Meeting the moment, across our movement

I grew up attending a very small Catholic parish in rural New Mexico. Even now, when I close my eyes, I can see the way the light filtered through the sunset-colored glass behind the altar, and I can smell the dustiness of the clean but very old carpeting that covered the floors. We had a “cry room,” because in the Catholic tradition of my youth, reverence and faith included quiet—especially from children. I can picture my mother, leading hymns from the back of the sanctuary, her guitar and her voice ringing out. 

When I came to the realization as a young adult that I was, in fact, an atheist, I struggled with what I believed that meant—that I had to relinquish my right to religious and spiritual community. 

Then I found Unitarian Universalism: our beautiful, justice-seeking, sometimes messy living tradition where revelation is not sealed and all of us are capable of offering prophetic witness and caring ministry. I’ve been a member of my small congregation now for about 15 years, and I’ve also become a member of the wider movement of Unitarian Universalists, as a regular delegate and attendee to our annual General Assembly (“GA”)–which I attended in person in Baltimore last week. 

So I’m here to give you a very brief report on GA, and to invite you think about attending—it will be an all-virtual event next year, which may make it easier to try out!

Congregational Study Action Issue (CSAI): Every couple of years, delegates to the General Assembly consider and then vote to advance one issue about which a curriculum will be created. UU congregations everywhere are encouraged to study and deepen on that issue. This year, delegates selected Abolition, Transformation, and Faith Formation. 

Actions of Immediate Witness (AIWs): At every General Assembly, delegates consider and vote to advance up to three AIWs, “statements about a significant action, event, or development in the world that necessitates immediate engagement and action among UU member congregations and groups.” This GA. we passed the following AIWs: “Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism, a Call to Action: Reaffirming Our Covenants for Democracy and Freedom”, “Funding Global LGBTIQ Freedom Amid Crisis: A Call for Immediate Action and Solidarity,” and “We Declare and Reaffirm: All People Have Inherent Worth and Inalienable Rights.”

Virtual Hymnal, “Sing Out Love” unveiled: We get new hymns! This is exciting news, and we got to preview many of the offerings from the new virtual hymnal. Included in the new hymnal is “Holy Now,” by Peter Mayer, among many others. 

Report from Black Lives of UU (BLUU), an organization that shares space at First Universalist: Lena Gardner, a First U member and Executive Director of BLUU, delivered a report to the General Assembly—watch the video here. 

A report from Rev. Ashley Horan, UUA Vice President for Programs & Ministries, and a First U member: Watch Rev. Ashley’s report here.

Meg Riley, a member of First Universalist, presided over her last General Assembly as co-moderator, alongside Charles DuMond: Watch as Meg and Charles lead the installation of our newly elected co-moderators of the UUA, Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson and Bill Young.

Read the UU World recap on the 2025 General Assembly here.

This beloved faith that is mine and yours is where I choose to meet this moment. Although Catholicism wasn’t the faith that fit me for my life’s journey, it helped me to appreciate the power and possibility of religious community.  I’m so grateful to be able to continue growing and deepening my own faith—in my home congregation, as First U staff, and every year at our General Assembly. 

What’s inspiring you from our Unitarian Universalist movement?

You can hit reply to the newsletter or drop me a message at rachel [at] firstuniv.org and let me know—let’s see what we can do or learn together as a congregation this fall and in the coming year.

And I hope next year you’ll join me at GA!