Denominational Affairs

50th Anniversary Conference

A Celebration of the Birth & Growth of Unitarian Universalism
October 30-31, 2009, Syracuse, NY

Click on one of the topics below to find out more information:
Background
2009 Conference
Guiding Questions
Registration


Background
A significant anniversary for Unitarian Universalists will be celebrated on October 31, 2009. This day marks exactly fifty years since negotiations were completed and a "Plan for Consolidation" was adopted by delegates of the American Unitarian Association (AUA) and the Universalist Church of America (UCA) to join together in creating the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). To commemorate this event the St. Lawrence District of the UUA is sponsoring a conference on Friday and Saturday, October 30 & 31, 2009.

At the time of consolidation, the AUA and the UCA were considered by most to be cast in the ecclesiastical tradition of the Christian congregational churches. In the years after consolidation Unitarian Universalism grew as a religious movement that transcended its Christian heritage to become the spiritual harbor of religious and secular humanists, pagans, deists, theists, atheists and a variety of other faith persuasions.

In the fifty years since consolidation the growth of this diversity has made it difficult to develop a common understanding of the distinct nature of Unitarian Universalism, its call, and its promise to the world. In Engaging Our Theological Diversity, the UUA Commission on Appraisal points to the critical importance of identifying the center of our faith and the common threads that run through our theological diversity. According to the Commission, the process leading toward consolidation focused minimally on theological differences and primarily on resolving methodological issues. The effort was successful in creating a common institutional structure so that consolidation could be achieved. However, many theological and spiritual issues remained unresolved.

October 31, 2009 marks that day fifty years earlier when delegates of the AUA and UCA overcame the final obstacle and adopted the "Plan for Consolidation" that resulted in creation of the UUA. The dramatic events of the 1959 Conference at Syracuse occurred in downtown Syracuse, New York. In celebrating this pivotal moment in the history of Unitarian Universalism we will return to the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Syracuse, the central site of the conference.

The 2009 Conference at Syracuse will be a celebration of our history and a quest to advance our future by exploring the meaning of "What Happened at Syracuse?", examining the development of Unitarian Universalism in the past fifty years, and addressing the challenges that face us. Back to top of page

The 2009 Conference at Syracuse will:

• Relive the music, liturgy, faith practices and actions of that historic period.
  
  
• Revisit significant events leading up to the Conference at Syracuse.
  
  
• Explore the growth of the movement in the past 50 years.
  
  
• Consider the nature of our faith and the threads that weave our theological diversity into a common identity.
  
  
• Help us embrace the challenges we face in working to advance our future as a unique religious people with something to offer the world.
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In general sessions, workshops, and worship four questions will guide our quest:

1. Where did we come from?
   
   
2. What has happened since the 1959 Conference at Syracuse?
   
   
3. What do our principles, purposes and practices say about our identity?
   
   
4. What is our future?
   

Four prominent UU scholars will be on hand to share their insights and perspectives about the meaning of "What Happened at Syracuse". David Bumbaugh, David Parke, Richard Gilbert and Elizabeth Strong have each played important leadership roles in the growth of the Unitarian Universalist movement. They will bring a considerable body of experience and great insight to bear on these four questions. Back to top of page

Registration:
Use the links below to register for the "2009 Conference at Syracuse", and learn more about "What Happened at Syracuse?" and why this question matters for our future as a religious people that has something to offer the world.

• Registration information will be available online to coincide with the St. Lawrence District Annual meeting on April 24-25, 2009.
  
  
• One page "Event Flyer"
  
  
• Two page "Event Overview"
  
  
• "What Happened at Syracuse?" This is an article that explores the meaning of what happened as a result of the 1959 Conference at Syracuse in a mythical narrative. It also discusses how we might seize the occasion of our 50th anniversary to address some of the issues about our identity as a religious people and our promise to the world that were left unresolved at the time of consolidation and that remain problematic today.
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Please check back frequently because additional information will be added on a regular basis.

The 2009 Conference at Syracuse is supported in part by funding from the New York State Council of Universalists. We encourage UU congregations and other organizations to spread the word about the 2009 Conference at Syracuse by providing links on their websites to this page.