by Les Solomon, WUU Board Secretary
The headlines read: Unitarian Universalists Elect Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt to Serve as President of the Unitarian Universalist Association at General Assembly. Former president Rev. Dr. Susan Fredrick Gray retired after 6 years of leadership through the challenges of COVID and institutional change. Rev. Betancourt has an amazing resume and represents an increasingly diverse UUA. She received 95% of the votes.
For most congregants, the key headline would be: Will the delegates affirm the next step of Article II with a vote of more than 50% in preparation for the final vote next year? The answer: YES. After passing 5 amendments that altered the original proposal in modest ways and rejecting 8 other amendments, the vote to continue the Article II discussion as revised for another year passed by more than 75%. Next year’s vote will require a 2/3 majority delegate vote for Article II to become a part of our UUA By-laws.
Additionally, the delegates approved 3 Actions of Immediate Witness on DACA, health equity, and police training. The Business Resolution about a Complete Divestment from the Fossil Fuel Industry and Subsequent Reparations failed though UUA leadership acknowledged the need to continue to address the Divestment from the Fossil Fuel Industry in future work.
GA brought together more than 4,000 Unitarian Universalists online and in Pittsburgh, PA to make these important decisions as well as to worship, celebrate, learn and provide public witness on our values. We were represented by congregational delegates Leslie Fabian, Linda Lane-Hamilton, Jessica O’Brien, Pat Russo, and Les Solomon. Rev. Laura and Austen Petersen also participated in the deliberations as delegates and Colin Miller-Moore and Natalie Miller-Moore attended in non-delegate capacities.
The WUU Board has scheduled a café conversation on GA (including Article II) to be held on July 16th. All are welcome!