winners!

Imagine that it's 2050 and we've achieved all of our wildest hopes for collective liberation. What is present in that re-imagined reality? What have our values led us to collectively abolish or move away from? How would our world transform if love was at the center of our climate actions and collective liberation were upheld as a uniting goal across all of the movement spaces that matter most?

With these questions in mind, the UU Climate Justice Revival planning team invited sermons that would ground us in this new reality. The number of submissions exceeded our expectations - evidence of the prophetic spirit and liberatory theology alive in our movement - and after much deliberation, we are proud to announce our sermon winners.

Congratulations to:

💐Andrew Batcher
💐Lee Curran
💐Diego Garrido Barreto
💐Meleah Houseknecht
💐Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon
💐Frances Koziar
💐Edward Lynn
💐Rev. Arif Mamdani

Learn more about each awardee and read their award-winning sermon. Recordings of each sermon will be available by September 5th. https://www.uuclimatejustice.org/sermon

Image description: Graphic of all the sermon award winners. White background, with the UU Climate Revival logo of the two heads with globes and flowers facing each other. The text reads UU Climate Justice Revival Sermon Contest Winners. There is a headshot of each winner in a floral frame. Andrew Batcher's photo is in a square frame with pink and blue flowers. Lee Curran's photo is in a round frame with red flowers. Diego Garrido Barreto's photo is in a square frame with purple flowers. Meleah Houseknecht's photo is in a round frame with yellow and orange flowers. Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon's photo is in a round frame with orange flowers. Frances Koziar's photo is in a square frame with green vines. Edward Lynn's photo is in a round frame with yellow flowers. Rev. Arif Mamdani's photo is in a round frame with blue flowers.

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UPLIFT, led by UUA LGBTQ & Multicultural Programs Director the Rev. Michael Crumpler, is a vital space for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies. It fosters community, provides spiritual care, and addresses urgent issues like transphobia, abortion rights, economic justice, and disability rights. In this #UUWorld Q&A, Rev. Crumpler emphasizes that UPLIFT is committed to "challenging our UU congregations and communities to be specific, contextual, and intentional in our welcome and inclusion."

Get to know more about UPLIFT in the full Q&A here: https://bit.ly/3TcEKIJ

#LGBTQIA #UnitarianUniversalism #Inclusion #CommunityCare #UU #UnitarianUniversalist #LoveAtTheCenter #Friends #Family #Faith #Church #Welcome



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As UUs, we recognize that all work—including the often less visible and unpaid labor that sustains our families, congregations, and communities—carries inherent dignity and worthiness. Yet, the relentless demands of work can leave us feeling overwhelmed and stressed.

This Labor Day offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on how we can balance self-care with the needs of our busy lives, and to consider ways, individually and collectively, to ensure that all who work receive fair treatment, equitable opportunities, and the respect they deserve in every aspect of their labor.

#LaborDay #workersrights #humanrights #UU



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Big things are happening in Pennsylvania this September as #UUtheVote launches its fall mobilization. UU the Vote is uniting with UU congregations and local partners to protect our elections and push back against voter suppression.

September 6-7 marks the start in Philadelphia, where the focus will be on the vital role of faith in this political moment and meaningful voter engagement on key issues. With the election less than 100 days away, building local power and taking action has never been more urgent.

Find out more and learn how you can get involved: http://bit.ly/Sept6Philly



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“If gender isn’t binary anymore, are women’s organizations still relevant?”

The Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation is grappling with important questions like this and more. As the organization expands its understanding of gender, they are committed to addressing the persistent reality of misogyny while embracing inclusivity. UUWF’s mission remains clear: justice, equity, and creating spaces that uplift and protect all who are impacted by gender-based oppression.

Curious about how they’re navigating these challenges? Read the full article to learn more: https://bit.ly/471sksU.



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🎶✨ Exciting news! A more accessible Virtual Hymnal for Unitarian Universalists is on the horizon! 🎶✨

The UUA's UU WorshipWeb, in collaboration with the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries, has launched the development of a digital hymnal, thanks to the appointment of a Virtual Hymnal Task Force.

"Our mission," shares Camille Hatton, consulting manager of the Task Force, "is to create a living collection of song resources on an accessible, equitable, online platform grounded in UU values. This virtual hymnal will empower Unitarian Universalism to fully embrace our prophetic calling as a joyful, liberatory, and anti-oppressive faith."

Read more from #UUWorld: https://bit.ly/4dUXe8A



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As summer winds down here in the Northern Hemisphere, we gather in from the many paths we've traveled, carrying the richness of our journeys. As we reconnect, we embrace the new congregational year and all of its potential, ready to refresh our spirits and reaffirm the values that unite us as a UU community. As your congregation or community prepares for the start of the new congregational year, may you come together in kindness and care for one another.



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The Moderator Search Committee is now seeking applications for UUA Moderator – a vital leadership role in this crucial time for our faith. We are grateful for the faithful and dedicated work of our current UUA Co-Moderators, the Rev. Meg Riley and Charles Du Mond, who have served their six-year term.

As the Chief Governance Officer of the UUA, the Moderator works closely with the UUA Board of Trustees, executive staff, and committees of the UUA. Please share this call for applications widely in your congregation or community.

The deadline to apply is September 15, 2024. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3Wxb3D6



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🌍✨ **Join UU’s from across the country for Mosaic’s Fostering Belonging and Liberation Fall Conference, online or in person in Bethesda, MD, from Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20, 2024!**

Mosaic is a hub of connection, resources, and support for Unitarian Universalists dismantling racism and oppression. The dynamic, multi-platform fall conference is designed for congregational teams and individuals committed to building multicultural communities with love at their centers. Over two and a half days, you’ll participate in collaborative conversations, innovative workshops, and gain invaluable insights from leaders within Unitarian Universalism and beyond.

It’s an honor to have UUA President Rev. Sofía Betancourt, PhD and Nicole Pressley, UUA Director of Organizing Strategy, as keynote speakers, guiding us in the work of fostering belonging and liberation.

By the end of the conference, you'll leave with renewed hearts and spirits, and practical tools to inspire and support others in this transformative work. 💖
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity—learn more and register here:


A multi-platform conference for people who are engaged in anti-racist, multicultural transformation in UU congregations....

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Sharing UUA President the Rev. Sofía Betancourt, PhD's ingathering message for the new congregational year. As we do, we appreciate and echo her reflection that "how we are with one another, how we support each other, will have everything to do with how we meet the moment" in the weeks and months to come.

Watch the full video on Rev. Dr. Betancourt's Facebook page or find it on the UUA's YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/DcVF1pDMPlQ .



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In her meditation “Hallowed Ground and Hard Stone,” the Rev. Lisa Doege asks us to imagine that we are on hallowed ground, before a tall rock carved with ancient petroglyphs. Our guide asks us to contemplate, where is our holy ground? What stories do we tell ourselves through the different seasons of our lives? Can that which irritates us eventually help us shine?

As we uplift these questions today, we encourage you to read the full meditation online in our UU WorshipWeb library: https://bit.ly/46YHdwk



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Do you wonder how, as UU’s, we can continue to advocate for disability rights and make spaces more accessible for everyone? In this conversation in #UUWorld magazine, UUA Disability Justice Associate Rev. Amanda Schuber shares her insights on progress being made, challenges that still need to be overcome, and ongoing UUA disability justice priorities.

