Find yourself in the Global U/U Story! There is a variety of internationally themed workshops, worship services, and events taking place in Columbus at this year’s General Assembly!
Stop by the UUA Expressway in the exhibit hall to connect with the UUA’s International Office, UU United Nations Office, and UU Holdeen India Program.
Connect with the UU Partner Church Council at booth #310, the International Women’s Convocation at booth #312, and UUSC at booth #207.
Thursday June 23
9:00a–9:30a
Event: Introduction of International Guests & Int’l UU Organizations
Location: Convention Center Plenary Hall
Join us as we extend a warm welcome to all of our international guests during General Session I!
10:45a–12:00p
Workshop: The Unitarian Mission to Japan: Impact and Lessons
Location: Hyatt — Delaware AB | RSVP on Facebook
The first comprehensive history of the rarely discussed or understood Unitarian mission to Japan beginning in the late 19th century has recently been published by University of Hawaii Professor Michel Mohr. Professor Mohr will describe his research and participate in a Q&A with a leader from Japanese lay-Buddhist partners from Rissho Kosei-kai.
Speakers
Prof. Michel Mohr
Rev. Kimie Yanagida
Rev. Eric Cherry
10:45a–12:00p
Worship: Where You Go, I Will Go: Celebrating International Partnership
Location: Convention Center E170-172
“Where You Go, I Will Go… Your people will be my people…” (Book of Ruth). Our U*U movements span vast differences in history, culture and theology. Come worship with guests from Transylvania, Philippines, Kenya, and elsewhere, to lift up the joy of partnership across our physical and spiritual boundaries.
Speakers
Rev. Diane Rollert
Barishisha Mukhim
Arman Pedro
Elizabeth Norton
1:15p–2:30p
Workshop: Growing Faithful Solidarity: Interfaith Conversations with the Qur’an
Location: Hyatt — Delaware AB
Two national leaders in interreligious engagement, a Quaker and a Muslim, who share profound appreciation for the Qur’an will explore select passages and interpretations that can support UU understanding of the text, inter-religious work generally, and specific interfaith efforts to confront Islamophobia.
Speakers
Prof. Michael Birkell
Naeem Baig
Rev. Eric Cherry
1:15p–2:30p
Workshop: Hands & Hearts: Interfaith Collaboration to Support Syrian Refugees
Location: Convention Center Battelle Grand B
This workshop will introduce UUSC’s partners working to address the needs of refugees fleeing violence and oppression in the Middle East. It will also cover service and advocacy opportunities, focusing on what we can do even before refugees arrive: creating a more welcoming environment by addressing anti-Muslim bigotry.
Speakers
Catherine Orsborn
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
Pamela Sparr
3:00p–4:15p
Workshop: Interfaith Dreams come to Life with Our Japanese Partners
Location: Hyatt — Delaware AB
Since the late 1960s the UUA has been fortunate to be engaged in interfaith relationships with multiple religious organizations in Japan. These relationships have had a profound and long-lasting impact on global interreligious connections and human rights partnerships. Today we’ll celebrate in worship and share excitement for the future.
Speakers
Rev. Peter Morales
Rev. Kimie Yanagida
Chuck Wooldridge
Dr. William Vendley
3:00p–4:15p
Workshop: Sustainable Development and Interfaith Action Against Climate Change
Location: Convention Center – Hall F
Learn about delegates’ multifaith and multinational dialogue at COP21, the United Nations climate conference in Paris. This program will address how we can engage in interfaith climate action in our communities and will imagine together the future of UU action against climate change.
Speakers
Steve Chiu from the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Rev. Peggy Clarke Doris Marlin
Dr. Jan Dash David Tucker
Friday June 24
12:00p-1:45p
Event: UU Partner Church Council Annual Meeting & Luncheon
Location: Emerson Burkhart A, Hilton Hotel | Tickets: $35 | Purchase Online
All UUPCC members are invited to attend the UUPCC Annual Meeting and Buffet Lunch. Lunch Tickets are $35 and you are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Remaining tickets will be sold during GA at the UUPCC booth (#310) in the exhibit hall through Thursday, June 25. Lunch begins at noon. There is no ticket required to attend the Annual Meeting that starts at 12:45 pm, if you are not coming for lunch.
3:00p-4:15p
Workshop: Black Lives Matter Outside Our Borders
Location: Convention Center – Battelle Grand A
This program will address institutionalized inequalities and discrimination faced by individuals around the world, emphasizing racism against people of African descent.
Participants will gain a greater understanding of economic inequalities and explore how people of faith can work together to combat this force.
Speakers
Bruce Knotts
Dr. Janice Marie Johnson
Amber Moulton
3:00p–4:15p
Workshop: Faith and Interfaith Encounters in India
Location: Hyatt — Delaware AB | RSVP on Facebook
UUism’s encounters with India’s religions are multifaceted: They include Hindu influences on Unitarian theology, visits to US congregations by Swamis Vivekenanda and Yogananda, 19th century mission work in Kolkata, and partnerships with the Brahmo Samaj and Indian Unitarians today. Discover these stories and how they inform initiatives like the UU Holdeen India Program.
