From June 20–23, more than 3,400 Unitarian Universalists from around the country and world gathered and attended this year’s all-virtual UUA General Assembly. GA is the annual gathering of UUs, where, in addition to conducting official business of the UUA, they join in community, explore the faith’s theological underpinnings, and emphasize the UUA’s mission, values, and principles. GA 2024 had 2,757 credentialed delegates from 734 congregations in fifty states; Washington, D.C.; Canada; the U.S. Virgin Islands; Mexico, France, and the Philippines. Five UUCOD leaders represented the church: Rev. Riddell; Walter Gendell; Linda Savard; Jane Zaun; and me. This year’s theme was “Love Unites, Stories Ignite,” meant to celebrate the profound impact of love as a binding force that transcends boundaries and divisions.
The new UU Statement of Shared Values centering love passed by more than 80 percent (two-thirds majority required for passage): 2,025 delegates favored, 499 opposed, and 21 delegates abstained. Article II of the UUA Bylaws is amended to identify the new values of the faith as Equity, Generosity, Interdependence, Justice, Pluralism, and Transformation, centered around Love. UUCOD’s own Article II of our By-Laws, “Purpose,” which mirrored until this change the UUA’s Article II, probably needs review and possible amendment, given the UUA changes.
Only one of four proposed amendments to the new values passed. The successful amendment changed the Equity shared value to read: “We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.”
Two proposed amendments to incorporate additional values—Peace, and Reason and the Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning—and a proposal for an alternative description of Equity, did not pass. Overwhelming 92% passage of a Business Resolution, “Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex and Gender Diverse People Is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values,” generated a particularly charged discussion.
The ongoing war in the Middle East was addressed. The Report of UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt expressed “the profound horror and loss of these latest rounds of violence in the Middle East.” An Action of Immediate Witness (AIW), “Solidarity with Palestinians,” passed with a 73.5 percent vote. AIWs are statements about a significant action, event, or development in the world that necessitates immediate engagement and action among UU congregations and affiliated groups. A Responsive Resolution, “UUA General Assembly Support for October 7 Hostages,” offered in response to the UUA President’s Report, called for the immediate release of all Hamas-held hostages and acknowledged “the real suffering of Jews within our Association and beyond.” It passed with 77 percent in favor. Delegates affirmed two other AIWs: “World on Fire: Humanitarian Work and Climate Change” (95.6 percent of votes), and “Centering Love Amidst the Ongoing Impact of COVID-19” (86.1 percent).
Many individuals attended daily cohort gatherings, which were groups of like-minded peers, such as religious educators, lay leaders, and UUs, interested in particular topics, like climate justice, class, smaller congregations, lay leadership, etc. We participated to foster a supportive community and share common goals and interests. Your UUCOD attendees are planning to share what we learned.
Julia Watts Belser, a graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry, and a professor of Jewish Studies at Georgetown University and core faculty in its Disability Studies Program, gave the Ware Lecture. Since 1922, a distinguished guest has been invited annually to give this talk. Did you know that past lecturers include Van Jones (2008), Mary Oliver (2006), Norman Lear (1995), Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1986), Shirley Chisholm (1985), Vernon Jordan, Jr. (1981), Jesse Jackson (1979), Elliot Richardson (1974), and Martin Luther King, Jr. (1966)? Rev. Riddell and I want to share her message with the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Ministry and see how we might be inspired to act to enhance UUCOD’s accessibility and help mitigate ableism.
Rev. Dr. Betancourt presented the 2024 President’s Award for Volunteer Service to the UUA to the Pink Haven Coalition, a project of frontline trans organizers working with progressive faith groups and mutual aid networks to create a network to house and provide welcoming communities to those directly impacted by anti-trans legislation, including those needing to permanently relocate or travel to access gender-affirming care. Jacqui C. Williams, a longtime UU who dedicated her life to combating racism as an educator, trainer, and community activist, and who died in 2023, posthumously received the 2024 Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism, the UUA’s highest honor.
For GA’s Sunday worship, UUCOD held its own watch party in the sanctuary, which many of us attended. Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon, minister of the UU Church of Columbia, Missouri, and others, led the service, which centered love and interdependence.
In other business, delegates approved a by-law amendment allowing an increase in the number of Religious Education Credentialing Committee members and elected three members of the UUA Board of Trustees, a member of the Commission on Appraisal, and two members of the Nominating Committee.
Next year, GA 2025 will be multiplatform, held both online and in person in Baltimore, Maryland. Why not get involved? You can find more information here: https://www.uua.org/ga.
—Bob Rancourt
President's Message Recent Posts
President’s Message June 2026
The Invitation
January 2026 Message from the Board President
As Unitarian Universalists, we often pride ourselves on our intellectual capabilities. While we recognize the interconnected web of all existence, we may not fully recognize the bodily chemical and biological dependencies. These hidden connections underscore our...