Read the whole story and watch a video interview with Rev. Schuber from UU World: https://bit.ly/3YSgI9O



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Unitarian Universalists in the Southeastern region of the United States were impacted, some significantly, with flooding and other issues as a result of Hurricane Debby earlier this month.

The UUA manages a Disaster Relief Fund, as an expression of the covenant between the UUA and congregations and between congregations who give generously and those in need, to embody our values and take care of one another. Consider gathering a collection in Sunday worship for the Disaster Relief Fund, or making a donation yourself as generously as you are able.

These contributions will enable the Fund to make grants to congregations in need and their communities as they recover from the effects of storm damage.

https://bit.ly/33A6U5O


Assist UUA congregations, their members, and communities experiencing destruction from natural and human caused disasters.

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As plans come together in congregations across our faith community for our first-ever UU Climate Justice Revival, some have asked, “Why call it a ‘revival’? Why use a term from another religious tradition for an event in our Unitarian Universalist community?”

In this blog post, Jeff Milchen explores some answers from within and beyond Unitarian Universalism. One perspective on Christian revivals, for example, notes that they indicate unwavering confidence or faith – embedded into participants through communally-generated energy – that any challenge, from personal to societal, can be overcome.

Read more and join us as we prepare for a UU Climate Justice Revival this September 28-29. https://bit.ly/4dJAFUb

#ClimateJusticeRevival



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“Just a note from the world of embodiment: Chaos or disorganization is not always the worst option. In fact, it can be very helpful. Sometimes we’ve got vital power we need stuck in old habits. A bit of chaos can help you recover some power actually (the right knows this too well). What’s especially important at least from an embodiment perspective is that when we are disorganized we make meaning of it, use it to expand, to inspire. Disorganization is part of transformation. And a system that refuses all disorganization will never grow.”

Prentis Hemphill (They/Them) is a therapist, somatics teacher and facilitator, political organizer, writer and the founder of The Embodiment Institute. Prentis is the host and creator of the popular podcast, Finding Our Way and author of “What It Takes To Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World”.



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Unitarian Universalists in the Southeastern region of the United States were impacted, some significantly, with flooding and other issues as a result of Hurricane Debby earlier this month.

The UUA manages a Disaster Relief Fund, as an expression of the covenant between the UUA and congregations and between congregations who give generously and those in need, to embody our values and take care of one another. Consider gathering a collection in Sunday worship for the Disaster Relief Fund, or making a donation yourself as generously as you are able.

These contributions will enable the Fund to make grants to congregations in need and their communities as they recover from the effects of storm damage.

https://bit.ly/33A6U5O


Assist UUA congregations, their members, and communities experiencing destruction from natural and human caused disasters.

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We are grateful for the many perspectives and expressions of Unitarian Universalist faith that come from all corners of our community. Today, we share this from the Rev. DC Fortune, who serves the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Susquehanna Valley in Northumberland, PA.

Theology of Love

My theology understands humanity as simultaneously fragile and resilient, weak and strong, greedy and generous, mean and compassionate. I see the divine spark in the tension between those opposites. I see the divine in the generosity of those who often have the least to give, in kindness offered by those who would arguably have the most reason to be bitter. The divine is like love in this regard: irrational, unexpected, and beautiful.

Find this and more from UU WorshipWeb: https://bit.ly/3AmcvAP



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Democracy isn’t just what we do, it’s who we are and who we want to be together. Unitarian Universalists have helped win battles some said were hopeless – winning reproductive healthcare in Kentucky, Michigan, and Kansas; mobilizing a pro-democracy majority in Ohio; and expanding Medicaid in North Carolina – all because of historic and sustained democratic action.

Join #UUTheVote to develop and grow our relationships with each other and with grassroots partners that will equip us for the long-haul work ahead. https://bit.ly/4co1Nr2



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“By supporting this project, people of many races, cultural backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses are saying we recognize that the legacies of Indigenous genocide and African enslavement are still with us today, we don't like it, and we want to do something about it. Something that is about building, creating, and connecting. And living more deeply into love.

For those of us who are Unitarian Universalists, it's about living into our faith in humble but deeply impactful ways that will change the material conditions for Black and Indigenous people.”

Lena K. Gardner, Executive Director of Black Lives of UU, on the significance of the BLUU Cooperative affordable housing initiative.

Read more from #UUWorld: https://bit.ly/3yjzThU

#UU #LoveAtTheCenter



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The Moderator Search Committee is now seeking applications for UUA Moderator – a vital leadership role in this crucial time for our faith. We are grateful for the faithful and dedicated work of our current UUA Co-Moderators, the Rev. Meg Riley and Charles Du Mond, who have served their six-year term.

As the Chief Governance Officer of the UUA, the Moderator works closely with the UUA Board of Trustees, executive staff, and committees of the UUA. Please share this call for applications widely in your congregation or community.

The deadline to apply is September 15, 2024. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3Wxb3D6



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As we move into the weekend, may we do so giving and receiving some grace. We offer this poem, "Litany of Oops and Ouch" by Atena O. Danner:

I receive your "Ouch" with openness and curiosity.

I receive your "Oops" with acceptance and empathy.

I offer my "Ouch" with hope and trust.

I offer my "Oops" with humility and courage.

I release my "Ouch" with immeasurable faith.

I release my "Oops" with purpose.

I release your "Ouch" with promise.

I release your "Oops" with my eyes and heart open.

From Incantations for Rest: Poems, Meditations, and Other Magic (Skinner House 2022) and available through UU WorshipWeb. https://bit.ly/3YvlzNR



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This Friday, August 2, James Baldwin would have turned 100 and we are joining our friends at Beacon Press in the nationwide celebration of his birthday! Beacon will celebrate with the release of the James Baldwin Centennial Series, originally published in Notes of a Native Son, to commemorate Baldwin’s legacy as an artist, an activist, a social critic, and a gifted writer.

“There is truly no greater honor for a press than having published James Baldwin,” says Beacon Press director Gayatri Patnaik.

Join us in honoring this brilliant American thinker and writer by entering to win the complete James Baldwin Centennial Series, tote bag, bookmarks and more!

Enter the contest here: https://mailchi.mp/beacon/baldwinat100



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As Unitarian Universalists, our shared values call us to build a multiracial democracy together, while blocking attacks on voting, abortion, and the right to protest. UU the Vote is preparing for deeper collaboration with local and national partners, massive direct voter contact and registration, election defense, poll working, and building the leadership this moment demands. Courage and flexibility will be needed from us all as we join together to respond to a shifting political landscape.

We are building a new way! Join #UUTheVote on Tuesday, July 30 at 8pm ET/5pm PT to get involved.

Register here: https://bit.ly/BuildingANewWay



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Sharing this message from UUA President, the Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt:

Beloveds, recent national events have escalated in ways that impact us as Unitarian Universalists in different ways – in our own spirits, in the ways we are with those we care for, and in the ways we are with the communities we serve.

