UUA Commission on Institutional Change

Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change

Image of Widening the Circle book cover

Also available as an eBook in the Amazon Kindle store.
The Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change analyzes structural and systemic racism and white supremacy culture within Unitarian Universalism. It makes recommendations to advance long-term change. You can access the text of the report for free on uua.org .

You can download Widening the Circle of Concern in PDF but please note that it is a 229 page document.

What Is The UUA Commission on Institutional Change?

The Commission was established at the New Orleans General Assembly in 2017. The UUA Board of Trustees charged it to conduct an audit of white privilege and the structure of power within Unitarian Universalism, and analyze structural racism and white supremacy culture within the UUA. The Commission was in place for three years through the Virtual General Assembly in June of 2020.

The final work of the Commission was Widening the Circle of Concern: Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change. It was presented to the Board of Trustees and General Assembly in June 2020.

The Commission’s Key Tasks

  • Auditing white privilege and power structures:Examining how these elements operate within the UUA. 
  • Analyzing systemic racism and white supremacy:Identifying and understanding these harmful systems within the organization. 
  • Collecting stories of harm:Gathering accounts of how racism and other forms of oppression have impacted individuals within the UUA. 
  • Recommending changes:Proposing concrete actions to dismantle oppressive structures and practices. 
  • Promoting a more inclusive and equitable faith: Working towards a Unitarian Universalism that lives up to its ideals of justice and equity. 

The commission’s work is ongoing. The UUA implemented a five-year plan to put the report’s recommendations into practice. This includes efforts to foster a more diverse and multicultural Beloved Community within the UUA and beyond. 

Interested persons can read the annual plans on the UUA’s webpage about The Commission on Intuitional Change.