UUA General Assembly (GA) 2024 Updates

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UUA General Assembly (GA) 2024 Updates

(More detail below. Numbers and margins of votes may be found at the links provided.)

 

  • 3 new board members were elected – no contests. 

 

 

  • 3 Actions of Immediate Witness passed – see links to text of each below.

 

  • A proposed revision to UUA Bylaw Section 7.13 concerning Religious Education credentialing passed. 

 

  • A Business Resolution titled “Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex and Gender Diverse People Is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values” passed.

 

  • A Responsive Resolution of support for the October 7th hostages passed.

Article II, ‘Purposes and Covenant’

The ‘final’ proposed text of Article II of the UUA Bylaws had been debated last year and revised several times before being placed on the agenda for this year’s G.A. Even so, several amendments were suggested this spring, added to the agenda for discussion, and voted on before the vote on Article II as a whole. 

 

The seven ‘Shared Unitarian Universalist Values’ proposed were: LOVE at the center, plus Interdependence, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Generosity, and Justice.

 

One amendment to change the wording of the text describing Equity passed. A second amendment to change the Equity wording further did not pass. A third amendment to add Peace as an additional value did not pass. And a fourth amendment to add Reason as an additional value did not pass.

 

Article II as a whole passed.

Actions of Immediate Witness

An Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) is the means by which the UUA affirms a public position on a matter of social justice. AIWs are admitted by the UUA Social Justice Commission in advance of G.A. for placement on the agenda.

 

These three AIW’s were discussed and voted on separately, i.e. one by one:

 

 

Asks the UUA to take a public position calling on the U.S. government to declare climate change a public health emergency; also calls on UUs to advocate and work for climate justice. 

 

 

Asks the UUA and all UUs to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the liberation of Palestine; also to advocate and work for organizations that support Palestinians and seek to end genocide everywhere.

 

 

Asks the UUA and all UUs to advocate for those adversely impacted by the end of the COVID Emergency, e.g. marginalized and high-risk groups, victims of Long COVID, et al.

Bylaw Section 7.13, Religious Education Credentialing Committee

Allows the committee to expand its membership as necessary.

Business Resolution: “Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex and Gender Diverse People Is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values”

[https://discuss.uua.org/t/amended-uua-business-resolution-embracing-transgender-nonbinary-and-intersex-people-is-a-fundamental-expression-of-uu-religious-values/1481]

 

A business resolution is a statement that directly involves the administration and structure of the UUA. It is proposed in advance for inclusion on the G.A. agenda.

 

“We hereby pledge our collective faithful efforts to the full affirmation and celebration of  transgender, nonbinary, intersex and gender diverse people within our congregations and the  wider community, and uphold this commitment as a fundamental obligation revealed by our  principles and values.”

Responsive Resolution: “UUA General Assembly Support for October 7 Hostages”

[https://discuss.uua.org/t/responsive-resolution-uua-general-assembly-support-for-october-7-hostages/1787]

 

A responsive resolution may be added to the agenda during G.A. in response to issues or discussions already on the agenda or underway. This one was added in response to the AIW concerning Palestine (above).

 

Calls for immediate release of all Hamas-held hostages and acknowledges the suffering of Jewish people everywhere.