As we all move through these turbulent times, know that our work as Unitarian Universalists is rooted in a deep commitment to collective care and liberation. Even amid great change and disruption, our faith insists that no person is disposable, that all communities are worthy of safety and thriving, and that we all get free together. We are equipped to meet this political moment with our values-grounded #UUTheVote campaign that is ready to support and channel our energy in impactful ways as the national election draws near. And your UUA is actively preparing to provide the spiritual, logistical, and organizational support we will all need as we respond to the realities of this moment as a faith.

In these times let us turn once more to one another, even as we reach out to people and communities beyond our own. As we join together to UU the Vote, may we strengthen our knowing about collective liberation, and build collective political power in community between and beyond the election cycles of this country.



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Our friends at Siecus: Sex Ed for Social Change have invited Unitarian Universalists to sign on to their national letter of support for sex education. The UUA has already signed on, will your congregation or community join us?

This link takes you to the Google form to sign on: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdmdhs9pgGAe10-oIwvH6kt9rAK-SLnQpHOsT3JA29texKyIA/viewform


Beloveds, our friends at Siecus: Sex Ed for Social Change have invited Unitarian Universalists to sign on to their national letter of support for sex education. The UUA has already signed on, will your congregation or community join us?

The goal of the statement is to demonstrate the broad support for sex education across the health and medicine, education, child development, LGBTQ+, and sexual and reproductive health communities. The statement will be used in a number of future advocacy efforts and will eventually be available for use by all signatories in their own sex education advocacy work.

Add your congregation or community’s name to the Google doc linked in the comments below.

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Sharing this message on recent political developments from our friends at Side with Love. As we collectively face the winds of change, let us be mindful that it is love and not fear that guides us toward a liberated future.

Please join #UUTheVote on Tuesday, July 30 at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 6pm MT / 5pm PT for a national call with updates on the work ahead, how you can support, and how UU the Vote is resourcing our movement in this phase of another historic election season.

Register here: https://bit.ly/BuildingANewWay


Yesterday’s campaign announcement comes after weeks of consequential political events, and we know more will follow. These moments challenge our justice movements and demand our collective resilience. We are fortified in the truth that when our movements face the winds of change, it is love and not fear that guides us toward a liberated future.

Please join UU the Vote on Tuesday, July 30 at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 6pm MT / 5pm PT for a national call to get the latest updates on the work ahead, how you can support, and how UU the Vote is resourcing our movement in this phase of another historic election season.

Register here: https://bit.ly/BuildingANewWay

[Image description: Graphic with white and yellow text on a dark blue background with a white hand drawn heart. Text reads, “Webinar. UU the Vote. Building a New Way. July 30 at 5 PT / 6 MT / 7 CT / 8 ET.” A yellow button says, “Register: bit.ly/BuildingANewWay.”]

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Re-sharing to amplify and echo Alex Kapitan’s affirmation of the significance of 92% of Unitarian Universalists voting to approve the Business Resolution entitled, “Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary, and Intersex People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values”. As Alex, a longtime leader in our faith community, writes:

“This is incredible, full stop. I would hazard a guess that it is the most powerful highest-level denominational statement of support of trans people any organized religion has made.”

Read more from Alex and get additional information, love and support, and resources for building inclusive community from our UPLIFT Ministries staff: https://bit.ly/46jHN7u


Image Description: UUA rainbow chalice next to the word UPLIFT in rainbow colors. Underneath, text reads, “Uplifting the LGBTQ+ Experience within Unitarian Universalism & Beyond."

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As we continue to explore what it means for us as Unitarian Universalists to live with love at the center of our faith, our lives, and our communities, we share a blog post from Wren Bellavance-Grace of the UUA's Congregational Life staff team.

Wren writes, “On Sunday morning in your church, Love is present in the liturgy, in the care with which your worship leaders have crafted and curated an experience that uplifts, challenges, and reminds us that we are not alone. It is reflected in the eyes of children listening closely to stories for all ages. It is in the embrace of old friends at coffee hour. It is in the smiling eyes above N-95 masks many continue to wear to protect their beloveds. It is in the trust with which we offer our deepest sorrows to the care of our community, knowing they will be well held.

But what does Love is the Doctrine of this Church look like Monday through Saturday?”

Read the full post on the New England Region's Practice Makes Possible blog: https://bit.ly/3y6zyyS.

#LivingLoveAtTheCenter #UU #Church



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We are grateful for the prophetic leadership and guidance of Unitarian Universalist leaders within and beyond the UUA. Re-sharing this re-share from our Director of Communications and Public Ministry, the Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd.

"We have to craft narratives that are both credible and enticing not just for ourselves, but for people who cannot remember, let alone conceive of, a Love so encompassing that it is inescapable, regardless of who and what they are...

This kind of Love is not wishy-washy, or passive, or permissive — it’s the most rigorous discipline we can possibly imagine.

Despair, denial, self-righteousness, pettiness, vengeance, co-optation, and numbness will be our greatest barriers; gentleness, generosity, joy, and rigor will get us over them. So let’s summon our courage, grow our skills and our strategies, and hold the very real fears of the present in tandem with the possibilities we yearn to breathe into being.

We can do this. Let's go."

Rev. Ashley Horan

Read more in her post below, and even more in the original post from the Rev. Ashely Horan, UUA Vice President for Programs and Ministries.
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.

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UU World reports that Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families, edited by Peggy Gillespie and published by UUA imprint, Skinner House, is the new UU Common Read!

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3W2ym7v

#UnitarianUniversalism #UUCommonRead


Learn how to join the conversation about this book, edited by Peggy Gillespie, that can be a catalyst for meaningful action and reflection.

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Unitarian Universalism believes in the right of free speech and the democratic process. Attacks like those at Saturday’s political rally weaken democracy, and the Unitarian Universalist Association condemns this attack. At a time when democracy is already at risk, these events will only make our political environment more precarious.

As we prepare to meet this moment, we must return to our spiritual grounding and faithful practice. Take a breath, reflect together, wait for emerging truth over quick speculation. Anchor yourself in communities and relationships that foster resilience, liberation, and strategy. Cultivate nuance and seek out deep wisdom, political analysis, and spiritual grounding, as misinformation will be rampant.

Our Unitarian Universalist tradition is rooted in the values of human dignity, justice, compassion and democratic principles. We will remain vigilant in our commitment to protecting our democracy and the integrity of its principles and the rights of all its people. Let us keep love at the center. We are in this together.



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UU World reports that the final text of our new shared values statement, voted on by delegates at General Assembly in June, is now available online.

Please read and share the statement widely with your congregation or community. We are deeply grateful for the hard work and commitment of so many to the future of our beloved living tradition.

Find a link to the statement at the UU World link in our bio.

PC: Tanya Webster (chalicedays.org)

#UU #UnitarianUniversalism #UnitarianUniversalist #SharedValues #LoveAtTheCenter #Church #UUWorld #UUNews #UUAGA



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UU World reports that the final text of our new shared values statement, voted on by delegates at General Assembly in June, is now available online. Please read and share the statement widely with your congregation or community. We are deeply grateful for the hard work and commitment of so many to the future of our beloved living tradition.

https://bit.ly/3XWZ3Ny

#LoveAtTheCenter


Review full text of the statement, which serves as the foundation of all the work of the UUA, its member congregations, and its covenanted communities.

