Beloveds,
I’m excited to share that this week our campaign is beginning an ambitious process of reaching out to every UU congregation in our movement.
Our goal is not just to make sure that people know about and feel connected to this presidential campaign, but to help resource them in meaningful ways. We want to be in relationship, support congregations and Unitarian Universalism more broadly, and support healthy governance at every level of our Association.
To that end, volunteers with the campaign have crafted a new resource for congregations: a congregational delegate selection and voting guide. This short guide offers important questions for congregational leaders to consider around how delegates are selected, what biases might exist in the process, and what changes could be made that would help ensure that delegates authentically represent their congregation.
We have also reached out this week to congregations that have not yet recertified with the UUA, reminding them that the deadline is coming up on February 1, since those that don’t recertify will lose their ability to send delegates to General Assembly—and also making sure they know that delegates can now register for free for virtual business-only attendance at General Assembly.
We believe that having delegates who are democratically, equitably, and transparently selected from every congregation in our Association, and who take the responsibility to authentically represent their congregations seriously, is vital to the health and well-being of our wider faith. And this year is obviously a meaningful one, not just because of the presidential election but also because of important conversations like those happening around Article II, the set of bylaws that currently include the 7 Principles and the Sources of our faith.
More than ever, our congregations, covenanted communities, and wider movement need leadership that is relational, collaborative, and empowering. Together let us make sure that all of our communities have a voice and a place at the table.
Faithfully,
Sofía
Rev. Sofía Betancourt, Ph.D. 