Advertisement
During Thursday morning’s general session at the UUA General Assembly in New Orleans, Acting Moderator Denise Rimes welcomed new covenanting communities, recognized congregations who have done accessability work, and reported on the rapid growth of the sanctuary movement in Unitarian Universalism.
Rimes started by introducing two groups who were granted covenanting community status with the Unitarian Universalist Association this year: Castle Rock Unitarian Universalist Community in Castle Rock, Colorado, and SunPoint Farm Sanctuary in Derry, New Hampshire. Covenanting communities have a UU identity and promote UU values but are different from traditionally recognized member congregations.
Rimes also announced two new AIM-certified congregations: First Parish in Bedford, Massachusetts, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces, New Mexico. AIM (Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry) certification helps congregations become more inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities.
She closed by lauding the growing sanctuary movement within Unitarian Universalism. There are currently sixty-three UU congregations and organizations supporting the movement and/or offering sanctuary to immigrants at risk of being deported, she reported.
“We lift up the work that you do to save these vulnerable human beings,” Rimes said.