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We are living in a period of overlapping crises, accompanied by failures in public systems and institutions. It's not surprising that our efforts to impact these crises leave us feeling different forms of outrage and overwhelm. How can we find our role and anchor our commitments to equity, solidarity, and justice in these turbulent times?

In this podcast, activist, lawyer and author, Deepa Iyer offers guidance for avoiding burnout in social change movement work. Explore her workbook, “Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection,” available for pre-order through our inSpirit UU Book and Gift Shop: https://bit.ly/3xTRBrT

https://apple.co/4eWQKaA


‎Show Dismantling Injustice, Ep HONORING CARL: Finding Your Role in the Social Change Ecosystem - Jun 3, 2024

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In response to the Commission on Institutional Change’s report, "Widening the Circle of Concern", UUA staff have developed a curriculum on anti-racism with sections oriented toward different age groups across the lifespan.

Learn more about the Mosaic Lifespan Anti-Racism Curriculum online at https://bit.ly/3VNBLag



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Our congregations and communities are places where hope is nurtured because we know that this broken and beautiful world needs Unitarian Universalists to show up today, and in all the days to come.

As Rebecca Solnit shares in "Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power":

"Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency. Hope should shove you out the door, because it will take everything you have to steer the future away from endless war, from the annihilation of the earth's treasures and the grinding down of the poor and marginal... To hope is to give yourself to the future - and that commitment to the future is what makes the present inhabitable."

#UnitarianUniversalism #Resilience #Hope



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What an honor for the Pink Haven Coalition to receive the President’s Annual Award for Volunteer Service to the Unitarian Universalist Association. Their ministry exemplifies community care and the ways in which Unitarian Universalism, in partnership with others, continues to make a real difference in the world – both within and outside of our congregations.

The Pink Haven Coalition is building resiliency for this collective, long-haul ministry, against the relentless attacks on the health, well-being, and existence of our trans and non-binary communities. Their work exemplifies the commitments Unitarian Universalism has made to manifesting our values in this life-saving work.

Learn how you can support Pink Haven: https://www.pinkhaven.org/



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As people prepare for summer gatherings and celebrations while also reckoning with the tremendous uncertainty and heartbreak of all that is going on in the United States and around the world, we offer these words, excerpted from a poem entitled, “Dependence Day” by John Daniel.

”It would be a quieter holiday, no fireworks or loud
parades, no speeches, no salutes to any flag,
a day of staying home instead of crowding away,
a day we celebrate nothing gained in war
but what we’re given — how the sun’s warmth
is democratic, touching everyone,
and the rain is democratic too,
how the strongest branches in the wind
give themselves as they resist, resist…”

Read the full text, available from #WorshipWeb: https://bit.ly/4ePe363

#UU #UnitarianUniversalism #JulyFourth



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As we grapple with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today regarding presidential immunity, we remain committed to the work of safeguarding democracy so that everyone, including communities that are often disenfranchised, will have a chance to cast their vote.

Unitarian Universalist congregations, including one near you, are places where we can make meaning together and build community in the most pivotal times. Find your people. Circle up. Flood the system with hope and commitment.

#UUTheVote #Immunity



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After 80% of voting delegates adopted the new proposed language of shared values for Unitarian Universalism at General Assembly, we can now move out into the world living love at the center of our values, our faith, and our communities.

We’re gathering stories of #LivingLoveATheCenter so we can show each other what’s new and what’s not-so-new about this framework that we’ve adopted. Our first story comes from UU World, who spoke with Unitarian Universalists from three congregations in Minnesota who opened their hearts and their homes to Ukrainian families who are trying to build a new life in the United States.

https://bit.ly/3zigLAR

#UUWorld



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Sending so much love out to queer youth of faith today and everyday as we share a blessing from the Rev. Cathy Rion Starr:

“…Bless you in your youth, your brilliance, your ideas, your curiosity, your incredible leadership right now (let alone what is to come). May you be fortified in the face of adultism and may you inhabit the fullness of your being. May those of us who are not youth respect you, learn from you, and show up for you as you need.

Bless you in your faith, your precious connection with the sacred, tradition, community, belief and action that guides your life and holds you through the storms and celebrations of life. May your faith sustain you when your faith tradition honors you and when it harms you. May those who hold faiths that judge you come to know how very sacred and perfect you are. May those of us from all sorts of faith traditions respect you, learn from you, and show up for you as you need…”

Read the full blessing from Side with Love https://bit.ly/3XLackr

#LoveAtTheCenter #QYFDay #UU #Church


Queer Youth of Faith Day is celebrated on June 30th. According to Beloved Arise , "1 in 5 LGBTQ youth say their faith is important to them." As a religious denomination committed to LGBTQIA+ liberation, Side With Love is pleased to share this blessing for queer youth of faith, penned by S

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We are in solidarity with, and so grateful for, the Unitarian Universalist families and all of the individuals and groups who have joined the lawsuit against Louisiana’s new law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. This is a powerful and courageous example of how we live with love at the center of our faith, our families, and our lives.

As people of faith and conscience, Unitarian Universalists are committed to protecting the rights of all people to practice their religion, never privileging one faith's scripture or guidance over any other. We will continue to side with love against those already powerful and privileged religious movements that attempt to exclude, oppress, and circumvent the civil and human rights of people and communities that have been marginalized.

Read more in this story from RNS.


WASHINGTON (RNS) — 'This is religious favoritism, and it is not only dangerous, but runs counter to my religion and faith,' said the Rev. Jeff Sims, a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister and a plaintiff in the case.

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With love centered as a core value of the faith, more than 3,400 Unitarian Universalists from around the country and world gathered for an all-virtual General Assembly last week.

Delegates decisively adopted a new statement of shared UU values, with 80 percent of voting delegates choose to adopt changes to Article II of the UUA bylaws. The Business Resolution, “Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex and Gender Diverse People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values” was adopted as were the Action of Immediate Witness, “Solidarity with Palestinians,” and the Responsive Resolution, “UUA General Assembly Support for October 7 Hostages.”

Get more details on the votes and the discussion, as well as a gallery of photos submitted by Unitarian Universalists, in this story from #UUWorld: https://bit.ly/4cTTa8j

#UUAGA #LoveAtTheCenter


More than 3,400 Unitarian Universalists came together to explore the faith’s underpinnings, take consequential votes, and be in community with one another.

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As our annual General Assembly comes to a close, we share a special message of gratitude and apology from UUA President the Rev. Sofía Betancourt, PhD. We echo her words of love for trans, intersex, gender diverse, queer, Muslim, Jewish, Arab, disabled, and BIPOC beloveds particularly, and the yearning for a process that could enact less harm in the future. We hope all will read her message in full and reflect on it as it relates to their own experience at our annual gathering.

#UUAGA #LoveAtTheCenter



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GA Sunday Worship, led by the Rev. Molly Housh Gordon and many other Unitarian Universalists, was just spectacular. We remain moved by the service and Rev. Gordon's beautiful words and we share this excerpt in that spirit:

“We UUs know the whole-woven web, joy and sorrow, hope and despair, and at our best we are rooted in it, and we are sustained by it, and there is nothing woven that we need to fear.

