General Assembly

General Assembly is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association. Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone may attend.

The 63rd General Assembly will take place virtually Thursday, June 20 through Sunday, June 23, 2024. This year’s theme is “Love Unites, Stories Ignite.”

General Assembly 2024 will be an online event. Full online registration includes access to GA 2024 in the Whova event app, as well as on-demand programming, featured speakers, and major worships. Registration is open now.

The schedule is now available to see the lineup of workshops, worship services, and more!

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General Assembly 2024

Love Unites, Stories Ignite

In a world filled with division and challenges, the theme for this year’s General Assembly is a powerful reminder of the core principles that unite us as Unitarian Universalists. “Love Unites, Stories Ignite” celebrates the profound impact of love as a binding force that transcends boundaries and fosters connections within our faith community and beyond.

Our faith has always been rooted in the power of storytelling, and this year we’ll explore how our stories can ignite change, inspire compassion, and help us build a more just and equitable world. Through storytelling, we share our experiences, our dreams, our struggles, and our triumphs. It is through these stories that we can find common ground, deepening our understanding of one another and the world around us.

Virtual Attendance Using the Whova App

General Assembly registrants will be able to access the event on the Whova event app. This comprehensive app offers community boards, on-demand videos, a virtual exhibit hall, and an agenda of live sessions and on-demand programming.

The GA Whova app is now live!

Four people sit at a conference table engaged in discussion. One person wearing a Starr King School for the Ministry shirt is speaking and gesturing with his hands. They have laptops, coffee, and water glasses in front of them. A large window in the background lets in natural light.

Starr King at GA

What Comes After The End: Stories of Resistance

Suppose one of the things we fear most—democracy’s end in the US—comes true? How can we be sure? How might we be safe? And how will we protect one another, especially those already marginalized and at risk? Join Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt and Dr. Sabrina Dent (President, Center for Faith, Justice, and Reconciliation) for stories and strategies for resistance and resilience in frightening times at the 2024 Starr King President’s Lecture.

Virtual Booth

Be sure to stop by our virtual booth on the Whova GA App! Photos, videos, program information, and more will be available to peruse. Matthew Waterman, our Director of Admissions and Recruitment, will be available to answer all your questions about attending Starr King. You can even sign up for a chance to win a free Starr King School for the Ministry t-shirt!

Gathering online doesn’t mean we can’t have swag. Here’s some digital Starr King swag for you to use throughout GA and beyond, including Zoom backgrounds in place of the beloved ribbons.

Are You Being Called to Religious Leadership?

Visit this poster session on the Whova GA app to access a handy chart for those in discernment. Answer yes or no questions that will lead you to one of many potential pathways to religious leadership. Matthew Waterman, Director of Admissions & Recruitment, is holding a live session for those in discernment on Saturday, June 22 at 9:00 am PT/12:00 pm ET. The link can be found on the Starr King virtual booth, sponsorship page, or this poster session. Email us at admissions@sksm.edu if you’d like to attend this special gathering but you are not attending General Assembly.

Fundraise More for Your Congregation: 17 Tips & Tricks

In this poster session, Vice President for Advancement Jessica Cloud, presents 17 tips and tricks for fundraising for your congregation. Be sure to review all this session has to offer. A handy poster, introspective exercise, a pre-recorded video of Jessica going into detail on each tip, AND a live Q&A session with Jessica on Friday, June 21 at 9:30 am PT/12:30 pm ET. The Zoom link to join is available on this poster session page. Email Jessica Cloud if you’d like to attend this live session but are not attending General Assembly.

Scavenger Hunt

In true Starr King fashion, we just had to have some fun during General Assembly! We created this virtual scavenger hunt as a fun new way for members of our community to reconnect with Starr King, as well as provide an introduction for new friends. Complete five tasks to support Starr King and you’ll be entered to win an incredible prize pack of five books written by Starr King faculty past and present. Get started at www.sksm.edu/GAhunt!

UU Polity

Led by Rev. Dr. Meg Richardson, students will discover the mechanics of governance by observing Unitarian Universalist polity in action by attending plenary sessions, business mini-assemblies, and worship services. Students in this course will also meet as a class on Zoom during breaks to process our observations, learn the history of congregational polity in contrast to other polity paradigms, and thus locate our polity in its theological and cultural contexts. Learn more.

Other Starr King Community-Led Programs

Ware Lecture
Julia Watts Belser (Graduate)

A New Take on Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry
Rev. Barbara Meyers (Graduate) & Shelly Rohe

A New Vision for Sunday Mornings – Take Action
Rev. Brian Ferguson (Graduate), Maeve Knoth, & Peter Hartzell

A Queer Theyology of Unitarian Universalism
Rev. Lane Mairead-Campbell (Graduate) & Rev. Michael J. Crumpler

Accessible Mental Health Toolkit for Children and Youth
Rev. Barbara Meyers (Graduate), Devin Shmueli, & Lena Hilder McCain

Developmental Ministry: What Is It Now?
Rev. Keith Kron (Graduate), Rev. Patrice Curtis (Graduate), & Christine Purcell

Exploring the Complementary Qualities: Community and Parish Ministries
Rev. Terra Collier Young (Graduate), Ben Gabel, Rev. Jane Davis, & Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford

Faith Without Walls: Serving Neighbors Who Are Houseless
Rev. Charlotte Cramer (Graduate), Travis MacPhee (Graduate), Rev. Leslie Takahashi (Adjunct Faculty), & Rev. Rodney Lemery

Making Room in the Pews for Working-Class UUs
Rose Littler-Riedel (Current Student), Eli Poore (Graduate), & Rev. Charley Earp

Practicing Anti Racist Accountability
Tuli Patel (Trustee), Rev. Dr. Robin Tanner, & Mia Morse

QPOC and the Intersectionality of Faith & Queerness
Rev. Kevin Alan Mann (Graduate & Faculty), Ronnie Boyd (Current Student), Dr. Richard Greggory Johnson III, & Phoenix Bell-Shelton

Solutions Everyone Can Support (Really!)
Rev. Cathleen Cox (Graduate)

Somatic, Story, and Silliness for Social Change
Sahar Muhsin Laufman (Graduate)

SoulScript: Your Personal Discovery Path
Rev. Dianne Daniels (Graduate)

Supporting Asylum-Seekers as a Congregation
Heather Vickery (Current Student), Jessica Sapalio, Rev. Deanna Vandiver, & Naoki Nakamura

Young Adult Age Range: Why Does It Matter?
Lecretia Williams (Current Student) & Carol Maciel

Did we miss anything? Let us know at communications@sksm.edu!