A Message from the Board President: Meeting the Moment
On a hike a few weeks ago I came across at strange creature that looked like half a moth at one end and nondescript at the other. Dr. Cameron Barrows explained the fascinating story to me.
When a moth emerges from the cocoon its wings are folded up and soggy. It quickly pumps hemolymph (insect blood) into the veins of the wings, blowing them up like a balloon. The wings dry in a few hours and then another magical process occurs: several chemical changes sclerotize the wings, cross-linking the proteins into a rigid matrix.
What does that have to do with the creature I saw? The poor guy didn’t get out of the cocoon fast enough. His wings hardened half way out and he died.
And what does that have to do with UUCOD? The world around us has changed. The rise of hate, bigotry, and authoritarianism is alarming. And, like the pupae, when the world changes we have to act.
Many in our congregation already act individually: volunteering for Street Medicine or at Galilee Center or other places, writing postcards, and so much more. And we have collective action like marching at rallies, food and formula and socks collections, Laundry Love, Share The Plate, and more.
But can we make a bigger impact? We propose to Meet the Moment by focusing hyper-locally to reduce harm caused by our federal government to the local immigrant community. We are meeting with front-line organizations, discussing their needs and our capabilities, to see how we can help and follow their lead.
It involves some soul searching – are we disrupters willing to put our bodies on the line, or would we prefer to generously help fund relief organizations from a safe distance, or something in between? In fact, Rev Ian is leading a class, Social Change Now, which is helping participants understand the roles in which they shine. (If you didn’t enroll in this series, do sign up for the next one.)
Stay tuned as we discern what it means for UUCOD to Meet this Moment, collectively, to reduce harm to local immigrant communities. We cannot be like the poor Sphinx moth. We must act, and once we start we need to sustain our bold actions.
~ Rod Belshee, UUCOD Board President
Introducing our New President, Rod Belshee
It occurs to me that many of you joined the church recently (yay!) so I thought I’d use this message to introduce myself.
Actually this is a thinly veiled attempt to get you to share your stories! Now that most of you are in the Breeze Directory, did you know that you can share your story? Much like the snippets that new members share in the newsletter when they join, everyone can share a couple of paragraphs on whatever they consider meaningful in their lives.
So here’s My Story, clipped from Breeze. It just includes tidbits – to learn more let’s talk, and you can share your story too.
My first sixty years were in Portland Oregon, raising two sons and working in the tech industry. In 2002-2003, Fran and I took two years to backpack around the world, mostly in Asia, shifting to a more spiritual and cultural focus, including studying Buddhism. Then I took up long distance hiking (over 10,000 miles so far) and became a naturalist. I feel most at home when outdoors (I even sleep outside on the deck). I have always been a volunteer somewhere, earlier in Boy Scouts and now at UUCOD.
While I live in the forest of Idyllwild, my community is UUCOD. I started attending UUCOD in 2014 and have served in a number of positions. I like to improve things, so have led the efforts to add solar, the Sacred Grounds, the A/V and streaming system, and other stuff. I find purpose and community in helping out.
What is your Story? Log into Breeze, click on My Profile, click on My Story and start typing. As more folks add their stories we can learn more about each other.
Family Connections and Seeing that You Can’t Go Home Again
Thomas C. Wolfe (1900 – 1938), who once said he wrote a book to forget it, was a North Carolinian originator of the autobiographical fiction genre and is credited with coining the term “you can’t go home again.” Awaiting the connecting flight to North Carolina, I go...
Coming up for Air
A Message from the Board President Have you ever learned something significant about yourself unexpectedly? Has a personal insight ever suddenly awakened you in some way? The other evening, I was catching up with a friend. She asked me what I’d been doing since the...
The Dog Days of December
"The decisions—to volunteer at the shelter and to keep rather than turn in a stray dog— have been some of the better decisions of the year. Working with, caring for, and simply loving and petting these dogs got me out of the troubles of the day" Perhaps the morning...
The Hustle and Bustle of Church
Have you noticed the uptick in attendance? Wasn’t it nice catching up with everyone and celebrating our 65th birthday? Did you see all the prospective new Members taking their orientation classes? Are you looking forward to representing UUCOD at the 39th annual Greater Palm Springs LGTBQ Pride Parade and cutting loose at the annual service auction in the next couple weeks?
This time of year always seems to bring the hustle and bustle of church.
Let the New Church Year Begin
It’s the end of September, snow birds are returning, church seats are filling up, groups are re-assembling, and the new church year begins. The new Board—constituted by two new Members and one re-elected Member—has now met twice and taken some actions of which to be aware.
Look at how full the church calendar already is! One occasion of which to take note is our 65th birthday on October 13. The first Church Council follows on October 19, and then November brings the Pride Parade on the 3rd and our annual service auction on November 8 and 9. New Members are celebrated on November 17