…And that’s where our power lies:

In depending on each other, and knowing we depend on each other and being unafraid to depend on each other, because it’s all woven so tight, because everything depends.”

From the sermon “Weaving our Lives” by Rev. Molly Housh Gordon, of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, MO.

#UUAGA



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Join us for the final session of General Assembly 2024, starting now!



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The votes are in for the 2024 UUA General Assembly! Article II changes, three Actions of Immediate Witness, one Responsive Resolution and our Business Resolution have all passed. We are deeply grateful to all who held this imperfect but faithful process with care, especially our Co-Moderators, Board of Trustees, UUA staff and volunteers. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to move outward from here, with all of you, finding new ways to live our shared values, centering love in all we do.

Get all the details in this story from #UUWorld: https://bit.ly/4eBzYgV

#UUAGA #LoveAtTheCenter


The years-long democratic process culminated with debate and the GA vote. A two-thirds majority was required for approval.

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#UUWorld wants you to help tell the story of General Assembly 2024! Send your photos to world@uua.org by June 24 and don't forget to tag your social media posts with #UUAGA.



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It is with great joy and gratitude that we announce that the Business Resolution, “Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex and Gender Diverse People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values” has passed by a majority vote at General Assembly!

We are tremendously grateful to all the transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and gender diverse leaders, religious professionals, and congregation members who have dedicated their lives to this faith, and we take seriously the commitment to building, together, a future where are all can thrive.

#UUAGA #YouAreLoved

PC: Rev. JeKaren Olaoya



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Religion News Service reports on the historic decisions being discussed at our annual General Assembly in this story by Kathryn Post:

“Unitarian Universalists’ dogma-free approach to spirituality isn’t all that sets them apart from other American denominations. As the faith group gathers online this week for its 2024 General Assembly, the most pressing item on the docket isn’t women’s ordination or LGBTQ+ inclusion, but whether to adopt a revised version of the denomination’s covenant clause, otherwise known as Article II.”

Read the full story from RNS at https://bit.ly/3RFPbDR

#UUAGA #Article2 #ReligionNews


(RNS) — To Unitarian Universalists, changes to the denomination’s covenant clause are weighty, and occasionally fraught.

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UUA President the Rev. Sofía Betancourt, PhD offered these words during her President's Report to General Assembly yesterday, affirming:

"I believe that living every day in our faith offers us a through-line, a thread, that keeps us connected to one another and grounded in our values when the world is on fire. Keep hold of the thread, Beloveds. Times of unknowing are what religious community is for."

#UUAGA


Re-sharing a poem here that I shared in my President’s Report to the 2024 UUA General Assembly because it speaks to me of the strength of our living tradition.

I believe that living every day in our faith offers us a through-line, a thread, that keeps us connected to one another and grounded in our values when the world is on fire. Keep hold of the thread, Beloveds. Times of unknowing are what religious community is for.

The Thread
By William Stafford

There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.

#UUAGA

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We love seeing so many Unitarian Universalists gathered in groups to participate in this year's General Assembly! Are you, or will you, get together with others at some point during GA? Please share your pictures with us and use the #UUAGA hashtag to help us find you - we'd love to re-share for all to enjoy.

You can also send us your photos by emailing outreach@uua.org.

#UUAGA





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Now live!
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.

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On this first day of our annual General Assembly, we offer these words by the Rev. Christin C. Green excerpted from her prayer, "A Prayer Before Annual Meeting":

"May our minds and hearts be opened this morning
so that the day is able to blossom
and flourish in life giving ways.

May we view each other as partners, comrades,
friends on the journey, headed in a
direction together toward wholeness.

May our voices be gentle and purpose-filled.
May our energy create space for everyone.
May our hands open to one another as help when needed."

Read the text in full in our online WorshipWeb: https://bit.ly/4b2tFQG

#UUAGA



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We love that the podcast "This Queer Book Saved My Life" recently covered a title published by our own Skinner House publishing imprint! Check out the podcast to learn how "Swinging on the Garden Gate: A Memoir of Bisexuality and Spirit" saved mental health counselor Sandy Hope's life: https://bit.ly/45n2zTd

You can order "Swinging on the Garden Gate" from our own inSpirit UU Book and Gift shop at https://bit.ly/3XpHllI


We meet therapist Sandy Hope and the book that saved her life: Swinging on the Garden Gate. And its author Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew joins us!

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There are many ways to participate in our online General Assembly, happening this week, on Thursday, June 20. GA registrants can access the event through the Whova mobile app and delegates will have access to the GA Delegate Platform to connect with GA business remotely.

Public events, including all of the business General Sessions and Sunday Morning Worship, will be live-streamed on UUA.org and here on Facebook. Resources are also available to support groups who choose to gather in person to watch GA together.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3KFbe9N

PC: Chris Montgomery via Unsplash



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Last January, the UUA offered empty commercial space at its headquarters building to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for use as a free temporary overnight shelter. Roderick, Angela, and their young child are among those granted haven there.

UU World received special permission to interview the family and here's what they told us.

https://bit.ly/3KIzwjq


Last January, the UUA offered empty commercial space at its headquarters to the state as a free temporary overnight shelter. Roderick, Angela, and their young child are among those granted haven there.

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The UU Climate Justice Revival has activities for all ages! Bring your coloring skills to the Abolitionist Visions of Climate Justice coloring page and be part of our multigenerational UU Climate Justice Revival! uuclimatejustice.org/engage

Through worship, laughter, reflection, lamentation, and joy, we can feed our spirits and move forward nourished and connected with love at the center of our climate actions. Join the UU Climate Justice Revival on September 28-29, 2024.

#ReimagineTogether #UU #Church #ClimateJustice



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Join a special worship program celebrating #Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19 at 12pm ET / 11am CT / 10am MT / 9am PT. Presented by Black Lives of UU, we’ll gather just ahead of our annual General Assembly to explore “The Winding River of Liberation: Savoring Our Moments of Freedom”.

Worship leaders include the Rev. Mykal O'Neal Slack, Min. Alberita (Albie) Johnson, and Min. Donte Hilliard with special musical guest Melanie DeMore.

Details are available at: https://bit.ly/4bVYOGB.

#UUAGA


General Assembly is fast approaching, and there is so much to remind us of life, joy, and liberation. This year, as we head into our time together to do the business of the faith, we are blessed with an opportunity to celebrate Juneteenth with Black Lives of UU! All are welcome to join this service on Wednesday, June 19th to honor Emancipation Day and to center the experience of Black Americans as we remember this nation’s journey with the devastation of slavery and its ending. A link to details about the worship service can be found in the comments below.

#Juneteenth marks the day, on the 19th of June in 1865, when Union soldiers in the United States finally entered Confederate territory in Galveston, Texas to tell the Black population there that they were free. This message of liberation was not given for nearly two and a half years past Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Despite that added atrocity, we celebrate #EmancipationDay on June 19th each year in Black communities and beyond.

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Our annual UUA General Assembly is happening next week! On Thursday, June 20, we'll come together online from wherever we are to worship, connect with one another, and engage in a democratic process to decide key issues that will shape the future of Unitarian Universalism.

