Unitarian Universalists across the country are currently participating in a multi-year process to consider changes to our UUA Principles and Purposes. It is required elsewhere in the UUA bylaws that Article II be reviewed at least every 15 years. The current review process formally began in 2020 when the UUA Board appointed the Article II Study Commission.

We hope you were able to participate in one of UUCC's recent Article II information sessions to help you get oriented to the process and the proposed changes and how they serve the future of Unitarian Universalism. Those sessions were lively and participants engaged in both larger and smaller group conversations. We also hope that you were one of the nearly 15,000 UUs who sent feedback to the commission.

The changes being proposed are significant, with substantial rewording of the principles and purposes section, and it is important that all UUs are informed and participate. Toward that end, this message contains links and information that will help you engage. Click the links for more information.

Questions About the Process?

You may have heard, through one grapevine or another, that this process has been “top-down," not shared widely enough, or other similar sentiments. In fact, the process of creating the commission and supporting/sharing its work has been quite clear and transparent. The Article II commission’s webpage has comprehensive information about both timeline and process. We have shared the following timeline and information in UUCC’s conversation sessions. Here is the recording of the Article II Commission presenting the proposed changes to the UUA Board.

It is our goal here at UUCC to make sure the congregation as a whole is informed about what's happening so that you can engage in the process. We also want to be clear that staff and leadership at UUCC does not have standing to receive concerns regarding process and feedback about the proposed revisions themselves. That feedback needs to be directed to the appropriate places: The Study Commission itself or the UUA Board, but most importantly, by participating in the process of reviewing the proposed language, any proposed amendments which are the democratic process set forth before us.

CLICK HERE to View the Full Study & Amendment Timeline

OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND ENGAGE

• Participate in an online cohort reflecting on Article II hosted by Wellspring. UU Wellspring is a program of spiritual deepening for Unitarian Universalists. Group members experience deep listening and spiritual reflection in small group settings. There is a cost for Wellspring sessions. View the Wellspring Article II Orientation Video
• Adult Education & Spiritual Development and Denominational Connections have purchased the Wellspring Article II Reflection Curriculum, so stay tuned for more information, see video above for more information.
• Attend the Southern Region's Article II Processing Session on Saturday, May 6 at 9:00AM Central/10:00AM Eastern

There will be a preliminary vote during General Assembly 2023 on a revised Article II of the UUA’s bylaws. The Article II Study Commission has completed its two-year study and they submitted their Article II Study Report (PDF 26 pages) to the UUA Board of Trustees at their meeting held on January 20, 2023. The report includes the Study Commission’s recommended revisions to Article II. 

The final version of Article II, as amended by the Board of Trustees and/or the 2023 General Assembly, must receive a simple majority vote to move forward for a final vote at the 2024 General Assembly. It will take a 2/3rd majority vote at the 2024 General Assembly to be adopted as the new Article II of the UUA bylaws. If either vote fails, a similar proposal cannot be considered for two years.