The Unitarian Universalist Association Of Congregations’ 2009 General Assembly in Salt Lake City, UT, concluded on June 28, 2009. General Assembly delegates elected Rev. Peter Morales to be the eighth president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Delegates approved a Responsive Resolution which calls for inquiry into African visa denials. Several Actions Of Immediate Witness were passed by delegates, including: a demand for Clean, Honest, and Fair Elections in the United States; to support America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act; a commitment to work for U.S. Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty; and a Call for a Commission of Inquiry into U.S.-Sponsored Torture. The torture resolution concludes with these words: “Nothing less than the soul of our nation is at stake in confronting U.S.-sponsored torture and completely renouncing its use.”
The Ballou Channing District, the district that includes the Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, sponsored two workshops during the five day meeting: “Breakthrough Congregation” and “Liberating the UU-Friendly Elements of Christianity”. Church members that couldn’t be present in Salt Lake City were able to view many of the Worship services and plenary sessions live via streaming video.
In addition to the social justice actions taken, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen and Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, both Unitarian Universalists, were awarded the 2009 Wilton Peace Prize, which is given by the UUA in recognition of individuals or groups who have supported peace and human progress. Unitarian Universalist minister Rev. Alice Blair Wesley received the UUA’s 2009 Distinguished Service Award which honors UUs who “over a considerable period of time, have strengthened the institutions of our Unitarian Universalist denomination or clarified our message in an extraordinary way.”
During the yearly meeting of congregations, almost $30,000 was donated to the Utah Pride Center, UUs held “Valuing All Families” - an interfaith community witness event in support of immigration reform, and the “Standing on the Side of Love” campaign was officially unveiled. “Standing On The Side of Love” is a UUA sponsored public witness campaign that promotes respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person by confronting issues of exclusion, oppression, and violence based on identity. All people, not just Unitarian Universalists, are invited to stand, speak, worship, march, roll, and live on the side of the love.
More than 35 events from General Assembly 2009 including worship services, plenary sessions, and talks are available to watch on-line through www.uua.org/ga (click on “2009 Event Coverage-Video/Audio” link). The Unitarian Universalist Association, of which the Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, is a member, is a faith community of more than 1,000 self-governing congregations that bring to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance, and social justice.
For more information about Unitarian Universalism and/or the Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, please visit us in person or on-line at www.uufoxborough.org. The first worship service of our new church year will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 13.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
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