If you are new to online GA, you might have questions about Whova, the online ecosystem where everything at our annual conference will happen. To help you get started using the Whova app, #UUWorld has curated a list of common questions and answers, with links to additional resources.

https://bit.ly/4c080tQ

If you're not yet registered for GA, there's still time! Register today: https://bit.ly/2CQ6l8M

#UUAGA


Get familiar with the UUA General Assembly’s online convention center. (And learn how to pronounce its name.)

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Offering these words from the Rev. Douglas Taylor, excerpted from his Meditation on Courage and Vulnerability in the UUA's Worship Web library:

"May my strength be not found as a hard shell of defense or a sharp weapon of attack. May my strength, instead, be found in an open stance of kindness and empathy, like a tree bending gracefully in the wind storm. May my strength be found in a willingness to join in the suffering of others, like a forest of trees together in a storm. May I choose to be receptive rather than protected, sharing rather than shielded.

In this way, may I face my own suffering and the suffering of others with a nimble capacity to respond with compassion. In this way, may my vulnerability be an invitation for others to meet me in the open field with a yearning for understanding and peace. I know this is a risk, I know I may be hurt, I know things may not go well.

But still, I will seek the courage to set aside the closed fist, the stinging retort, the barbed judgment of others. I will seek within myself the strength to stand exposed and unguarded before the world, in the wind, open to difficulty; not because I cannot be any other way but because I have chosen this better way."

Read the full mediation online at https://bit.ly/3KJ6q3a.



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For nearly 200 years, Community Church has served as a center of liberal religious community and freedom of expression in the heart of Manhattan. A multiracial, multicultural, multigenerational congregation deeply embedded in the local community, it has two primary spiritual paths, according to the Rev. Peggy Clarke: justice, a focus shared by many UU congregations; and art.

“The idea that art is a spiritual path is strong here, really strong,” Rev. Clarke emphasizes. “Art is a heart-centered way we find meaning and ask big questions. Dance is the embodiment of meaning-making and living deeply.”

Learn more about the ways that art and dance shape the Unitarian Universalist ministry at The Community Church of New York Unitarian Universalist in this story from #UUWorld:


Monthly visits from the Omega Dance Company have reinvigorated services and enriched congregants’ experiences.

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UUA Lifespan Faith Engagement staff and the National Emerging Adult Taskforce have curated a wide array of resources for emerging adults in UU congregations, and those who work with them, to use for free! Access the new Emerging Adult Resource Hub in this Google spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/4bDvQLl

Have a resource you would like to share? Lifespan Faith Engagement would love to know about it. Please submit your resource using the form linked in the Hub spreadsheet.



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In a weekly message of courage and compassion from Braver/Wiser, the Rev. Paige Getty shares her lived experience as a queer person, who might not look it from the outside. It includes, in part:

"On the surface or from a distance, we’re indistinguishable from the stereotypical White suburban family composed of a Mom, Dad (both cisgender), two kids, dog, and corn snake.

I’m in my early 50s and have been out since my mid 20s, having first claimed the label bisexual, though pansexual or queer fits better now. I’ve only ever had two serious romantic relationships—the first was with a woman, and I’m married to the second, who would tell you himself that he also is 'not straight.' I am uninterested in romantic or sexual relationships with anyone other than my spouse; and also, if something were to take him from me, I fully expect that I’d want another romantic relationship. I cannot anticipate the gender of that imagined potential future partner. After all, my attention is captured by all sorts of attractive people whose gender I might eventually register.

My queerness, though, is about more than who I’m actively involved with, romantically or sexually. And it’s about more than what’s visible on the surface. It’s about mindset and attitude and intention. It’s experienced in the private world of imagination and fantasy, as well in the lived experience of relationship. It’s in the rejection of WASPy gender norms and in the deliberate choice not to assume or pressure a particular form of romantic relationship in the lives of the children I’m privileged to raise."

Read the reflection in full at https://www.uua.org/braverwiser/totes-queer. And happy #Pride to all!

#UU #UnitarianUniversalism #LGBTQIA #Queer #Church



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Traditionally, many of us mark births, marriages, and deaths with special rituals or celebrations, and yet these are not the only moments that touch our lives and shape who we are.

In a stunning collection of rituals, editors and ministers Heather Concannon and Allison Palm and a diverse array of contributors invite you to bless it all—moments that are ordinary and profound, tender and heartbreaking, joyful and celebratory, and everything in between. Foster community, joy, and healing in moments like the joining of a blended family, changing names and pronouns, honoring Pride Month, having an abortion, getting a prosthesis, surviving sexual assault, ending a marriage, and so many others, with the offerings in this book.

Blessing It All: Rituals for Transition and Transformation, published by Skinner House, is available to pre-order now wherever books are sold and from our own inSpirit: The UU Book and Gift Shop at shopinspirit.org.



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Did you know that rabbi, spiritual teacher and a longtime activist for disability and gender justice, Julia Watts Belser will give our historic Ware Lecture at General Assembly this June?

Registration for #UUAGA is required to get access to this extraordinary moment. With your registration, you'll be able to live-stream this event on June 22 and access the video on-demand when it becomes available.

Learn more about rabbi Dr. Belser, including her most recent book, “Loving Our Own Bones: Disability Wisdom and the Spiritual Subversiveness of Knowing Ourselves Whole” published by Beacon Press.

Register for GA today: https://www.uua.org/ga/registration



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#UUWorld is your go-to resource for all things Unitarian Universalism and that includes your questions and wonderings about the process currently underway to update the language of Article II of the UUA’s Bylaws. UU World writers gathered some of their best reporting on Article II in this collection and organized it a bit to help you get the answers you need quickly, and with research, fact-checking, interviews, and deep background.

As we all prepare for General Assembly this year - when UUs from across the Association will vote on the new Article II language - we offer this collection of resources to support conversation, reflection, and faithful discernment by individuals, groups, and congregations.

#UU #UUAGA #Article2





















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Have you recently preached a message about intersectional climate justice, the vital issue of our time? The UU Climate Justice Revival invites you to enter your sermon into their upcoming sermon contest for a chance to receive $500! Submission deadline is August 1. Learn more at uuclimatejustice.org/sermon.

Through worship, laughter, reflection, lamentation, and joy, we can feed our spirits and move forward nourished and connected with love at the center of our climate actions. Join the UU Climate Justice Revival on September 28-29, 2024.



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On May 20, the UUA Board of Trustees added a business resolution in support of Transgender, Nonbinary, and Intersex people to the General Assembly’s final agenda. Business resolutions have the power to set the UUA's core commitments. If approved during GA, this would become the first one adopted in support of transgender equity—though other statements of support have passed in prior assemblies.

Learn more in this news story from #UUWorld: https://bit.ly/3UYLQ3I


On May 20, the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Board of Trustees added the item to the General Assembly’s final agenda. Review it in full.

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Thanks to the work of Translegislation.com, we know that anti-trans bills continue to be introduced in states across the U.S. Through the organizing and courageous action of individuals, congregations, and communities, we also know that we can defeat these bills that are so deadly for trans and nonbinary people of all ages.

