General Assembly, A Meeting of Congregations

Unitarian Universalists (UUs) will soon gather for the 50th annual General Assembly (GA) in Charlotte, NC, June 22-26, 2011. If you can’t be there in person, bookmark this page as the nexus of online GA coverage.

Live streaming video of many major GA events will be available here during the times listed in our schedule (below), and on our Livestream channel, where you can RSVP for upcoming video events, participate in instant chat with other viewers, and read tweets from everyone using the #uuaga hashtag. Live video will start with our first scheduled event on Wednesday, June 22, at 7:00 p.m. EDT – that’s 4:00 pm for Californians.

Quick Links:

• Schedule of Events (Mobile Event Guide and Program Book)
• 2011 Event Coverage (event streaming, on-demand video, and reporting from UU World)
• Final Business Agenda
• Charlotte Convention Center (venue and travel information)
• Justice General Assembly Planned for 2012 in Phoenix, AZ

General Assembly 2011
June 22-26, Charlotte, North Carolina

General Assembly (GA) 2011 in Charlotte will mark the 50th anniversary of the merger of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America.

Join thousands of fellow Unitarian Universalists from across the country as we remember the persons and events that brought into being the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in May 1961, to reflect on our denomination’s relevant achievements and struggles since then, and to chart new aspirations for the future we are determined to shape.

Experience wonderful and uplifting worship services—morning and night—led by some of our best worship leaders, with glorious music and inspiring messages.

Participate in our democratic process. General Assembly is the way that our faith does business, bringing together the distinctive character of our individual congregations.

Hear terrific speakers. There will be hundreds of dynamic, entertaining programs and informative workshops.

Connect with craftspeople and artisans, social action groups, professional and educational resources, theological schools, UUA organizations and staff, Beacon Press, and the UUA Bookstore in the General Assembly Exhibit Hall.

Network with other congregation leaders, share best practices, and learn from one another. Return to your congregation reinvigorated and inspired to put your values to work.

Witness for our faith in moving and exciting ways as we look forward to and prepare for a special “Justice” General Assembly in Phoenix, AZ in 2012.

Social Media

• Follow GA news on Twitter
• Become a GA fan on Facebook
• Read the GA Blog

UU Calendar

February 1 – Congregational poll, vote to admit Draft Statement of Conscience: Ethical Eating: Food & Environment Justice, to General Assembly final agenda.
March 1 – Last day for comments on draft Statement of conscience: Immigration as a Moral Issue.
May 20 – 21 – District Assembly at Neighborhood Church in Pasadena.
June 22 – 26 – General Assembly in Charlotte, NC

Camp de Benneville Pines, 41750 West Jenks Lake Road, Angelus Oaks, CA 92305.

We need to repair our 50-year old water system to keep the camp functioning. Let’s see if we can get 100% participation for OCUUC! Donating twice is acceptable. The OCUUC bookstore has de Benneville calendars which will be given free to donors of $20.00 or more to the Water Works campaign.

IMPORTANT DATES:

February 1, 2011 – Vote in congregational poll before Feb. 1 to approve placing the Draft Statement of Conscience, Ethical Eating: Food & Environmental Justice, on the final agenda for General Assembly,
2011 in Charlotte. Comments on this SOC also close Feb 1.

March 1, 2011 – Last date to submit comments on draft Current Study/Action Issue: Immigration as a Moral Issue.

Saturday, November 6 – UUSC Encuentro at Tapestry church, 23436 Madero, suite 140, Mission Viejo, CA 92691, 949-581-0245.
9:15am – 3:00pm. $20 pre-registration
(includes lunch for first 100), $25 at door.

Click this link for a copy of the brochure. Contact Birdie and Charlie Reed for more details.

Saturday, November 13 – ACLU Death Penalty Forum at OCUUC,
1:00 – 3:00 pm.
Come to the forum, stay for the auction.

Saturday, November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance.
See the Reeds for details.

On November 6 the UU Service Committee Southern California Unit Board will hold its annual Encuentro. The event will be at Tapestry’s new facility in Mission Viejo. It will deal with immigration issues and feature Gustavo Arellano, journalist and author (“Ask a Mexican”).

Continuing with Standing on the Side of Love, there were many members of the OCUUC congregation at the D-Day celebration in Santa Ana’s Sasscer Park. Naomi and Jonathan Blackwood were among those addressing the crowd. There were two UU booths at the OC Gay Pride Festival on August 14 in Irvine. Several people from OCUUC attended . Next year we hope to have one large UU cluster booth.

Among the more interesting developments at GA was the overwhelming decision of the delegates to turn 2012 GA in Phoenix into a “justice GA” in which business will be limited to the minimum required by UUA bylaws. The balance of GA will be devoted to witnessing on immigration, racial and economic justice. The original business resolution had been to boycott the 2012 GA in Arizona, but was superceded by a substitute motion to go and witness. An unfortunate part of the process was an hour’s sales pitch by the UUA administration to sell the substitute motion before debate on it had even begun.

The Study Action Issue on Peacemaking was adopted as a Statement of Conscience after being rewritten from last year’s text that had failed of passage. A new four-year Study Action Issue on Immigration as a Moral Issue was adopted. GA 2012 in Phoenix should give the UUA lots of hands-on experience in this area.

Several by-law amendments were adopted, among which was one changing the terms of President and Moderator to one six-year term and creating a Nominating Committee to nominate candidates. The hope is to improve the election process. Another change transferred the responsibility for the GA agenda from the GA Planning Committee to the UUA Board of Trustees, conforming to current practice.

Three Actions of Immediate witness were passed: one on opposing Anti-Immigrant Measures such as Arizona SB 1070 and the like, one on requesting action on the Gulf Coast oil spill, and one on improving the Clean Energy Bill. An Action of Immediate Witness on ending the blockade of Gaza and ending the war in Afghanistan failed, primarily due to disagreements on wording. The delegates passed a responsive resolution recommending support of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. OCUUC appears to be ahead of the curve on this one.

President Peter Morales recognized our former members, Karen and Ramon Urbano, for their volunteer work on behalf of UUism. At the Service of the Living Tradition we saw our former intern minister, Ann Schranz, achieve final fellowship. Our own Beth Syverson expertly conducted the program’s music. In the Ware Lecture, Winona LaDuke (Ojibwe) gave us some ideas on how Indians know better ways of living in this world than white people. We attended workshops on GBLT issues, ethical eating and indigenous peoples, and a vegan dinner sponsored by the Ministry for Earth. We also greeted former members Lynn and Richard Scoby. In all, an enjoyable GA.