Programming
New! See a video invitation to General Assembly 2009 (Windows Media) (QuickTime) from Unitarian Universalist Association President William G. Sinkford.
In addition to business sessions (Plenary), the General Assembly (GA) program comprises over three hundred workshops, lectures, and worship opportunities over the five days of GA.
See the 2009 program schedule.
General Assembly Planning Committee Sponsored Programming
The Hemingway Book Club of Kosovo
Paula Huntley, nationally known lecturer and author of the critically acclaimed The Hemingway Book Club of Kosovo will share her experience as a volunteer English teacher in war-torn Kosovo, emphasizing potential each of us has for exercising 'personal diplomacy' throughout the world.
Paula Huntley
Better Than Before: Compassionate Conflict Resolution
Is conflict a sign of something wrong or an organic component of growing communities? This workshop will present the clear, accessible processes of Compassionate Communication (NVC) which turn conflict into an opportunity to build stronger connections in which greater authenticity and deeper trust bring renewed energy to creative problem solving.
Rev. Cathleen Diane Cox
Youth Engaging Pluralism: An Encounter Model for UU Congregations
Over one weekend, a wildly diverse group of Southwest Florida high school students shared faith journeys, explored religious liberty history and current issues, and built an intentional, pluralistic community. The organizers were Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations. Your congregation can also sponsor a Weekend LEADD. We'll show you how.
Janice Marie Johnson, Lalitha Janamanchi, Denny Davidoff, Rev. Abhimanyu Janamanchi
Facilitator Training: The Key to Small Group Ministry Success
Small Group Ministry facilitators must be chosen wisely, trained well, and supported in their ministry. This workshop will provide a concrete plan for designing and implementing a comprehensive in-house small group facilitator training and development program. The minister’s role in sharing and blessing this ministry will be a special focus.
Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer, Rev. Justin Osterman, Susan Hollister, Diana Dorroh
Intergenerational Dances for Worship Made Easy
Based on the DVD "Dancing our Living Tradition" an easy to follow instructional DVD of dances for UU Worship, participants will learn dances and how to teach them. We will learn how to modify the dances to work with different ages,abilities and spaces.
Sunsue Fleming
Addictions Ministry in the UU Movement
Presenters will bring greater awareness both to the suffering caused by addiction and to the various forms of addiction-focused ministry being offered within the UU movement. Additionally, we will bring greater awareness to addictions beyond that of drugs and alcohol, such as compulsive eating, compulsive sex, codependence, compulsive spending and gambling.
Rev. Alex Holt, Julie Sullwold-Hernandez, Kat Manker-Seale, Rev. Eliza C. Galaher
Dance as Spiritual Practice
This is a moving meditation practice focused on embodying the present moment. In this practice we seek to awaken to the world that is, the world beyond thought and concept. We catch glimpses of our connection with all that is, which spurs deeper questions and convictions for our spiritual growth.
Erin Gingrich
Congregations In Transition
Stuck in transition? Want a new future? This workshop is for you. The four major congregational attendance size cultures will be identified with their distinguishing characteristics. These insights empower congregations to see where they have been, where they are now, where they need to go and how to get there.
Rev. Robert Latham
Walking the UU Path with Mystical Feet—Spiritual Practices
Bring your soul, thirsty for a touch of the Divine, to this experiential and inspirational workshop. In a worshipful atmosphere, receive a myriad of spiritual tools that can open your mind, nurture your spirit and transform your life. Come, come whoever you are…
Joy-Ellen Lipsky, Rev. Lilia Cuervo
How To Create a Unitarian MOPS Program
For growing Unitarian churches with young families, this successful new program has proven to provide outreach and support to a population in need while also helping to grow church membership and exposure of the liberal public to Unitarian Universalism as a denomination. SOUPPS (Support Of Unitarian Parents of PreSchoolers)
Ann-Marie Marquis, MSW
Our Essential Fervor: Kenneth Patton’s Mystical Humanism
A celebration, in reading, music, and reflection, of the life and writings of Kenneth Leo Patton, 1911-1994, self-styled mystical humanist, “prophet of contemporary liberal religion, [who] taught a monotone rationalism how to sing; …a stumble-footed humanism how to dance; ...[and] our eyes to see the glory in the ordinary."
Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons
Be the Change: Life Long Peace-making and Justice-seeking
Through self-reflection, owning power, and spiritual practice you can Be the Change, the title of a new Skinner Book of poems, prayers and meditation by Stephen Shick. Reflecting on this work and their efforts will be William F. Schulz, Sharon Welch, William Gardiner, Richard Gilbert, Shawn Newton, Wendy von Zirpolo.
We Must Build Unity
To build unity between different racialized ethnic groups we must discuss what divides us.
Jorge Zaballos
Right Relations: LGBTQQIA, A Primer for the A's Among Us
This workshop will provide an opportunity for learning information on the range of sexual orientations and gender identities, opportunities for personal reflection and congregational assessment, identification of best practices, and strategies for improving right relations between LGBTQQIA persons and their straight allies.
Rev. Debra W. Haffner
Taking OWL OUT into the World
UUCA experimented with different formats to take OWL OUT to at-risk teens in community centers in the Washington DC area (thanks to the UU Fund for Social Responsibility). Other congregations can also bring this life saving and AR/AO/MC ministry to their communities; let us tell you how.
Confronting the Top-heavy Distribution of U.S. Wealth
The Market Meltdown was fueled by glaring inequalities of wealth that led to economic speculation by the rich and declining buying power for everyone else. There is a new opportunity to confront the top-heavy distribution of U.S. wealth by taxing speculation, reining in CEO pay and instituting real economic reforms.
Buliding Coalitions for Change
Rev. Keith Kron, Director, Office of BGLT Concerns, Identity-Based Ministries, UUA
Other Meetings
In addition to General Assembly programmed events, a number of other meetings and events take place around GA. These include:
- Ministry Days, the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers' Association (UUMA), June 22-24.
- Professional Days for the Liberal Religious Educators’ Association (LREDA), June 24.
- Professional Days of the Association of Unitarian Universalist Administrators (AUUA), June 23-24.
For more information contact generalassembly @ uua.org.
Last updated on Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