As we move toward #PrideMonth in June, what better way do we have to affirm, uplift, honor, and cherish LGBTQIA+ lives than to join the fight for the thriving of all people and all bodies? Trans lives are divine, whole, and welcome and it’s up to each of us to do our part for the liberation of all.

Learn more about combatting anti-Trans legislation in this training from Side with Love. https://bit.ly/3R6opEG



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Sharing, with our deep support and solidarity, from our friends at the UUSC: Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. We echo their call:

"There is no possible military necessity that can justify more atrocious attacks on a civilian population heading into its eighth month of unabated assault and terror. Israel must end its incursion into Rafah now. The United States must withhold any further military aid to Israel that will be used to inflict these atrocities."

Read the statement in full online at:


  The international community has persistently and unequivocally called for a ceasefire and for international justice and accountability for the relentless attack on civilians in Palestine. This includes condemning Israeli officials for any and all military incursions into Rafah that has devastated...

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The UUA Board of Trustees invites all first-time and returning General Assembly attendees as well as GA delegates to join a live Zoom webinar on May 29. The UUA's GA Conference Services staff will join the webinar to offer participants an overview of what will happen at GA this year.

Register today to join! https://bit.ly/3UX3SDv

#UUAGA



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An international gathering in Prague, Czech Republic, last fall launched Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists into a new collaborative era. The event was hosted by Unitaria, the Religious Society of Czech Unitarians, a church that was founded by Norbert Čapek, who in 1923 first created one of the most beloved Unitarian rituals, the Flower Communion.

Learn more in a story from #UUWorld and discover how each participant brought forward their hopes from fellowships and churches across the globe for future leadership support, theological education, and what might sustain and grow U/U faith in the face of challenges ahead.

Read the full story at the UU World link in our bio.

#UU #UnitarianUniversalism #UnitarianUniversalist #GlobalUU #Prague #NorberCapek #Church



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An international gathering in Prague, Czech Republic, last fall launched Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists into a new collaborative era. The event was hosted by Unitaria, the Religious Society of Czech Unitarians, a church that was founded by Norbert Čapek, who in 1923 first created one of the most beloved Unitarian rituals, the Flower Communion.

Learn more in this story from #UUWorld and discover how each participant brought forward their hopes from fellowships and churches across the globe for future leadership support, theological education, and what might sustain and grow U/U faith in the face of challenges ahead.

https://bit.ly/4bmFzpv


Unitarian Universalists from six continents carried their aspirations to Prague, Czech Republic, and explored possibilities to sustain and grow the faith.

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We are pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd as the UUA’s new Director of Communications and Public Ministry. Prior to this appointment, Rev. Ladd served as Senior Minister of the River Road Unitarian Universalist congregation beginning in 2012. Along with the Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, she is co-editor of the recently-published Skinner House book, "Seeds of a New Way: Nurturing Authentic and Diverse Religious Leadership" and author of "After the Good News: Progressive Faith Beyond Optimism".

Rev. Ladd will begin as Director of Communications on a part-time basis on May 28th and then full-time on July 16th. Please help us welcome her!

https://bit.ly/4bwreH3


Rev. Ladd will lead the development and implementation of the UUA’s communications strategy.

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Unitarian Universalism is a loving faith that calls us to honor the rights and dignity of all people and to fight oppression wherever we find it. However, disabled people regularly find it difficult to fully experience the radical welcome that UUs aspire to provide.

Lay leaders, religious professionals, and allies are invited to join a monthly midday webinar to learn how to be more accessible and inclusive of your congregation’s disabled members and visitors. The next webinar, on Thursday, May 23rd at 12pm ET / 11am CT / 10am MT / 9am PT, will welcome guest speaker the Rev. Julián Jamaica Soto and include a presentation on ableism.

Learn more join us! https://bit.ly/3QVMzBp



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We are so excited that UUA President the Rev. Sofía Betancourt, PhD was able to join leaders of Black Lives of UU for their groundbreaking ceremony on the BLUU Housing Initiative over the weekend!

Check out the images from the event in the post below and learn more about BLUU's transformational work to empower Black and Indigenous families for generations to come on their website at https://blacklivesuu.org/bluu-housing-initiative/.


When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.

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Sharing some of the photos from marriages and celebrations of same sex marriage equality in Massachusetts on this 20 year anniversary. The anniversary reminds us that people who believe can make a difference and that love, family, and joyfully coming together is justice.

#20YearsOfMarriageEquality #LGBTQIA #LoveIsLove











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Twenty years ago, the landmark case Goodridge v. Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health successfully challenged MA laws restricting same-sex couples from marrying.

Unitarian Universalists participated in the push to extend legal protections and rights to same-sex couples. Half of the fourteen plaintiffs in the Goodridge case were UUs, according to reporting at the time. Today, we’re revisiting those celebratory moments with photos from 2004 and the one-year anniversary in 2005. Perhaps you’ll recognize some of the trailblazers pictured in this story from #UUWorld. https://bit.ly/4bFTmqZ

#UU #UnitarianUniversalist #Equality #LGBTQIA #LoveIsLove


To mark the milestone, revisit photos of some of the joyous events that followed the landmark decision.

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Gretchen Maune, UUA Accessibility Resources Coordinator, shares some of her journey of becoming nearly completely blind in her 20’s while trying to finish college—and learning quickly how to navigate the internet with her ears instead of her eyes.

On this #GlobalAccessibilityAwarenessDay, we echo Grechen’s wish for us all to design our websites, create our documents, and share our social media with love. We are grateful to the team of staff who help make our UUA website accessible and we are honored to support congregations in making their online content more accessible.

Read more about Gretchen’s journey and get her resource recommendations for digital accessibility in the post below, from Side with Love.


On this Global Accessibility Awareness Day (May 16th), UUA Accessibility Resources Coordinator Gretchen Maune affirms the importance of digital accessibility and encourages us all to do our part to create access online. Read the full blog post at https://bit.ly/3UK5CQj

[Image description: Graphic with a dark blue background and light blue brushstrokes, with a quote in white text that says, "'On this 13th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day, let us design our websites, create our documents, and share our social media with love.' Gretchen Maune. UUA Accessibility Resources Coordinator." Above the quote is the Global Accessibility Awareness Day logo, "GAAD" partially circled with a keyboard at the circle's opening. Next to the quote is a photo of Gretchen Maune, a white person with brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt and holding a cane in their right hand. Below the photo is a white UUA chalice.]

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General Assembly - the largest annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists worldwide - is coming this June 20 - 23! This year's GA will heavily leverage technology, including expanding opportunities for people to connect virtually and by offering an online library of on-demand workshops, lectures, and more. Planners are building on lessons learned from previous virtual and multiplatform General Assemblies, refining how to use technology—and creativity—to present the best possible experience.

Get the full story on this year's more inclusive online GA from #UUWorld. https://bit.ly/3Wz7ez4

#UU #UnitarianUniversalism #UUAGA


GA, set to take place in June, incorporates a few changes intended to boost inclusivity and promote connection among UUs.

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The UUSC: Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is partnering with a youth-led grassroots group in the Marshall Islands - once a nuclear testing site during America’s development of the atomic bomb - to support the continued livability of their nation and respond to the threat of climate change.