Speakers
Rev. Mahesh Uphadyaya
Barishisha Mukhim
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
Derek Mitchell
4:45p–6:00p
Workshop: Grassroots Interfaith Community Building Against Islamophobia
Location: Hyatt — Delaware AB
Anti-Muslim sentiment is on the rise. This religious and racial prejudice reverberates through many communities outside the American Muslim community. Religions for Peace USA’s “Our Muslim Neighbor” initiative will share stories of building stronger communities and the transformations that occur in faith and relationship in the fight against Islamophobia.
Speakers
Rev. Eric Cherry
Aaron Stauffer
Rev. Peg Chemberline
Zaynab Ansari
6:00p–7:30p
Event: UUA International Reception
Location: Hilton — Robert King | FREE: RSVP by June 20
Join us for an evening of celebration during General Assembly hosted by the UUA International Office, the UU United Nations Office and the UU Holdeen India Program.
The Global U/U Story spans centuries and continents. Its chapters have been, and will be, shaped by the lives and ministries of faithful people from around the world.
Join us for an evening that celebrates chapters of the story from the past, present and future.
The Program
- Welcome and introduction of U/U and interfaith leaders from around the world.
- An excerpt from UU UNO’s 2016 Dana Greeley Sermon Award winning sermon
- Recognition of the 2016 UU UNO Blue Ribbon Congregation Awards.
- A presentation of Justicemaking work in India.
- And more!
There will be a cash bar, and light refreshments will be provided.
Saturday June 25
7:00a–8:30a
Event: International Women’s Convocation Annual Breakfast & Meeting
Location: Hilton — Elijah Pierce A | Tickets: $35 Purchase Online
IWC looks forward to seeing you there as we continue to grow and work together, dedicated to enriching the lives of our sisters, women or girls, around the globe.
7:00a–8:30a
Event: UU-UNO Envoy Breakfast
Location: Hilton – Edna Boise Hopkins Room | $15 Purchase Online
Join fellow Envoys and prospective Envoys at GA for a breakfast with the UU-UNO’s Envoy Coordinator, Allison Hess. At this event, we will get to know each other and share some Envoy tips and tricks!
Breakfast will be provided, buffet-style.
3:00p–4:15p
Workshop: How the World’s Religions Unite to End Torture
Location: Hyatt — Delaware AB
Religious leaders from diverse backgrounds are responding to the call from International Bridges to Justice to stop torture as an investigative tool. Hear TED Talk award winner, and UU minister Rev. Karen Tse describe the impact of IBJ’s work in partnership with the Interfaith community.
Speakers
Rev. Karen Tse
3:00p–4:15p
Workshop: Piercing the Heart, Human Rights Education Changing
Location: Convention Center — Hall E
Over 9000 young adults in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, have received human rights education moving them from being passive witnesses of abuse to defenders of others’ rights.
Partnered with IARF, Brother Albert Xaviour, program director in India, asks Unitarian Universalists to look at his human rights education asking, “If not now, when?”
Speakers
Brother Albert Xaviour
Rev. Dr. Doris Hunter
Dr. Barbara Beach
4:45p–6:00p
Workshop: Interfaith & International: The UU Discipline of Collaboration
Location: Hyatt — Delaware AB
Unitarians and Universalists were leaders in the first Parliament of World Religions. This interest in providing neutral space for multifaith collaboration continues today.
UU voices facilitate interfaith work at the UN. International U*U congregations are often multi-faith in nature. Come and encounter stories of bridge-building and partnership.
Speakers
Bruce Knotts
Rev. Jill McAllister
Claudia Espinel
Rev. Carol Huston
6:00p–7:30p
Event: Interfaith Activists Networking
Location: Hilton — Emerson Burkhart AB | Free: RSVP by June 24
Have you been an Interfaith Activist locally, nationally or globally?
Did you attend the 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Salt Lake City – or a previous one?
Are you a supporter of the International Association for Religious Freedom?
Do you connect with United Religious Initiatives, Religions for Peace-USA or other similar organizations?
Would your Interfaith Activism benefit from closer networking with other UU Interfaith Activists?
Are you interested in becoming an interfaith activist but don’t know where to begin?
Please join us on Saturday June 25, 2016, 6:00pm-7:00pm for a 1-hour networking gathering during the UUA General Assembly in Columbus, OH to discuss interest and next steps. Participation will be possible from onsite and offsite.
The meeting will include brief presentations about resources available for Interfaith Activists in various contexts – including the interfaith engagement materials for the upcoming Ken Burns documentary about Martha and Rev. Waitstill Sharp’s human rights work during WWII – Defying the Nazis: The Sharp Story. We’ll also discuss tentative planning for an International Interfaith event in 2018.
Explore the Global UU Story 