| P R E S S R E L E A S E P R E S S R E L E A S E P R E S S R E L E A S E | |
 Unitarian
Universalist Association of Congregations |
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| For Release: | June 23, 2001 |
| Contact: | John Hurley, Director of Information UUA Headquarters-Boston (617) 742-2100 x131; cell: (617) 780-8082 Email: jhurley@uua.org www.uua.org |
(Cleveland - June 23) Delegates to the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) today elected the Rev. William Sinkford as president of the Association. Sinkford becomes the first African American to lead the UUA or any historically white denomination. Upon his installation on Monday, Sinkford will succeed the Rev. John Buehrens, who has served eight years.
"It is a tremendous honor to be elected president of our religious movement," said Sinkford. "The hurting world in which we live desperately needs our liberal voice. During my presidency, our Unitarian Universalist voice will be heard in support of racial justice. We will speak for gender equality. And we will work to redress the economic injustices that plague our society. We can be, and will be, a transformative voice for justice in the world."
As a young adult, Sinkford was elected president of Liberal Religious Youth (LRY), the Unitarian Universalist continental youth organization. An honors graduate of Harvard University, Sinkford worked in corporate marketing and later in developing urban housing before entering the Unitarian Universalist ministry. He received his Masters of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA, and was ordained in 1995. Most recently he has served as director of the UUA's department of congregational, district, and extension services which is responsible for delivering services to Unitarian Universalist congregations and for organizing and nurturing new congregations in the U.S. and Canada.
Sinkford, 54, was elected by a vote of 2218 to 1043 over the Rev. Diane Miller. Each Unitarian Universalist congregation is allotted votes in proportion to its membership.
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal, creedless religion with Judeo-Christian roots; it traces its history in North America to the first Pilgrim and Puritan settlers, and has numbered among its members five U.S. presidents. The UUA, headquartered in Boston, MA, was formed in 1961 through the consolidation of the Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association. More than 1050 congregations in North America belong to the Unitarian Universalist Association.
The UUA website (www.uua.org) includes extensive coverage of the General Assembly and the election. For further information on Unitarian Universalism, please contact John Hurley, UUA director of information, by telephone (cell - 617-780-8082; office - 617-742-2100 x131) or email (jhurley@uua.org)