Learn more about the powerful, heartbreaking story of the Marshallese people and their inspiring work today in an online gathering on May 22 at 6pm ET/ 3pm PT.

Register to attend: https://bit.ly/3V0jdUU



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The social witness process is the way that the UUA comes to understand and act on the social issues of our times, bearing formal witness to these issues through statements adopted by delegates at General Assembly. The process has been an integral part of our faith since we consolidated the Universalist and Unitarian associations in 1961. It is congregationally driven and facilitated by the Commission on Social Witness.

The social witness process is already underway for 2024 and the deadline for proposed Actions of Immediate Witness are due to the Commission on Social Witness by Sunday, May 26.

Learn more about this vital grassroots work led by UUs: https://bit.ly/3UGozmR

#UU #UUAGA #justice


Proposal Period April 1 through May 26. Any AIWs submitted between April 1 and May 15 will receive CSW feedback.

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UUA Lifespan Faith Engagement staff and the National Emerging Adult Taskforce have curated a wide array of resources for emerging adults in UU congregations, and those who work with them, to use for free! Access the new Emerging Adult Resource Hub in this Google spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/4bDvQLl

Have a resource you would like to share? Lifespan Faith Engagement would love to know about it. Please submit your resource using the form linked in the Hub spreadsheet.



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As we connect with family and across generations on this #MothersDay, may we hold the joy as well as the difficulty with kindness and care. This moment of reflection from the Rev. Kendyl Gibbons in #UUWorld includes a wish for us all:

May the power of our various faiths sustain us in this work,
that we may be the hands of holy creativity and justice;
and together build a better world.

Read the reflection in full at https://bit.ly/4baIvWc.


“We know that there can be no enduring happiness for humanity / so long as suffering and want go unrelieved”

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Through worship, laughter, reflection, lamentation, and joy, we can feed our spirits and move forward nourished and connected with love at the center of our climate actions.

Join the UU Climate Justice Revival on September 28-29, 2024. Learn more at UUClimateJustice.org.



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[With appreciation for the feedback on yesterday's graphic, we are re-sharing the post in a different color.]

Long before Mother’s Day was celebrated with brunches and flower bouquets, Unitarian Julia Ward Howe wrote her Mother’s Day Proclamation, calling for peace. https://bit.ly/3JVlxX4

#UU #MothersDay #Peace



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Long before Mother’s Day was celebrated with brunches and flower bouquets, Unitarian Julia Ward Howe wrote her Mother’s Day Proclamation, calling for peace. https://bit.ly/3JVlxX4

#UU #MothersDay #Peace



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JUUst Breathe is a podcast of liberal religious education ministry that holds a vision that is both life saving and spirit lifting. In this episode, join the Revs. Tyler Coles and Dayna Edwards as they explore the critical importance of faith development and its role in driving forward paradigmatic shifts for congregations toward greater equity, health, and vibrancy. https://bit.ly/3UNQS46


Ep 3.5 | April 2024Join Rev Tyler Coles and Rev Dayna Edwards as they explore the critical importance of faith development and its role in driving forward paradigmatic shifts for congregations toward greater equity, health, and vibrancy.

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Sharing this message from the UUA's Side with Love campaign, created in solidarity with Unitarian Universalist young adults and students across the globe, who are protesting the ongoing assault in Gaza. As we witness more devastating violence, our commitment to love, justice, and liberation demands moral action.

Human beings have always gathered to create life-affirming communities of resistance. Rooted in a strong lineage of student movements, this generation - like those protesting the Vietnam War, calling for the racial integration of their campuses, and for the end of apartheid in South Africa - are, again, asking this nation to embody its highest ideals of liberty and justice for all.

Read the full statement on Side With Love: https://bit.ly/4a8MQHS
Read the full statement on the UUA website: https://bit.ly/4b5wykr
Add your signature: https://bit.ly/UUYA-StudentSolidarity

[Image description: "Statement of Solidarity with Student Activists" on a white background with a yellow border. Below the text are the logos for Side With Love and Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice.]


Side With Love joins in solidarity with Unitarian Universalist young adults and students across the globe, who are protesting the ongoing assault in Gaza. As we witness more devastating violence, our commitment to love, justice, and liberation demands moral action.

Human beings have always gathered to create life-affirming communities of resistance. Rooted in a strong lineage of student movements, this generation - like those protesting the Vietnam War, calling for the racial integration of their campuses, and for the end of apartheid in South Africa - are, again, asking this nation to embody its highest ideals of liberty and justice for all.

Read the full statement on Side With Love: https://bit.ly/4a8MQHS
Read the full statement on the UUA website: https://bit.ly/4b5wykr
Add your signature: https://bit.ly/UUYA-StudentSolidarity

[Image description: "Statement of Solidarity with Student Activists" on a white background with a yellow border. Below the text are the logos for Side With Love and Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice.]

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At General Assembly this June, delegates will cast a final vote on whether to adopt a major change in how the faith expresses its values: namely, new language that reimagines Article II of our UUA Bylaws.

Does your congregation or community need support to create space for productive understanding and discernment about these changes?

Amplifying the Charge is a set of resources for small group ministry and worship that can help. The four sessions in this resource create a progressive dialogue incorporating personal experiences of faith, spirit, and humanity in a variety of formats to engage learners of all types.

Learn more in this story from #UUWorld, including the link to download the curriculum. https://bit.ly/3QN89Z5

#UU #UnitarianUniversalism #Article2 #A2TheConversation #UUValues #UUAGA


The set of resources, known as Amplifying the Charge, supports Unitarian Universalist congregations as they prepare for the next stage of the bylaws adoption process.

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Sharing this message from UUA President Rev. Sofía Betancourt, PhD and UU seminary presidents condemning the recent violent repression of student movements.


The courage and moral clarity of student movements regularly save and shape the conscience of this country. And history teaches us that responding to students’ voices with violence comes with tragic consequences. That is why I have joined my colleagues, the Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, President of Starr King School for the Ministry and Dr. Elías Ortega, President of Meadville Lombard Theological School in a statement condemning the violent repression of pro-Palestinian, anti-war student protests happening on college campuses across the United States.

In this time when anti-democratic white Christian nationalist ideology is rapidly gaining traction in mainstream political discourse and legislation, our academic institutions represent one of the most powerful remaining bastions of intellectual freedom and free speech. We urge the immediate removal of state and national police forces from campuses across the country; for institutions of higher learning to honor our shared commitments to freedom of speech and peaceful protest for students and academics; and for people of faith and conscience to listen deeply to the prophetic wisdom and courageous leadership of students across the country.

Read our full statement online at:
https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/uu-academics-condemn-violence

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"Love at the Center," the much-anticipated new book edited by UUA President the Rev. Sofía Betancourt, PhD that explores our Unitarian Universalist understanding and practice of love, is now available in ebook format from retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and wherever ebooks are sold.

Consider pre-ordering your copy of the print edition from our inSpirit UU Book & Gift Shop. They will be available in the fall and will be updated after the 2024 General Assembly and may include additional chapters that are not in the current version of the ebook.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/3JGjAxv.

#UnitarianUniversalism #UUValues #Love



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